Disturbances on Riparian Vegetation: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Riparian vegetation is considered an integration of all plant communities along the riparian zone. It provides a wide variety of ecosystem services including provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services. Disturbances are discrete events that can disrupt the ecosystem. Based on the intensity, frequency, and duration of disturbances, it can affect riparian vegetation in various ways. Disturbances can be natural or anthropogenic in origin. Major natural disturbances that can influence riparian vegetation include flooding, landslides, wildfire, windthrow, plant diseases, and insect outbreaks. While anthropogenic disturbances are grazing, dams, deforestation, mining, agricultural, recreational, and developmental activities. Usually, natural disturbances play a crucial role in the maintenance of ecosystem structure and processes especially events like floods and landslides. Anthropogenic disturbances affect the composition, diversity and function of riparian vegetation. Soil characteristics of riparian systems are altered by anthropogenic perturbation. Population growth enhances the influences of anthropogenic disturbance on riparian plants. Infrastructure, dams, and agricultural activities have been increasing to meet the demand of inhabitants in that area. This paper reviews various aspects of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on riparian vegetation. Keywords: riparian vegetation, ecosystem services, disturbances, natural disturbances, anthropogenic disturbances