The importance of the riparian ecotone and river hydraulics for sustainable basin-scale restoration scenarios

1. The effect of riparian ecotone functional complexity and stream hydraulics on an upland river ecosystem has been analysed. 2. The amount of nutrients retained by bottom sediment was lowest on a sandy substrate (range: 26–104 mg m⁻² P-PO₄) and highest in wetland bays (range: 558–5368 mg m⁻² P-PO₄). A stream bed covered by Berula erecta had about three times higher retentive nutrient capacity ( x̄ = 584 mg m⁻² day⁻¹) than did a sandy substrate( x̄ = 205 mg m⁻² day⁻¹). 3. The amount of allochthonous organic matter (CPOM) deposited on the stream bed decreased with current velocity. The trophic potential of CPOM, measured as total protein, was significantly correlated with the amount of deposited CPOM (r = 0.863; p<0.00001) and depended on stream order. 4. Both invertebrate and fish biomass in the upland river were significantly correlated with calcium/bicarbonate (benthos: r = 0.858; p<0.006; fish: r = 0.918; p<0.001). 5. Fish biomass, diversity and species richness were highest in pools, lower in riffles and lowest in the run/transition zone. 6. Macroinvertebrate biomass was highest at an intermediate riparian ecotone complexity with an adequate supply of organic matter and incident light. Fish biomass followed the same trend, being lowest in heavily shaded areas and in open channels without riparian vegetation (range: 1–4.5 g m⁻²), but highest in ecotones of intermediate complexity (range: 1.6–92.8 g m⁻²). The ‘cascading effect’ of invertebrate density depletion, which was inversely related to fish biomass, was observed seasonally. 7. The above results indicate that riparian ecotone structure and the heterogeneity of the stream channel may regulate biodiversity, productivity and nutrient retention in the fluvial corridor. These quantitative data help to create alternative scenarios for sustainable river basin management. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.