The secret world of ditches: An ecosystem service approach to linking aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in agro-landscapes
| dc.contributor.advisor | Baird, Donald J | |
| dc.contributor.author | Rideout, Natalie K | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-01-29T18:29:49Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-01-29T18:29:49Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-12 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Agriculture is intensifying and extensifying, both across Canada and globally, resulting in increasing homogenisation of agro-landscapes. In non-arid zones, this land use change has resulted in the loss of wetland habitat and subsequent replacement with drainage ditches, i.e., linear features designed to control field water levels. These artificial watercourses are designed for utility and are thus managed to enhance crop production. To maximise utility, drains are frequently dredged and riparian vegetation removed. Despite this, in otherwise homogeneous and depauperate landscapes, drainage ditches and agricultural streams can serve as havens for biodiversity, including riparian bird populations. I examined how land use practices within agricultural landscapes influence ecosystem functioning/ services of remnant aquatic and riparian habitats, including drainage ditches and riparian hedgerows. This thesis comprises three data chapters. The first describes how agricultural management affects ecosystem functioning in drainage ditches through alteration of flows. The second examines the role of aquatic insect secondary production as an ecosystem service for riparian bird communities in an agriculturally-dominated watershed of eastern Ontario. The third data chapter examines how agriculture influences dietary and nutritional linkages between tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), riparian insects and emerging aquatic insects. Overall, the research described in this thesis lends support to three key management and policy recommendations. 1) Promoting mosaicked agricultural landscapes as an alternative to intensive agriculture can have wide-ranging benefits to riparian and aquatic ecosystem functions and services. 2) One Health principles—which balance human, animal and environmental health—are critical to better balance biodiversity protection with food production in working landscapes, and agricultural producers should be educated on how to increase their application. 3) Drainage ditches represent important habitat on agro-landscapes; thus, their management and its timing should be undertaken in mind with nature, and continued provisioning of ecosystem functions and associated services. Moreover, it is important to recognise the ecological potential of these remnant habitats so that working landscapes can operate while supporting biodiversity and ecosystem health, finding a balance between food production and environmental stewardship. | |
| dc.description.copyright | © Natalie K. Rideout, 2024 | |
| dc.format.extent | xvi, 213 | |
| dc.format.medium | electronic | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://unbscholar.lib.unb.ca/handle/1882/38241 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | University of New Brunswick | |
| dc.rights | http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2 | |
| dc.subject | NATURAL SCIENCES::Earth sciences::Atmosphere and hydrosphere sciences::Climatology | |
| dc.subject | FORESTRY, AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES and LANDSCAPE PLANNING | |
| dc.subject | FORESTRY, AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES and LANDSCAPE PLANNING::Animal production::Aquaculture | |
| dc.subject.discipline | Biology | |
| dc.title | The secret world of ditches: An ecosystem service approach to linking aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in agro-landscapes | |
| dc.type | doctoral thesis | |
| oaire.license.condition | other | |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Biology | |
| thesis.degree.grantor | University of New Brunswick | |
| thesis.degree.level | doctorate | |
| thesis.degree.name | Ph.D. |