I guess it is my field, or a part of it.
I have been corresponding with a riverine ecologist just today and reading a few old studies on riparian cover (trees etc that are close to/shading water) and the effects of it's removal. Not good...
The 'leaves' study was too short really to give an accurate picture of the effects of losing all that potential from the food chain. Also, they removed the leaves, but not the trees, quite unnatural, but interesting nonetheless. As I stated above, and should have quantified the leaves study first with it - leaf matter draws nitrate, houses bacteria and insects, and assists some spawning and fry.
Trees are a great addition to any property, but hey, I'm preaching to the converted.
