Forested Riparian Buffers Change the Taxonomic and Functional Composition of Stream Invertebrate Communities in Agricultural Catchments

Riparian zones form the interface between stream and terrestrial ecosystems play a key role through their vegetation structure in determining biodiversity, ecosystem functioning regulating human impacts, such as warming, nutrient enrichment sedimentation. We assessed how differing riparian types influence structural functional composition (based on species traits) of invertebrate communities agricultural catchments. characterized habitat conditions sampled 10 independent site pairs, each comprising one “unbuffered” reach lacking woody second downstream with buffer. Forested buffers were associated greater shading, increased gravel content substrates faster flow velocities. detected changes taxonomic response to buffer presence, an increase sensitive Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera Trichoptera (EPT) taxa increases traits, including preference for aerial active dispersal adults. independently explained most variation composition, whereas instream together composition. Our results highlight trait distributions may indirectly reflect differences habitat, implications health cross-ecosystem connectivity.