Hydrological heterogeneity and the plant colonization of recently deglaciated terrain
ABSTRACTClimate change accelerates glacier retreat, leading to extensive exposure of sediment to light and ecological succession. Succession has traditionally been studied as a chronosequence, where vegetation development is directly correlated with time since glacier retreat or distance from the re...
Published in: | Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research |
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2023
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2023.2259677 https://doaj.org/article/4b4d30c701b94a519a52387594ce25a9 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:4b4d30c701b94a519a52387594ce25a9 2024-01-28T10:01:47+01:00 Hydrological heterogeneity and the plant colonization of recently deglaciated terrain Lila Siegfried Pascal Vittoz Stuart N. Lane 2023-12-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2023.2259677 https://doaj.org/article/4b4d30c701b94a519a52387594ce25a9 EN eng Taylor & Francis Group https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15230430.2023.2259677 https://doaj.org/toc/1523-0430 https://doaj.org/toc/1938-4246 doi:10.1080/15230430.2023.2259677 1938-4246 1523-0430 https://doaj.org/article/4b4d30c701b94a519a52387594ce25a9 Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, Vol 55, Iss 1 (2023) Vegetation community glacier forefield primary succession climate change Swiss Alps Environmental sciences GE1-350 Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2023.2259677 2023-12-31T01:42:29Z ABSTRACTClimate change accelerates glacier retreat, leading to extensive exposure of sediment to light and ecological succession. Succession has traditionally been studied as a chronosequence, where vegetation development is directly correlated with time since glacier retreat or distance from the retreating glacier margin. More recent work has challenged this model, arguing that succession seems to be mainly influenced by heterogeneous conditions at the local scale. The aim of this study was to identify the factors influencing the local-scale establishment of plant communities following glacier recession. Vascular plants and their cover were inventoried in 100 plots (1 m2) for a thirty-year-old alluvial plain in front of the Otemma glacier (Swiss Alps). Depth to water table, distance to the glacial main river and to the nearest channel, sediment size, moss, lichen, and biological soil crust cover were measured. Results showed that proglacial margins develop hydrological heterogeneity over a small scale, reflected in the four observed plant communities. These range from the dry Sempervivum-dominated community, on gravel-rich sediments with a deep water table, to the Trifolium-dominated community, close to secondary channels, with the highest plant cover and species richness and incorporating grassland species. Heterogeneity in water availability exerted a critical control on vegetation development. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarctic and Alpine Research Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 55 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Vegetation community glacier forefield primary succession climate change Swiss Alps Environmental sciences GE1-350 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
Vegetation community glacier forefield primary succession climate change Swiss Alps Environmental sciences GE1-350 Ecology QH540-549.5 Lila Siegfried Pascal Vittoz Stuart N. Lane Hydrological heterogeneity and the plant colonization of recently deglaciated terrain |
topic_facet |
Vegetation community glacier forefield primary succession climate change Swiss Alps Environmental sciences GE1-350 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
ABSTRACTClimate change accelerates glacier retreat, leading to extensive exposure of sediment to light and ecological succession. Succession has traditionally been studied as a chronosequence, where vegetation development is directly correlated with time since glacier retreat or distance from the retreating glacier margin. More recent work has challenged this model, arguing that succession seems to be mainly influenced by heterogeneous conditions at the local scale. The aim of this study was to identify the factors influencing the local-scale establishment of plant communities following glacier recession. Vascular plants and their cover were inventoried in 100 plots (1 m2) for a thirty-year-old alluvial plain in front of the Otemma glacier (Swiss Alps). Depth to water table, distance to the glacial main river and to the nearest channel, sediment size, moss, lichen, and biological soil crust cover were measured. Results showed that proglacial margins develop hydrological heterogeneity over a small scale, reflected in the four observed plant communities. These range from the dry Sempervivum-dominated community, on gravel-rich sediments with a deep water table, to the Trifolium-dominated community, close to secondary channels, with the highest plant cover and species richness and incorporating grassland species. Heterogeneity in water availability exerted a critical control on vegetation development. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lila Siegfried Pascal Vittoz Stuart N. Lane |
author_facet |
Lila Siegfried Pascal Vittoz Stuart N. Lane |
author_sort |
Lila Siegfried |
title |
Hydrological heterogeneity and the plant colonization of recently deglaciated terrain |
title_short |
Hydrological heterogeneity and the plant colonization of recently deglaciated terrain |
title_full |
Hydrological heterogeneity and the plant colonization of recently deglaciated terrain |
title_fullStr |
Hydrological heterogeneity and the plant colonization of recently deglaciated terrain |
title_full_unstemmed |
Hydrological heterogeneity and the plant colonization of recently deglaciated terrain |
title_sort |
hydrological heterogeneity and the plant colonization of recently deglaciated terrain |
publisher |
Taylor & Francis Group |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2023.2259677 https://doaj.org/article/4b4d30c701b94a519a52387594ce25a9 |
genre |
Antarctic and Alpine Research Arctic |
genre_facet |
Antarctic and Alpine Research Arctic |
op_source |
Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, Vol 55, Iss 1 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15230430.2023.2259677 https://doaj.org/toc/1523-0430 https://doaj.org/toc/1938-4246 doi:10.1080/15230430.2023.2259677 1938-4246 1523-0430 https://doaj.org/article/4b4d30c701b94a519a52387594ce25a9 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2023.2259677 |
container_title |
Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research |
container_volume |
55 |
container_issue |
1 |
_version_ |
1789327208237498368 |