Effects of woody riparian vegetation on macroinvertebratesare context-specific and large in urban and especiallyagricultural landscapes

O_LIWoody riparian vegetation (WRV) benefits benthic macroinvertebrates. However, in recent large scale studies, the effects of WRV on macroinvertebrates were small compared to catchment landuse, raising the question about the relevance of WRV in restoration. Limited effects of WRV might be due to context specificity: While some functions are provided by WRV irrespective of catchment landuse, others depend on the landscape setting. C_LIO_LIRecursive partitioning modelling was used to identify context dependent effects of WRV on streams macroinvertebrates ecological status in small lowland (n = 361) and mountain streams (n = 748). WRV cover was quantified from orthophotos along the near (500 m) and far (5,000 m) upstream river network and used to predict the sites ecological status. Agricultural, urban and woodland cover at the local and catchment scales along with hydromorphology were considered as partitioning variables. C_LIO_LIIn rural agricultural landscapes, the effect of WRV on the ecological status was large, indicating that establishing WRV can improve the ecological status by as much as two classes. C_LIO_LIIn streams impacted by catchment urbanization, effects of WRV were largest, but WRV cover and ecological status were both low, indicating practical limitations of WRV restoration in urban catchments. C_LIO_LISynthesis and applications: Independent effects of WRV on macroinvertebrates ecological status can be discerned from catchment landuse. While WRV can also improve the ecological status in urban settings, it is especially relevant for river management in rural agricultural catchments, where developing WRV potentially are effective measures to reach good ecological status C_LI