Effects of microtopography on spatial point pattern of forest stands on the semi-arid Loess Plateau, China

Zhao, Weijun; Zhang, Yan; Zhu, Qing; Qin, Wei; Peng, Shuzhen; Ping, Li; Zhao, Yan-min; Ma, Hui; Wang, Yu

doi:10.1007/s40333-015-0123-z

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…These intensive engineering and vegetation projects are the result of the implementation of the various soil and water conservation or sediment control polices (Zhao et al, 2015) (Fig. 8).…”

Section: Policy Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…After the change point year of 1979, the social economy of China developed rapidly following the implementation of the reform and opening-up policy. Small watershed integrated control policies have been implemented to combine the management of hills, water, forests, and cropland, with the aim of reducing sediment and flooding, and improving production (Zhao et al, 2015). Thus, engineering measures, especially terrace farming, reservoirs, and the dams built during this period have significantly contributed to the water and sediment reduction, but the effects of these measures have gradually weakened (Liang et al, 2015).…”

Section: Policy Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Driving forces of changes in the water and sediment relationship in the Yellow River

Wang

Liang

et al. 2017

Science of The Total Environment

118

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The world is composed of various river basins. Within a specific river basin, water and sediment dynamics, and the relationship between them, can be assessed to reflect the basin's functions and services. Due to its changing nature, understanding and balancing the relationship between water and sediment is a global concern and is crucial for the sustainable management of river basins, especially for the Yellow River (YR), which is one of the most sediment-laden rivers in the world. Here, we used the past 60years of runoff and sediment load observations to investigate the middle reach of the YR, i.e., the Loess Plateau (LP), the source of nearly 90% of the sediment load of the river. We found that a sharp (58%) reduction of sediment after 1979 was mainly (59%) caused by a water yield decrease. Engineering and vegetation measures have induced land surface modifications, which are responsible for 76% of the water reduction. These measures have been implemented as part of a coordinated set of soil and water conservation, and sediment control polices. We propose the cessation of such construction and the maintenance of a sustainable (i.e., minimal water consumption) vegetated ecosystem on the LP for soil conservation, and the establishment of an integrated basin-wide ecosystem and land use management regime for sustainable water use and sediment regulation.

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Section: Policy Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Policy Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Driving forces of changes in the water and sediment relationship in the Yellow River

Wang

Liang

et al. 2017

Science of The Total Environment

118

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…In our study, a “fertility island” could have been created around the U. pumila trees due to plant litter and animal manure [35,59], which favored the growth of seedlings [60,61]. In addition, other investigations have found that micro-topography also affects the spatial patterns of species [62,63]. However, our plots were established in flat areas with a relatively low fluctuation (<1 m) to eliminate the effects of micro-topography.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Grazing Altered the Pattern of Woody Plants and Shrub Encroachment in a Temperate Savanna Ecosystem

Zhang

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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Ulmus pumila-dominated temperate savanna is an important tree-grass complex ecosystem in the Otindag sand land, northern China. To date, few investigations have been undertaken on the spatial patterns and structure of this ecosystem and its driving factors under different grazing pressures. The objective of our study therefore is to explore whether grazing has affected the population structure/pattern of woody plants and shrub encroachment in a temperate savanna ecosystem. Results indicate that species richness and seedlings decreased with increasing grazing pressure. An increase in grazing pressure did not significantly affect adult-tree density, but it hindered the normal regeneration of U. pumila seedlings, further inducing population decline. U. pumila seedlings had a more significant aggregated distribution than juvenile or adult trees. The adult and juvenile trees had an aggregated distribution at the small scale and a random distribution at the large scale. Shrubs also showed a significant aggregated distribution. No clear effect on the spatial patterns of adult trees was observed; however, there was a noticeable effect for juveniles and seedlings under different grazing pressures. U. pumila seedlings had a positive association with their juveniles and Spiraea aquilegifolia, but a negative association with Caragana microphylla. Shrub encroachment occurred with decreasing grazing pressures. In conclusion, overgrazing led to the decline of U. pumila population, but the decrease in grazing pressure increased shrub encroachment in the temperate savanna ecosystem. Moderate grazing management may be a better way to enhance the stability of U. pumila population and reduce shrub encroachment.

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“…In terms of the scope of soil development, microtopography is divided into two types: pit and mound on soil morphology caused by fallen trees forming drumlin landforms [19,20]. Another definition of microtopography is the difference in size and shape in the local terrain caused by soil erosion, thus affecting the heterogeneity of habitat conditions such as moisture and soil nutrients on a scale of 1 m 2 or more [21,22] with Microtopographic types include platform, gully, sink hole, scarp and ephemeral gully [23]. Thus, the definition and type of microtopography is "variable", which adjusts to the study in a particular field.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Spatial Model of Landslides with A Micro-Topography and Vegetation Approach for Sustainable Land Management in the Volcanic Area

et al. 2023

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This study aims to produce a spatial model for sustainable land management in landslide-prone areas, based on exploring non-stationary relationships between landslide events, geomorphological and anthropogenic variables on tropical hillsides, especially in Taji Village, Jabung District, East Java Province, Indonesia. A series of approaches combine in this research, and methods are used to construct independent and dependent variables so that GWR can analyze them to obtain the best model. Transformation of categorical data on microtopography, landform, and land cover variables was carried out. When modelled, landscape metrics can explain landslide events in the study area better than distance metrics with adj. R2 = 0.75 and AICc = 2526.38. Generally, local coefficient maps for each variable are mapped individually to reveal their relationship with landslide events, but in this study they are integrated to make it more intuitive and less confusing. From this map, it was found that most of the variables that showed the most positive relationship to the occurrence of landslides in the study area were the divergent footslopes. At the same time, the negative one was plantation land. It was concluded that the methodological approach offered and implemented in this study provides significant output results for the spatial analysis of the interaction of landslide events with geomorphological and anthropogenic variables locally, which cannot be explained in a global regression. This study produces a detailed scale landslide-prone conservation model in tropical hill areas and can be reproduced under the same geo-environmental conditions.

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Effects of microtopography on spatial point pattern of forest stands on the semi-arid Loess Plateau, China

Cited by 13 publications

References 24 publications

Driving forces of changes in the water and sediment relationship in the Yellow River

Driving forces of changes in the water and sediment relationship in the Yellow River

Grazing Altered the Pattern of Woody Plants and Shrub Encroachment in a Temperate Savanna Ecosystem

A Spatial Model of Landslides with A Micro-Topography and Vegetation Approach for Sustainable Land Management in the Volcanic Area

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