| Summary: | This study compared three different types of reaches at streams and how bryophyte species richness, diversity and abundance in the riparian zone differ between them. The different types of reaches are those that have been treated by two types of restoration techniques (best practise and advanced) and streams that have still not been restored (channelized). The bryophytes were gathered from 15 tributaries to Vindelälven, which is in northern Sweden. Bryophyte species richness and diversity was highest at the streams that were still not restored, and I found numerous factors that could explain why this was the case. Fourteen environmental variables were tested against the three bryophyte factors to try to explain the variation found in the study. Time since restoration and the amount of tree biomass in the area could explain the species richness found at the different river types. The study shows that short-term effects of restoration on the riparian zone is a decrease in bryophyte species richness and diversity. However, given enough time the bryophytes are expected to recover in regards to species richness and diversity.
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