Terrestrial and Aquatic Invertebrate Assemblage Responses to Cattle Access Management in Wetland Riparian Areas
Date
2024-10-04
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
Cattle grazing in riparian zones can significantly impact both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This thesis investigates the effects of cattle activity on ground beetle assemblages in riparian areas and the colonization dynamics of macroinvertebrates in aquatic ecosystems in response to cattle manure. Cattle activity alters soil and vegetation to varying levels dependent on grazing pressure, affecting ground beetle abundance and community composition. Higher levels of cattle disturbance led to increased ground beetle abundance, particularly evident during vegetation rebound following cattle exclusion, while evenness decreased with escalating disturbance levels, illustrating the complex responses to alterations prompted by cattle activity. In aquatic ecosystems, cattle access to wetlands introduces traffic and manure excretion. Manure serves as a nutrient source for invertebrates, with colonization of manure dominated by non-biting midge larvae and freshwater shrimp. Residues from antiparasitic drugs such as eprinomectin, significantly affect decomposition processes; however, invertebrate abundance shows no response to these residues, with invertebrates accelerating manure decomposition and nutrient loss in both eprinomectin treated and untreated cattle manure. Understanding the ecological dynamics of cattle in riparian and wetland ecosystems is crucial for preserving ecosystems and informing Best Management Practices for cattle grazing. This research provides valuable insights into the impacts of livestock activities on both terrestrial and aquatic environments, contributing to the development of sustainable management strategies.
Description
Keywords
Manure, Benthic Macroinvertebrates, Cattle, Carabidae, Eprinomectin
Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Biology
Program
Biology