Abstract Details
(2020) Soil Erosion Rejuvenates Vegetation Community Composition
Eger A, Burge O & Almond P
https://doi.org/10.46427/gold2020.647
The author has not provided any additional details.
10e: Room 5, Thursday 25th June 23:18 - 23:21
Listed below are questions that have been submitted by the community that the author will try and cover in their presentation. To submit a question, ensure you are signed in to the website. Authors or session conveners approve questions before they are displayed here.
Submitted by Eron Raines on Wednesday 24th June 22:28
Hi Andre. I enjoyed learning about what vegetation is doing there close to the Franz Josef... Why do think a relationship between soil erosion and changes in plant community would exist? Is it just potentially a fresh input of nutrients you think? Thanks! Eron
Hi Eron, yes, that's the idea behind the rejuvenation: increasing slope angles generally mean faster erosion rates and thus increased rates of unweathered substrate (including the mineral nutrients) being incorporated into the soil envelope. From the legacy of work on the Franz Josef chronosequence we know that soil fertility is the main driver behind the changes in vegetation in the area (but not the only one of course). At >4000 mm of precipitation per year, cation and phosphorus loss is quite high and soil fertility declines rapidly. As such, the west coast of the South Island is a very suitable place to study the mechanisms of 'natural fertilisation' of ecosystems. I hope that answers your question. Thanks!
Hi Andre. I enjoyed learning about what vegetation is doing there close to the Franz Josef... Why do think a relationship between soil erosion and changes in plant community would exist? Is it just potentially a fresh input of nutrients you think? Thanks! Eron
Hi Eron, yes, that's the idea behind the rejuvenation: increasing slope angles generally mean faster erosion rates and thus increased rates of unweathered substrate (including the mineral nutrients) being incorporated into the soil envelope. From the legacy of work on the Franz Josef chronosequence we know that soil fertility is the main driver behind the changes in vegetation in the area (but not the only one of course). At >4000 mm of precipitation per year, cation and phosphorus loss is quite high and soil fertility declines rapidly. As such, the west coast of the South Island is a very suitable place to study the mechanisms of 'natural fertilisation' of ecosystems. I hope that answers your question. Thanks!
Sign in to ask a question.