Aquatic ecosystems evolved under watershed process regimes in connected drainage networks. Land cover type in catchments has long been recognized as being an important influence on these regimes. Aspects of aquatic habitat crucial to the persistence of native species have been shown to respond to natural vegetative land cover, including channel geomorphology, water quality, and sources of energy driving the ecosystem. However, management targets designating protective levels of natural cover at the catchment scale are rare in practice. This session explores the science supporting natural land cover targets protecting watershed processes and dependent native species. Focal questions: What are relative extents of native land cover that are necessary to protect watersheds? Does spatial configuration matter? What is the nature of the functional responses? We’ll discuss results to see if/how general conclusions apply. The goal is to inform conservation practitioners of current findings, timely during current State Wildlife Action Plan revisions.
Organizer: Mark Scott, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, [email protected]
Co-organizers: Brandon Peoples, Kevin Kubach, Rachel Moore, Clint Burton
Supported by: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Clemson University