Tree species and functional traits but not species richness affect interrill erosion processes in young subtropical forests
Soil erosion is seriously threatening ecosystem functioning in many parts of the world. In this context, it is assumed that tree species richness and functional diversity of tree communities can play a critical role in improving ecosystem services such as erosion control. An experiment with 170 micro-scale run-off plots was conducted to investigate the influence of tree species and tree species richness as well as functional traits on interrill erosion in a young forest ecosystem. An interrill erosion rate of 47.5Mgha^-1 a^-1 was calculated. This study provided evidence that different tree species affect interrill erosion differently, while tree species richness did not affect interrill erosion in young forest stands. Thus, different tree morphologies have to be considered, when assessing soil erosion under forest. High crown cover and leaf area index reduced interrill erosion in initial forest ecosystems, whereas rising tree height increased it. Even if a leaf litter cover was not present, the remaining soil surface cover by stones and biological soil crusts was the most important driver for soil erosion control. Furthermore, soil organic matter had a decreasing influence on interrill erosion. Long-term monitoring of soil erosion under closing tree canopies is necessary, and a wide range of functional tree traits should be considered in future research.
2014-03-28 12:01:48 UTC
final
SP06e Mechanisms of soil erosion as a function of species richness and species composition in subtropical forests
Steffen Seitz, Dr.
steffen.seitz@uni-tuebingen.de
Zhengshan Song
zhengshan.song@uni-tuebingen.de
Thomas Scholten
thomas.scholten@uni-tuebingen.de
Helge Bruelheide, Prof.
helge.bruelheide@botanik.uni-halle.de
Peter Kühn
peter.kuehn@uni-tuebingen.de
Philipp Goebes
philipp.goebes@uni-tuebingen.de
Ying Li, Dr.
yingli8441@hotmail.com
Karsten Schmidt
Karsten.Schmidt@uni-tuebingen.de
Werner Härdtle, Prof.
werner.haerdtle@leuphana.de
Main Experiment: Runoff Plots in the Main Experiment - Data
main
true
Steffen Seitz, Dr.
steffen.seitz@uni-tuebingen.de
https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/376/download
https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/376/download.csv?separate_category_columns=true
Main Experiment: Runoff Plots in the Main Experiment - Positions
side
false
Thomas Scholten
thomas.scholten@uni-tuebingen.de
Bertram Bläschke
bertram.blaeschke@uni-tuebingen.de
Peter Kühn
peter.kuehn@uni-tuebingen.de
Steffen Seitz, Dr.
steffen.seitz@uni-tuebingen.de
https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/94/download
https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/94/download.csv?separate_category_columns=true
Main Experiment: Climate measurements in the Main Experiment (2009-2012)
side
false
Philipp Goebes
philipp.goebes@uni-tuebingen.de
Steffen Seitz, Dr.
steffen.seitz@uni-tuebingen.de
Thomas Scholten
thomas.scholten@uni-tuebingen.de
Peter Kühn
peter.kuehn@uni-tuebingen.de
Karsten Schmidt
Karsten.Schmidt@uni-tuebingen.de
https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/175/download
https://data.botanik.uni-halle.de/bef-china/datasets/175/download.csv?separate_category_columns=true
Soil
2016-01-21
accepted