As you move away from the stream, there tends to be a greater variety of trees and shrubs. The role of the streamside forest in shaping the stream environment and aquatic habitats also varies in relation to stream size. Streamside forests influence food, shelter, light, and water temperature in aquatic habitats. They provide food in the form of leaf litter, insects, and an occasional squirrel for aquatic insects, fish, and amphibians. Roots, stems, and overhead cover provide shelter to these same animals.
Many aquatic insects spend at least some part of their life cycle in the streamside forest.
Water temperature is also critical to aquatic insects, fish and amphibians. Many terrestrial animals depend at least in part on streamside forests for their habitat requirements. Some, like amphibians and reptiles, may live their entire lives in or near the streamside forest. Streamside forests provide travel corridors for large secretive animals like bear, cougar, and deer. Generally, the value of forest as a wildlife habitat increases with its width, degree of continuity along and across the stream, plant species diversity, and structural complexity.