Past and present land use influences on tropical riparian zones: an isotopic assessment with implications for riparian forest width determination

Authors

  • Luiz Felippe Salemi Universidade de São Paulo, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Laboratório de Ecologia Isotópica
  • Silvia Rafaela Machado Lins Universidade de São Paulo, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Laboratório de Ecologia Isotópica
  • Elizabethe de Campos Ravagnani Universidade de São Paulo, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Laboratório de Ecologia Isotópica
  • Marcelo Magioli Universidade de São Paulo, Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Laboratório de Ecologia, Manejo e Conservação de Fauna Silvestre
  • Melissa Gaste Martinez Universidade de São Paulo, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Laboratório de Ecologia Isotópica
  • Fernando Guerra Universidade de São Paulo, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Laboratório de Fertilidade do Solo
  • Natassia Bonini Vidas Universidade de São Paulo, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Laboratório de Ecologia Isotópica
  • Aline Fransozi Universidade de São Paulo, Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Laboratório de Hidrologia Florestal
  • Silvio Frosini de Barros Ferraz Universidade de São Paulo, Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Laboratório de Hidrologia Florestal
  • Luiz Antonio Martinelli Universidade de São Paulo, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Laboratório de Ecologia Isotópica

Keywords:

Watershed, Soil degradation, Organic matter, Sediment, Carbon cycling

Abstract

Abstract In this article, by using carbon stable isotopes, we assessed the past and present land use influences that riparian areas are subject within agricultural landscapes. Emphasis is given to the understanding of the effects of the 2012 Brazilian Forest Act on such areas. We selected five riparian areas within a highly C4 dominated agricultural landscape. Three of them had 30 meters native riparian forest buffer (NRFB) and two of them had 8 meter and no NRFB. We used three 100 meter-transects located 5, 15 and 30 meters relative to stream channel to obtain soil samples (0 - 10 cm). All riparian areas presented soil carbon isotopic signatures that are not C3 (native forests) irrespective of having or not 30 meters NRFB. Two cases presenting less than 30 meters NRFB had higher C4 derived carbon contribution. All of the other three areas that followed the 30 meters NRFB presented, to some degree, C4 derived carbon, which was attributed to C4 organic matter deposition originated from cultivated areas and, in one case, to the persistence of former exotic grasses. With the 2012 Forest Act allowing narrower buffers (< 30 meters), we expect C4 contributions to soil organic matter to remain high in riparian areas and streams within agricultural landscapes dominated by C4 plants where 30 meter NRFB is no longer required. Such contributions will likely continue to have detrimental effects on stream water quality and biota.

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Published

2016-01-01

How to Cite

Salemi, L. F., Lins, S. R. M., Ravagnani, E. de C., Magioli, M., Martinez, M. G., Guerra, F., Vidas, N. B., Fransozi, A., Ferraz, S. F. de B., & Martinelli, L. A. (2016). Past and present land use influences on tropical riparian zones: an isotopic assessment with implications for riparian forest width determination. Biota Neotropica, 16(2). Retrieved from //www.biotaneotropica.org.br/BN/article/view/1395

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