Conservation value of agricultural riparian strips in the Boyer River watershed, Québec (Canada)

Riparian habitats play a major role in biodiversity conservation in intensive agricultural landscapes because they represent remnants of both wetland and woody habitats available for wildlife. The importance of herbaceous, shrubby and wooded riparian habitats for the conservation of biodiversity (plants, amphibians, reptiles, birds, small mammals) is well documented for the Boyer River watershed (southern Québec, Canada). This paper examines their conservation value for these different taxonomic groups at the watershed level and the possible effects on wildlife of various landscape modification scenarios. The overall species richness and insectivorous bird abundance in the watershed would increase markedly if there were more wooded strips in the landscape mainly due to additional plant and bird species. A scenario where all three types of riparian strips would be well-represented in the watershed is most likely to be implemented. This scenario would be the most beneficial to wildlife communities because of high native species diversity within wooded strips combined with the presence of unique species associated with each of the three types of strips. Encouraging landowners to protect existing wooded riparian habitats would be the most effective and cost-beneficial method to maintain current level of habitats distribution in the landscape, and to favour the establishment of new shrubby and wooded strips in the Boyer River watershed.