(2000) and Verry et al. (2004) suggested to add the term “ecotone” with riparian,
because it is not an ecosystem rather a part of the two ecosystems. Thus, it can be
stated that in the legacy of the use of varied suffixes the suffix “ecotone” goes much
in compliance.
Along with the variability related to the use of suffixes and synonyms against the
word riparian, a large amount of variability can also be seen in defining the word
“riparian”. There is no universally accepted definition of the term riparian by the
scientific or regulatory community (Zaimes et al. 2007). The term “riparian” has
been defined like a tailor-made approach by the researchers of varied disciplines so
far, with each of them emphasising according to their disciplines.
9.2.1 Criteria of Defining “Riparian” in Literature so Far
The definition of the word “riparian” has seen a progression from legal aspect to
scientific; since the 1980s, several researchers have added different aspects of varied
scientific disciplines subsequently seeing a progression.
1. Legal – The term has been used by the US government, in policy and regulations
related to water law. The term was used basically to protect the area near the water
bodies from anthropogenic activities. Further these zones were considered both
hydrologically and ecologically important (FEMAT 1993; Parrott et al. 1997;
NRCS 2002).
2. Hydrologic – The authors have defined riparian zone in connection with the river
flows indicating towards an area close to the river (Bren 1993; Malanson 1993;
Osterkamp 2008; Lovett and Price 1999).
3. Ecology (vegetation) – The word “riparian” has been used over the years by
several ecologists to define the vegetated strip near the river (Narumalani et al.
1997; Gregory et al. 1991; Martin et al. 1999).
4. Edaphic – The scientists used an approach defining riparian areas on the basis of
soil water availability (Naiman et al. 1993; Naiman and Decamps 1997; Ledesma
et al. 2018).
Over the period of time, several authors have attempted to comprehensively
discuss the progression and variability in defining the riparian areas. To be mentioned are review papers by Verry et al. (2004), Naiman et al. (2005), Clerici et al.
(2011) and Dufour et al. (2019). Baker (2002) asserted that no one definition satisfies
more than two to three disciplines, as every researcher emphasises the subject matter
while defining the riparian. According to Verry et al. (2004) “the concept of riparian
must tie definition, delineation and resource data aggregation together into a logical
sequence”, and defining “riparian” must include geomorphology, ecology and
species association (Verry et al. 2004; Dufour et al. 2019).
The vast array of riparian definitions ranges from simplest to complex, further to
structural and functional type. The simplest form of defining the word riparian is
considering it as a transition zone, while complexity arises when considering it as the
9 Riparian Ecotones: An Important Derivative for Managing River Pollution
203
because it is not an ecosystem rather a part of the two ecosystems. Thus, it can be
stated that in the legacy of the use of varied suffixes the suffix “ecotone” goes much
in compliance.
Along with the variability related to the use of suffixes and synonyms against the
word riparian, a large amount of variability can also be seen in defining the word
“riparian”. There is no universally accepted definition of the term riparian by the
scientific or regulatory community (Zaimes et al. 2007). The term “riparian” has
been defined like a tailor-made approach by the researchers of varied disciplines so
far, with each of them emphasising according to their disciplines.
9.2.1 Criteria of Defining “Riparian” in Literature so Far
The definition of the word “riparian” has seen a progression from legal aspect to
scientific; since the 1980s, several researchers have added different aspects of varied
scientific disciplines subsequently seeing a progression.
1. Legal – The term has been used by the US government, in policy and regulations
related to water law. The term was used basically to protect the area near the water
bodies from anthropogenic activities. Further these zones were considered both
hydrologically and ecologically important (FEMAT 1993; Parrott et al. 1997;
NRCS 2002).
2. Hydrologic – The authors have defined riparian zone in connection with the river
flows indicating towards an area close to the river (Bren 1993; Malanson 1993;
Osterkamp 2008; Lovett and Price 1999).
3. Ecology (vegetation) – The word “riparian” has been used over the years by
several ecologists to define the vegetated strip near the river (Narumalani et al.
1997; Gregory et al. 1991; Martin et al. 1999).
4. Edaphic – The scientists used an approach defining riparian areas on the basis of
soil water availability (Naiman et al. 1993; Naiman and Decamps 1997; Ledesma
et al. 2018).
Over the period of time, several authors have attempted to comprehensively
discuss the progression and variability in defining the riparian areas. To be mentioned are review papers by Verry et al. (2004), Naiman et al. (2005), Clerici et al.
(2011) and Dufour et al. (2019). Baker (2002) asserted that no one definition satisfies
more than two to three disciplines, as every researcher emphasises the subject matter
while defining the riparian. According to Verry et al. (2004) “the concept of riparian
must tie definition, delineation and resource data aggregation together into a logical
sequence”, and defining “riparian” must include geomorphology, ecology and
species association (Verry et al. 2004; Dufour et al. 2019).
The vast array of riparian definitions ranges from simplest to complex, further to
structural and functional type. The simplest form of defining the word riparian is
considering it as a transition zone, while complexity arises when considering it as the
9 Riparian Ecotones: An Important Derivative for Managing River Pollution
203