XVI International Botanical Congess

This study integrates information on watershed land use, riparian vegetation and stream conditions,to assess land use impacts on riparian corridors in 3 watersheds of Rio La Plata, Puerto Rico.Landscape analysis with aerial photographs and a G.I.S. were used to select the riparian corridor sites for sampling vegetation and stream conditions.Riparian areas with greater connectivity had higher tree species diversity.There was a positive relationship between stream quality and area of forest surrounding the riparian corridor.Riparian corridors with <25% tree cover had the lowest stream quality, which included high fluctuations of water temperatures and low quantity of organic matter.Information from various spatial scales provides a comprehensive view of how these environmental factors affect stream quality.