Disturbances like soil scouring and vegetation cutting can reduce the number of plant species in riparian areas along rivers. Different types of plants respond differently to these disturbances, with grass-like plants being the most resistant. Overall, disturbances had a negative impact on species richness, but the sensitivity to disturbance did not vary much across large landscapes. The study suggests that while disturbances affect plant diversity, other factors play a bigger role in shaping the patterns of plant species along rivers.