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Ecosystem Function: Cyanobacteria Solutions, A Missed Opportunity?
Citation:
Hall, R., S. Swanson, R. Schafer, J. Aron, M. Philbin, D. Heggem, J. Lin, AND D. Guiliano. Ecosystem Function: Cyanobacteria Solutions, A Missed Opportunity? Presented at National Rural Water Association, Reno, NV, June 09 - 11, 2015.
Impact/Purpose:
Ecosystem function in this context refers to how well the physical processes in upland and riparian areas are able to assimilate NPS pollutants that would otherwise flow into streams, lakes and wetlands (Aron et al. 2013). Properly functioning stream and wetland riparian areas are able to sequester pollutants by dissipating energy and allowing deposition, thereby creating aquatic and riparian habitat complexity and improving water quality (Swanson et al. 2006; Swanson et al. 2012). Non-functional ecosystems unable to process large flows are more likely to generate soil erosion and extreme flooding. The concept of ecosystem function underlies the context for monitoring data used for decisions to support sustainable and healthy watersheds. A drop in function is an indication that a management response is required to increase ecosystem function (Wyman et al. 2006; Hall et al. 2014).
Description:
Stream and wetland riparian functions integrate the relationships between species, their habitats and fostering ecosystem resilience, which is critical to resilience – i.e., ensuring long-term sustainability. These relationships are dependent on the drivers of ecological function – vegetation, hydrology, soil and landform.