Aeolian deposition and its effect on soil and vegetation changes on stabilised desert dunes in northern China

Fearnehough, W.; Fullen, M. A.; Mitchell, David J.; Trueman, Ian C.; Zhang, J

doi:10.1016/s0169-555x(97)00111-6

Cited by 92 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…These processes favor the outward growth of the bunch grass, thereby initiating ring formation. Our finding are consistent with several field observations in arid and semi-arid regions of the world, which show that aeolian deposits cause vegetation die back and influence the vegetation regrowth patterns (Weaver and Albertson 1936;Robertson 1939;Fearnehough et al 1998;Ravi et al 2007). At this early ring stage, the outer band of grasses shelters the center of the ring from the erosive action of wind.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

“…In some cases, field observations have indicated that in years of high moisture availability, the growth patterns of the recovering grasses were strongly affected by these aeolian deposits (Robertson 1939). Similar processes are also observed in desert shrubs (Fearnehough et al 1998) where aeolian deposits caused vegetation dieback at the center of revegetated dunes. Even though the role of aeolian processes, the dominant transport mechanism in arid and semi-arid landscapes (Breshears et al 2003), in determining vegetation structure and pattern formation is well documented, very few studies have addressed the interactions among aeolian-hydrologic processes and vegetation (e.g., Ravi et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Global climate change models predict an increase in aridity in dryland regions, which may result in the dominance of abiotic controls (hydrologic-aeolian processes) on the formation of vegetation patterns. Further, other studies have shown that our explanation based on hydrologic-aeolian controls on vegetation patterns (through an effect on soil texture/water availability) could be a possible mechanism for the emergence of vegetation patterns and dune formation in arid and semi-arid regions (e.g., Fearnehough et al 1998;Ravi et al 2007). …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The accumulation of fines Fig. 4) results in considerable changes in soil texture (Fearnehough et al 1998;Ravi et al 2007), which in turn affects soil moisture dynamics inside the grass rings. These processes result in a decrease in infiltration rates (and hydraulic conductivity) and subsequent increase in runoff rates from the center to the outer edges (Figs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Form and function of grass ring patterns in arid grasslands: the role of abiotic controls

et al. 2008

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Ring-shaped growth patterns commonly occur in resource-limited arid and semi-arid environments. The spatial distribution, geometry, and scale of vegetation growth patterns result from interactions between biotic and abiotic processes, and, in turn, affect the spatial patterns of soil moisture, sediment transport, and nutrient dynamics in aridland ecosystems. Even though grass ring patterns are observed worldwide, a comprehensive understanding of the biotic and abiotic processes that lead to the formation, growth and breakup of these rings is still lacking. Our studies on patterns of infiltration and soil properties of blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grass rings in the northern Chihuahuan desert indicate that ring patterns result from the interaction between clonal growth mechanisms and abiotic factors such as hydrological and aeolian processes. These processes result in a negative feedback between sediment deposition and vegetation growth inside the bunch grass, which leads to grass die back at the center of the grass clump. We summarize these interactions in a simple theoretical and conceptual model that integrates key biotic and abiotic processes in ring formation, growth and decline.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 73%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Form and function of grass ring patterns in arid grasslands: the role of abiotic controls

et al. 2008

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“…Aeolian transport-aeolian sediment transport is a very complex and dynamic process. Sediment accumulating dynamics on the landscape can vary at both macroscale and microscale [Fearnehough et al, 1998]. Temporal changes in accumulation and erosion rates may also be significant [Pelletier, 2007].…”

Section: 1002/2014jf003186mentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of sediment transport, weathering, and aeolian mechanisms on soil evolution

et al. 2015

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Aeolian-derived soils are found throughout the world. Soil evolution processes in aeolian-dominated landscapes differ from processes in bedrock-weathering landscapes by a number of key aspects including the lack of (1) soil production depth dependency, (2) surface armoring, and (3) grain size self-organization in the soil profile. We use here a soil evolution model (mARM5D) to study the differences between aeolian and bedrock-weathering-dominated landscapes by analyzing soil evolution on a hillslope under various aeolian and bedrock-soil supply settings subject to fluvial and diffusive sediment transport. The model simulates spatial and temporal variation in soil particle size distribution (PSD) and profile depth for each grid cell on the landscape, as a function of physical weathering, aeolian deposition, and diffusive and fluvial sediment transport. Our results indicate that surface armoring plays a major role in soil evolution. Under bedrock-weathering-dominated conditions, armoring reduces soil erosion and in conjunction with depth-dependent soil production, leads to steady state soil grading and depth and a relatively uniform soil distribution. In contrast, aeolian-dominated landscapes tend to have considerable spatial variability in soil depth and PSD. Our results also indicate that in contrast with diffusive transport, which is assumed to be PSD independent, fluvial sediment transport is strongly influenced by the soil production mechanism (aeolian or bedrock weathering). Based on the results presented here, we propose that aeolian-dominated landscapes are more responsive to environmental changes (e.g., climatic and anthropogenic) compared with bedrock-weathering landscapes. We further propose that this sensitivity may help explain the patchy soil distribution that is often observed in aeolian-dominated regions.

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The dual role of soil crusts in desertification

et al. 2015

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Vegetation cover in dry regions is a key variable in determining desertification. Soils exposed to rainfall by desertification can form physical crusts that reduce infiltration, exacerbating water stress on the remaining vegetation. Paradoxically, field studies show that crust removal is associated with plant mortality in desert systems, while artificial biological crusts can improve plant regeneration. Here it is shown how physical crusts can act as either drivers of or buffers against desertification depending on their environmental context. The behavior of crusts is first explored using a simplified theory for water movement on a uniform, partly vegetated slope subject to stationary hydrologic conditions. Numerical model runs supplemented with field data from a semiarid Long-Term Ecological Research site are then applied to represent more realistic environmental conditions. When vegetation cover is significant, crusts can drive desertification, but this process is potentially self-limiting. For low vegetation cover, crusts mitigate against desertification by providing water subsidy to plant communities through a runoff-runon mechanism.

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Aeolian deposition and its effect on soil and vegetation changes on stabilised desert dunes in northern China

Cited by 92 publications

References 26 publications

Form and function of grass ring patterns in arid grasslands: the role of abiotic controls

Form and function of grass ring patterns in arid grasslands: the role of abiotic controls

The effects of sediment transport, weathering, and aeolian mechanisms on soil evolution

The dual role of soil crusts in desertification

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