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<br />57 <br /> <br /> <br />.... <br /> <br />f~x} ~~j" fllf4 <br />R@ift.!t(i~~;}im~l:~mi <br /> <br />Figure 3. "Riparian Vegetation" 111 functionally defined <br />as any extra-aquatiC ve~ct3tJ(ln that directly or Indirectly <br />influences the stream envtron~ent. All floodplain veRetat- <br />10n .. well as treeS on hillslope areas which sh3de the <br />stream or direct Iv contribute coarse or fine detritus <br />to it 1. conslder~d part of the Tlparinn Zone. <br /> <br />to adopt the following functional approach to defining riparian vegetation <br />(Meehan et al. 1977). That is, "riparian ~egetation- is any extra-aquatic <br />vegetation that directly or indirectly influences the stresm environment. <br />All floodplain vegetation as well as trees ,)n hills lope areas which shade <br />the stream or directly contribute coarse or fj,ne detritus to it are <br />considered part of the riparian zone (Figurla 3). <br /> <br />Riparian Zone Func:tions <br /> <br />Riparian Zones Form Microclimates <br /> <br />Riparian zones by virtue of their complex vegetative structurla, and <br />adjacent aquatic, wetland and dry land zones produce a vast array ,)f <br />microclimates (Figure 4). The presence of abundant, d,mse, rapidly <br />transpiring riparian vegetation creates a mj,croclimate similar to that of a <br />greenhouse. When humidity and temperatures are high and the air is still, <br />evapotranspiration can be very rapid. When the climatllc regime is an arid <br />one, the local occurrence of running or standing water may have a striking <br />influence on the vegetation. Many wildlife species arE' attracted 1:0 the <br />riparian zone and spend a disproport ionate amount of Ume in the zcme <br />because of the water, shade, food, protective cover and minimization of <br />energy utilization. These IIlicroclimates in the semiar1d and arid "ones <br />hold considerable attraction for both wild and domestic: ungulates. <br /> <br />Riparian Zones Form Connectors Between Habit~t Types <br /> <br />A unique characteristic of riparian ecosystems is their close <br />association with other ecosystems. As continua, streams and their <br />associated riparian zones serve as connectot!. between different altitudinal <br />and longitudinal habitat types (Figure 5). <br />