Primary Vegetation Succession Research Articles

Quantification of biogeomorphic interactions between small‐scale sediment transport and primary vegetation succession on proglacial slopes of the Gepatschferner, Austria

AbstractProglacial slopes provide suitable conditions for observing the co‐development of abiotic and biotic systems. The frequency and magnitude of geomorphic processes and plant composition govern this interplay, which is described in the model of biogeomorphic succession. In high mountain environments, this model has only been tested in a limited number of studies. The study aimed to quantify small‐scale sediment transport via erosion plots along a plant cover gradient and to investigate the influence of sediment transport on plant communities. We aimed to generate quantitative data to test existing biogeomorphic models. Small‐scale biogeomorphic interactions were investigated on 30 test plots of 2 × 3 m size on proglacial slopes of the Gepatschferner (Kaunertal) in the Austrian Alps during the snow‐free summer months over three consecutive years. The experimental plots were established on slopes along a plant cover gradient. A detailed vegetation survey was carried out to capture biotic conditions, and specific sediment yield was measured at each plot. Species abundance and composition at each site reflected successional stages. Additional environmental parameters, such as terrain age, geomorphometry, grain size distribution, soil nutrients, and precipitation, were also included in the analyses. We observed two pronounced declines in geomorphic activity on plots with both above 30% and above 75% plant cover. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling showed distinct clusters of vegetation composition that mainly followed a successional gradient. Sites that were affected by high‐magnitude geomorphic events showed different environmental conditions and species communities. Quantified process rates and observed species composition support the concept of biogeomorphic succession. The findings help to narrow down a biogeomorphic feedback window.

Characteristics and controls of vegetation and diversity changes monitored with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the foreland of the Urumqi Glacier No. 1, Tianshan, China

Exposed surfaces following glacial retreat are ideal field laboratories for studying primary vegetation succession. Many related studies based on ground sampling methods have been performed worldwide in proglacial zones, but studies on species diversity and vegetation succession using aerial photography have been rare. In this study, we investigated soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), plant species diversity, and fractional vegetation cover (FVC) along a chronosequence within the foreland of Urumqi Glacier No. 1 by combining field sampling and aerial photography. We then analysed soil development and vegetation succession along distance (distance from glacier terminus) and time (terrain age) gradients as well as the relationships between topographic and environmental variables (aspect, slope, SOC, and TN), distance, time, and species distributions. The results indicated that: (1) plant diversity and FVC showed increasing trends with increases in distance and terrain age, whereas soil nutrient content varied nonlinearly; (2) Silene gonosperma, Leontopodium leontopodioides, and Saussurea gnaphalodes were the dominant species in the early, transient, and later succession stages, respectively. Cancrinia chrysocephala occurred in all stages and had a high abundance in the early and later stages; and (3) the relationships of FVC with soil nutrient content were nonlinear. Moreover, distance and site age played important roles in species distribution. These findings confirm that distance and terrain age positively affect vegetation succession. The increase in FVC facilitated the accumulation of soil nutrition, but this trend was affected by the rapid growth of plants. Caryophyllaceae and Asteraceae were the most common plants during the succession stages, and the former tended to colonise in the early succession stage. We conclude that the UAV-based method exhibits a high application potential for assessing vegetation dynamics in glacier forelands, which has a significance for long-term and repeated monitoring on the process of vegetation colonisation and succession in deglaciated areas.

Primary Successions of Vegetation on the Young Moraines in the Severo-Chuiskiy Center of Glaciation (Central Altai)

The primary successions of vegetation have been investigated in the continental conditions of the Severo-Chuiskiy center of present-day glaciation (Central Altai) from the colonization of deglaciated terrains by the first plants to the formation of simple plant groups to the primary plant communities. The observations were carried out for 15 years on the young moraines of the valley glaciers of Malyi Aktru (2200–2250 m a.s.l.) and Bolshoi–Levyi Aktru (2370–2500 m a.s.l.) in chrono-sequences from the ends of glaciers to the moraines of the mid-19th century. Three stages and four sub-stages of the primary succession of vegetation are identified. The species composition of vascular plants, mosses, and ground lichens is identified; the dominant species and the peculiarities of primary vegetation are characterized. Ideas about the course of successions and their peculiarities at different altitudes in the upper part of the forest and subchalet altitudinal zones are obtained. It has been found that, in the 150 year period, a young forest community has been formed on new moraines in the upper part of the forest altitudinal zone, and a combination of microcenoses similar to tundra communities have been formed in the alpine altitudinal zone. The primary succession of vegetation on both glacier forelands has some similarities, especially in early stages of ecosystem development (pioneer species composition and three-stage structure of successions). Strong differences appear during the late stages of succession. The primary succession of vegetation on the foreland of the Malyi Aktru glacier involves 146 species of vascular plants, 44 species of mosses, and 6 species of lichens. On the foreland of Bolshoi Levyi Aktru, 128 species of vascular plants, 26 species of mosses, and 8 ground lichens have been recorded.

Highly patterned primary succession after fluvial deposition of mining waste

This study examined early stages (3-5 years) of spontaneous primary vegetation succession on a model locality drastically altered by long term fluvial deposition of copper tailings in Eastern Serbia. In a large-scale survey, 115 samples of herbaceous vegetation (with a total of 75 species) were harvested from standardized 1m x 1m quadrates, and concomitant soil samples collected and their relevant physicochemical properties analysed. Primary succession depended on the establishment of five pioneer species (Rumex acetosella, Agrostis capillaris, Calamagrostis epigeios, Persicaria lapathifolia and Chenopodium botrys). Unconstrained ordination showed very clear vegetation gradients, significantly correlated with the key soil constraints (from Cu excess to low pH and nutrient deficiency), while the distribution of the five edificatory pioneers showed high degree of dependence on the micro-level habitat conditions. This work demonstrates that in such a complex setup with severe abiotic filtering, sufficient sampling effort can reveal strong patterns in a process commonly considered very stochastic.

Identification of the alteration of riparian wetland on soil properties, enzyme activities and microbial communities following extreme flooding

In China, most riparian wetlands have undergone degradation and shrinkage, due to severe droughts or low hydrological connectivity. There are considerable studies focusing on the impact of water level on wetland vegetation; however, changes in the soil components, such as the microbial community, of wetlands following flooding remains unclear. Here, we verified the effects of an extreme flooding event on the soil physicochemical conditions, enzyme activities and soil microbial composition. Overall, we observed that the flooding event impacted the soil properties and modified the enzyme activities. Also, the flooding affected more the biomass than the composition of the soil microbial community. We observed that after the flooding event, manganese (Mn) replaced total nitrogen (TN) as one of the major governing factors of soil enzyme activities. Soil organic carbon (SOC), and pH were also correlated with soil enzyme activities before and after the flooding event. Soil conductivity (EC), C/N ratio, and iron (Fe) contents had a large influence on microbial communities. Nevertheless, the soil C/N ratio was the dominant governing factor of the microbial structure. Therefore, edaphic factors were remarkably related to microbial organisms as flooding was deemed a key driving factor to the linkage between them. The antecedent long-term drought provoked by human disturbance, and subsequent flooding (i.e., re-inundating) may thus damage the soil dynamics of riparian wetlands, and hence, altering the carbon storage capacity. The results of this study suggest that rehabilitating hydrological connectivity and promoting primary succession of vegetation could become effective practices for improving the soil ecosystem of riparian wetlands.

Primary vegetation succession and the serpentine syndrome: the proglacial area of the Verra Grande glacier, North-Western Italian Alps

Initial stages of pedogenesis are particularly slow on serpentinite. This implies a slow accumulation of available nutrients and leaching of phytotoxic elements. Thus, a particularly slow plant primary succession should be observed on serpentinitic proglacial areas. The observation of soil-vegetation relationships in such environments should give important information on the development of the “serpentine syndrome”. Plant-soil relationships have been statistically analysed, comparing morainic environments on pure serpentinite and serpentinite with small sialic inclusions in the North-western Italian Alps. Pure serpentinite supported strikingly different plant communities in comparison with the sites where the serpentinitic till was enriched by small quantities of sialic rocks. While on the former materials almost no change in plant species composition was observed in 190 years, 4 different species associations were developed with time on the other. Plant cover and biodiversity were much lower on pure serpentinite as well. Extremely low P and high Ni contents in soil were strongly related with these differences, but none of them could be interpreted as the actual limiting factor for plant development on pure serpentinite. Other nutrients or bases were not related with the different primary succession speed and species composition.

Ants as Ecosystem Engineers in Natural Restoration of Human Made Habitats

Abstract Three to four dominant seed-transporting ant species of different size categories (Tetramorium caespitum, Lasius niger, Formica rufibarbis/Formica pratensis) on the plateau of abandoned ore sedimentation basin (tailings containment) were studied as pioneer and subsequent colonisers of this industrial waste deposit, from the viewpoint of their functioning in plant seed dispersal. We examined the role of ants in primary vegetation succession. Experiments of seed removal by ants with plant species found within close proximity of tailings were related to the succession. Ant activity generates a considerable shift in the quality of the colonised surface, as they collectively act as ecosystem engineers

Vegetation Development on Deglaciated Rock Outcrops from Glaciar Frías, Argentina

The retreat of glaciers during past decades has led to the emergence of large rock outcrops in many glaciated areas around the world. Primary succession of vegetation in glacier forelands has been described for many regions, but most studies have been conducted on glacial deposits, whereas deglaciated rock outcrops have received little attention. This study assesses the pattern of primary succession on a chronosequence of five rock outcrops exposed during the past 140 years by the retreat of Glaciar Frías in the Patagonian Andes, Argentina. Data on floristic composition and species cover for algae, lichens, ferns, bryophytes, and vascular plants were recorded on sampling plots. Ordination and classification analyses discriminate three major successional stages, each dominated by a different species assemblage, suggesting directional replacement of species in the succession. The pioneer stage is dominated by the crustose lichen Placopsis perrugosa, the mid-successional stage by a lichen-moss mat dominated by the moss Racomitrium lanuginosum, and the late-successional stage by a large diversity of vascular plants. The low density of Nothofagus dombeyi saplings in the late-successional site indicates that plant succession is still in progress 140 years after deglaciation. Progress in succession appears to be influenced by species life-cycle traits and facilitative interactions among species. The comparison of the successional processes between rock outcrops and unconsolidated glacial deposits suggests that the vegetation sequence is similar, but the rate of succession is slower on rock outcrops. The development of a ground lichen-moss cover, previous to the widespread colonization by vascular plants, accounts for the slower succession progress on rock outcrops. The establishment of Nothofagus stands takes at least 100 yrs longer on the rock outcrops than on glacial deposits. Under predicted climate warming, most Patagonian Andes glaciers will continue the retreat along steep bedrock slopes, where similar, long-term vegetation successional patterns to those observed on Glaciar Frías foreland will eventually occur.

The “European Aeolian Sand Belt”: Geoconservation of Drift Sand Landscapes

The aeolian geological record for Europe, as reflected in the “European sand belt” in the northern European Lowlands, which extends from Britain to the Polish–Russian border and beyond, is known in detail. Mainly in the western part of this sand belt, extensive Late Holocene moving sand areas developed due to overexploitation (deforestation, sheep and cattle grazing, cutting of heather sods for plaggen agriculture, etc.) of the sandy soils. In the past, these man-made deserts were considered as wastelands as moving sands threatened to cover arable fields and villages. However, the majority of these drift sand regions have now been stabilized by a natural or artificial vegetation cover. In the Netherlands, almost all dune fields were transformed into pine (Pinus sylvestris) plantations during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Of the originally approximately 950 km2 of actively moving drift sand areas, only 15/16 km2 remains today. It is increasingly realized that these small remaining areas represent a unique ecosystem characterized by current geomorphic (aeolian) processes, primary vegetation succession, and a special floral and faunal composition adapted to extreme environmental conditions. New perceptions in nature management and geoconservation led to the view that reactivating some of the formerly bare drift sand areas will strongly increase their geomorphological, ecological, and educational importance. Careful and efficient management requires detailed knowledge of the interaction of the many geomorphological, ecological, and land use processes. After reviewing the distribution, origin, and geomorphic properties of drift sand landscapes, reactivation projects and plans in the Netherlands are discussed.

Loss of apatite caused irreversible early-Holocene lake acidification

Lakes created by retreating ice at the end of the last glaciation underwent rapid acidification during the first few thousand years of their existence, a phenomenon attributed in part to progressive leaching of soil bases since it was discovered more than 80 yeas ago. Though a role for leaching is still acknowledged, the most recent studies see this as subordinate to the effects of biological and climatic changes initiated by deglaciation, chiefly primary vegetation succession and species immigration. Until now there has been no quantitative test of the relative importance of these different mechanisms. Here I use geochemical modelling of runoff acidity to show that the extent and timing of early Holocene lake acidification in eight published palaeoecological records can be explained by leaching of the calcium phosphate mineral apatite from the granitic till soils of their catchments, at a rate controlled by simple dissolution kinetic factors. This shows that a single progressive abiotic process is capable of explaining a natural phenomenon that is currently attributed to complex biological and climatic interactions. The finding has important implications for our understanding of long-term lake ecosystem development because the mechanism is inherently irreversible, in contrast to the alternative ecological and climatic mechanisms which are not. Furthermore, the finding reinforces the view that long-term ecosystem modelling cannot safely neglect nutrient limitation, as is currently the practice in widely used global dynamic vegetation models.

Vegetation Succession Pattern and Diversity Changes in a Glacier Valley, Central Alps, Austria

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of comparable unequal environmental conditions on primary vegetation succession in an alpine glacier valley by the means of transects. Two longitudinal transects were established along the glacier foreland of the Rotmoosferner, Tyrol, Austria, and two transverse transects were established across the valley on the 1923 and 1858 moraines. The progressions of alpha- and beta-diversity were compared, and vegetation data within the glacier foreland were analyzed. Moraine age emerged as the primary factor within a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), while the second axis separated the two valley sides. A clearly differentiated development of plant communities became obvious especially within the early development stages. Early development of vegetation cover and alpha diversity was further developed on the shaded valley side, and progression of beta diversity differed significantly among the valley sides. The results indicate two different successional pathways, on both the qualitative and the quantitative level. These can be attributed to differences in the extent of solar irradiation (sunny vs. shaded side), lithology, geomorphic processes, and a multitude of other factors, reinforcing the dissimilarity between the valley sides. Our approach highlights the necessity of a deliberate sampling design within different glacier forelands sensitive to environmental conditions created by the topography that may impact comparisons among the forelands.

Initial Soil Formation Processes of Volcanogenous Regosols (Scoriacious) from Miyake-jima Island, Japan

In the initial soil formation processes of the Volcanogenous Regosols (Scoriacious) from Miyake-jima Island, Japan, the soil profile morphology showed a distinct formation of the A horizon, about 10 cm thick, over C horizons during a period of 125 years. Along with these soil formation processes under the primary succession of vegetation from bare land to mixed forest, the following changes in the soil characteristics were observed of four study sites where soil formation had occurred over a period of 16, 38, 60 and 125 years in scoriacious volcanic materials ejected during each eruption. Whole soil samples of the surface horizon showed that the proportion of the > 2mm fraction decreased and the clay fraction increased. Electron microscopic observation revealed that pores on the scoria surface were newly formed and had expanded with advanced weathering, and that the formation of a weathering zone on the scoria surface (polygonal shape) was more recognized with the passage of time. Soil pH of the surface horizon decreased, and the amount of carbon in the surface samples showed a linear increase with the passage of time. The amounts of exchangeable bases and the CEC value of the surface samples showed comparable increase rates with time. Consequently, the base saturation percentage was kept at about 100% during the 125-year period. It was suggested that the increase in the amounts of exchangeable bases was controlled by the increase in the amounts of soil organic matter accumulated during the initial soil formation processes of Volcanogenous Regosols (Scoriacious).

Temporal and vertical organic matter differentiation along a vegetation succession as revealed by pyrolysis and thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation

The origin and chemical nature of soil organic matter (SOM) in the ectorganic (L, F and H) horizons from four profiles from different stages of a primary vegetation succession on drift sand was studied to evaluate the impact of the vegetation on organic matter formation. In addition, the main sources of SOM, i.e. needles, leaves and (fine) roots of the covering species were analysed. Using conventional pyrolysis, virtually no differences were found between profiles in the same pine forest but with (chemically) different undergrowths ( Deschampsia flexuosa vs. Empetrum nigrum) that clearly delivered leaf and root litter to SOM. Thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation (THM) of the same samples released compounds that were not detected by conventional pyrolysis without methylation. These compounds included methyl ethers and methyl esters of ((poly)hydroxy)alkanoic acids and were identified as building blocks of cutin and suberin. Both biopolymers appeared to be better tracers of the various inputs of plant material than lignin, particularly in case of the most humified SOM. Although there was evidence of alteration of cutin and suberin compositions in the course of the succession in the beech forest, an inventory was still possible of above- and below ground litter as sources of SOM.

Composition of plant tissues and soil organic matter in the first stages of a vegetation succession

Differences in soil organic matter (SOM) composition in consecutive soil profiles (under algae, grass, moss, heather and pine) from a primary vegetation succession (central Netherlands) were investigated by Cross Polarization-Magic Angle Spinning (CPMAS) 13C NMR, chemical degradation (acid hydrolysis of polysaccharides) and pyrolysis-GC/MS (Py-GC/MS) in relation to the vegetation. All mineral soil horizons had lower contents of polysaccharides than the ectorganic layer and/or the fresh plant material as suggested by the diminishing O-alkyl peaks by NMR. The monosaccharide distribution pointed to an increase of microbial sugars in the soil as suggested by the raising C 6/C 5 ratios. Soil polysaccharides may be accompanied by a significant contribution of carbohydrates from mosses in the first stages, because the undecomposed moss tissues have high C 6/C 5 ratios, which falsify the usual interpretation that such high ratios may be due to microbial sugars. Fresh litter and ectorganic layers under heather and pine had similar contents of aromatics, but the contribution of lignin (guaiacols and syringols) was lower in the ectorganic horizons. The degree of oxidation, as determined by the acid/aldehyde ratio, increased with progressive humification. All Ah horizons contained less aromatics, more oxidized lignin remnants and higher amounts of aliphatic compounds than the litter. One or two macromolecules, which produced n-alkenes/ n-alkanes and branched alkenes/alkanes upon pyrolysis and were derived from mosses, were mainly responsible for the accumulation of aliphatics in soil, although other aliphatic polymers, such as suberin, might also play an important role. Preservation of components from earlier vegetation might significantly influence SOM composition.

Succession of vegetation on dumps from strip coal mining, N. W. Bohemia, Czechoslovakia

Folia Geobot. Phytotax., Praha, 22: 339–354.—The primary succession of vegetation (higher plants) was studied on large dumps from brown coal mining in N.W. Bohemia, Czechoslovakia. Three differently aged stages were investigated (1977–1986), using permanent plots and transects. Changes in the species composition, the participation of life forms, and the species diversity were expressed on the basis of cover data for a period of 30 years of the succession. The data were processed by an ordination technique (DCA).

The significance of waterfowl grazing in the primary vegetation succession on embanked sandflats

The significance of waterfowl grazing in the primary vegetation succession on embanked sandflats

Pollen diagrams from interior Labrador

Six pollen zones can be distinguished in interior Labrador. The earlier zones represent the primary succession of vegetation from bare ground to boreal woodland or forest, which occupied about 500 years between 5700 and 5200 B.P. There have been only minor fluctuations in the nature of the vegetation since 5200 B.P. Radiocarbon dates show that the zones are contemporaneous over that part of the Lake Plateau within the Churchill River watershed, but similar vegetation changes occurred 1000 years earlier in the Kaniapiskau basin, further north, in New Quebec. These two areas must have been freed of a cover of glacier ice or lake waters immediately before 5700 B.P. and 6700 B.P. respectively.