The influence of seed size and shape on their removal by water erosion

Cerdà, Artemi; Garcı́a-Fayos, P.

doi:10.1016/s0341-8162(02)00027-9

Cited by 92 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Seed capture can result from wind-driven processes (James et al, 2009) or water deposition (Cerda and Garcia-Fayos, 2002), and in this study, relatively high levels of runoff from the biologically crusted surfaces provided the mechanism for seed movement (hydrochory). The extent to which seeds move likely depends on factors such as seed mass and shape, depth of sheet flow and spatial arrangement of surface obstructions.…”

Section: Seed Dispersal and Capturementioning

confidence: 64%

“…Pits and depressions (Milton et al, 1997;Isselin-Nondedeu et al, 2006). Only one species of seed was used in this study, however, and the relative effect of runoff water on seed movement may well have been different had different shaped seeds or those with appendages or mucilaginous secretions been used (Cerda and Garcia-Fayos, 2002;Isselin-Nondedeu et al, 2006). Observations of natural seed germination in pits in this study area show that they support substantially more germinants that adjacent non-pit surfaces, but the extent to which they enhance plant survival is largely unknown.…”

Section: Seed Dispersal and Capturementioning

confidence: 97%

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The resource coupling role of animal foraging pits in semi‐arid woodlands

Eldridge¹

2010

Ecohydrology

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Water is a strong driver of ecosystem function and diversity in resource-limited drylands. Structures that alter the redistribution of water have the potential to affect vegetation pattern and productivity and the maintenance of spatial heterogeneity. We examined the role of surface foraging pits and mounds constructed by the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) on runoff generation, sediment detention and seed capture. We speculated that pits dug into biologically crusted interspace soils would reduce overland flow and act as sinks for seed, while mounds of ejected soil would increase sediment availability. Runoff and sediment yield were examined under simulated rainfall with five levels of disturbance representing the pits and mounds of echidnas. Increasing the level of disturbance up to 47% cover of mounds and pits had no effect on time to ponding, steady-state runoff or the coefficient of runoff. However, time to initiation of runoff, sediment removal rates and sediment concentration in runoff water increased with increasing disturbance. Pit-to-pit and surface-to-pit movements of Dodonaea viscosa seed tended to increase, while pit-to-surface movements tended to remain unchanged with increasing disturbance. Surface-resident seed generally moved shorter distances with increasing disturbance. The results highlight the importance of mounds and pits of soil foraging animals for generating and trapping eroded sediment. Runoff and erosion processes may therefore provide a mechanism for coupling critical resources such as seed, water and sediment in resource-rich patches that will contribute to the development of small-scale heterogeneity in woodlands.

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Section: Seed Dispersal and Capturementioning

confidence: 64%

Section: Seed Dispersal and Capturementioning

confidence: 97%

The resource coupling role of animal foraging pits in semi‐arid woodlands

Eldridge¹

2010

Ecohydrology

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“…These results are consistent with previous research on seedling emergence (Eldridge et al, 2012;Benigno et al, 2013) where soil treatment and tested plant species were different. Cerdà and García-Fayos (2002) and Bochet (2015) noted the influence of the size and shape of seeds in their removal by water erosion. Our results are partly consistent, considering that the heaviest seeds (especially Acer campestre) were completely removed on untreated plots, but we did not have sufficient measurements on the seeds of the tested species to continue analysis of these criteria.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of wood chip amendments on the revegetation performance of plant species on eroded marly terrains in a Mediterranean mountainous climate (Southern Alps, France)

Breton

Crosaz²,

Rey

2016

Solid Earth

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Abstract. The establishment of plant species can limit soil erosion dynamics in degraded lands. In marly areas in the Southern French Alps, both harsh water erosion and drought conditions in summer due to the Mediterranean mountainous climate prevent the natural implementation and regeneration of vegetation. Soil fertility improvement is sometimes necessary. With the purpose of revegetating such areas, we aimed to evaluate the effects of wood chip amendments on the revegetation performance of different native or subspontaneous plant species. We conducted two experiments on steep slopes over three growing seasons (2012)(2013)(2014). The first consisted of planting seedlings (10 species), and the second consisted of seeding (nine species including six used in the first experiment). First we noted that wood chips were able to remain in place even in steep slope conditions. The planting of seedlings showed both an impact of wood chip amendment and differences between species. A positive effect of wood chips was shown with overall improvement of plant survival (increasing by 11 % on average, by up to 50 % for some species). In the seeding experiment, no plants survived after three growing seasons. However, intermediate results for the first and second years showed a positive effect of wood chips on seedling emergence: seeds of four species only sprouted on wood chips, and for the five other species the average emergence rate increased by 50 %.

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“…Lewis et al (2013) highlighted the potential for soil erosion to disseminate the spontaneous grass cover seedbank and to improve the biodiversity indicators in agro-ecosystems of northern Europe. In natural Mediterranean systems, Cerdá and García-Fayos (2002) and García-Fayos et al (2010) described the susceptibility to seed removal by water erosion according to seed and landscape features. In this context, an annual sediment delivery ratio of 4 % was found in PG using the SEDD model (Sediment Delivery Distributed; Taguas el al., 2011), while in Conchuela the value was over 90 % indicating an efficient rate of transport, as calculated by Burguet (2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the linkage between spontaneous grass cover biodiversity and soil degradation in two olive orchard microcatchments with contrasting environmental and management conditions

Taguas

Arroyo

Lora

et al. 2015

SOIL

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Abstract. Spontaneous grass covers are an inexpensive soil erosion control measure in olive orchards. Olive farmers allow grass to grow on sloping terrain to comply with the basic environmental standards derived from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP, European Commission). However, to date there are few studies assessing the environmental quality considering such covers. In this study, we measured biodiversity indices for spontaneous grass cover in two olive orchards with contrasting site conditions and management regimes in order to evaluate the potential for biodiversity metrics to serve as an indicator of soil degradation. In addition, the differences and temporal variability of biodiversity indicators and their relationships with environmental factors such as soil type and properties, precipitation, topography and soil management were analysed.Different grass cover biodiversity indices were evaluated in two olive orchard catchments under conventional tillage and no tillage with grass cover, during 3 hydrological years (2011)(2012)(2013). Seasonal samples of vegetal material and photographs in a permanent grid (4 samples ha −1 ) were taken to characterize the temporal variations of the number of species, frequency of life forms, diversity and modified Shannon and Pielou indices.Sorensen's index showed strong differences in species composition for the grass covers in the two olive orchard catchments, which are probably linked to the different site conditions. The catchment (CN) with the best site conditions (deeper soil and higher precipitation) and most intense management presented the highest biodiversity indices as well as the highest soil losses (over 10 t ha −1 ). In absolute terms, the diversity indices of vegetation were reasonably high for agricultural systems in both catchments, despite the fact that management activities usually severely limit the landscape and the variety of species. Finally, a significantly higher content of organic matter in the first 10 cm of soil was found in the catchment with worse site conditions in terms of water deficit, average annual soil losses of 2 t ha −1 and the least intense management. Therefore, the biodiversity indices considered in this study to evaluate spontaneous grass cover were not found to be suitable for describing the soil degradation in the study catchments.

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The influence of seed size and shape on their removal by water erosion

Cited by 92 publications

References 12 publications

The resource coupling role of animal foraging pits in semi‐arid woodlands

The resource coupling role of animal foraging pits in semi‐arid woodlands

Effects of wood chip amendments on the revegetation performance of plant species on eroded marly terrains in a Mediterranean mountainous climate (Southern Alps, France)

Exploring the linkage between spontaneous grass cover biodiversity and soil degradation in two olive orchard microcatchments with contrasting environmental and management conditions

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