Can seed removal through soil erosion explain the scarcity of vegetation in the Chinese Loess Plateau?

Jiao, Juying; Han, Lingli; Jia, Yanfeng; Wang, Ning; Dong, Lei; Li, Linyu

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2011.04.033

Cited by 15 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 34 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…A strong relationship was found between the magnitude of seed transport by runoff and rainfall and slope characteristics. Similar to what happens to soil particles (Govers, 1989;Parsons et al, 1993;de Vente and Poesen, 2005;Boix-Fayos et al, 2006), seed losses increased as slope angle (García-Fayos et al, 1995;Jiao et al, 2011;Han et al, 2011;but Cerdà and García-Fayos, 1997) and rain duration and intensity increased (García-Fayos et al, 1995;Jiao et al, 2011;Han et al, 2011), but it decreased with soil surface roughness (Reichman, 1984;Chambers, 2000;Aerts et al, 2006;Isselin-Nondedeu et al, 2006;Isselin-Nondedeu and Bédécarrats, 2007) and with total slope length (García-Fayos et al, 1995). Soil texture also influenced seed losses, since larger soil particles increased the amount of seeds trapped in the soil (Chambers et al, 1991;Traba et al, 2006).…”

Section: Factors Influencing Seed Removal By Runoff 321 External Famentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Seed loss rates up to 100 % were described for some species in a similar laboratory experiment under 30 min simulated rainfall at 120 mm h −1 (Wang et al, 2013). However, because rainstorm intensities heavier than 50 mm h −1 are very occasional in the Chinese Loess Plateau, Jiao et al (2011) concluded that seed losses by runoff could not explain the scarcity of vegetation in the Chinese Loess Plateau as it had been already pointed out for the semiarid badland slopes of southeastern Spain (García-Fayos and Recatalà, 1992;García-Fayos et al, 1995).…”

Section: Conceptual Model Of Seed Fates and Movements In And On The Soilmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…Aerts et al (2006) reported that 21 to 61 % of the seeds of the species Olea europea were translocated to new sites under simulated rainfall within 3 m × 3 m plots placed in restored forested areas in Ethiopia. Similarly, Jiao et al (2011) and Han et al (2011) described that 30-45, 46.9 and 20.4 % of the seeds were moved from one site to another site inside a 1 m 2 and 2 m long laboratory experimental bin at intensities of 50, 100 and 150 mm h −1 , respectively, without being exported outside the bin. Using the same experimental setup, Wang et al (2013) measured an average distance of 157.5 cm corresponding to seed redistribution by runoff within a 2 m long bin, which was longer than the length of the plots used by Cerdà and García-Fayos (1997) and García-Fayos and Cerdà (1997) to quantify seed loss rates.…”

Section: Conceptual Model Of Seed Fates and Movements In And On The Soilmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…However, if seeds are buried too deeply, especially small seeds, they can fail to act as functional seeds for the ecosystem (Traba et al, 2004). Although average seed losses by runoff measured in dryland plant communities were generally low, specific seed losses rates varied strongly among species within a plant community (García-Fayos et al, 1995;Jiao et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2013) as a result of the interaction between the seed morphology and overland flow. Consequently, seed removal by runoff is expected to contribute to the final plant composition of eroded environments.…”

Section: Seed Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

The fate of seeds in the soil: a review of the influence of overland flow on seed removal and its consequences for the vegetation of arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems

Bochet

2015

SOIL

100

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Since seeds are the principle means by which plants move across the landscape, the final fate of seeds plays a fundamental role in the assemblage, functioning and dynamics of plant communities. Once seeds land on the soil surface after being dispersed from the parent plant, they can be moved horizontally by surface runoff. In arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems, where seeds are scattered into a very heterogeneous environment and intense rainfalls occur, the transport of seeds by runoff to new sites may be an opportunity for seeds to reach more favourable sites for seed germination and seedling survival. Although seed transport by runoff may be of vital importance for the recruitment of plants in these ecosystems, it has received little attention in the scientific literature, especially among soil scientists. The main goals of this review paper are (1) to offer an updated conceptual model of seed fate with a focus on seed destiny in and on the soil; (2) to review studies on seed fate in overland flow and the ecological implications seed transport by runoff has for the origin, spatial patterning and maintenance of patches in arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems; and finally (3) to point out directions for future research.This review shows that seed fate in overland flow may result either in the export of seeds from the system (seed loss) or in the spatial redistribution of seeds within the system through short-distance seed movements (seed displacement). Seed transport by runoff depends on rainfall, slope and soil characteristics. Susceptibility of seed removal varies highly between species and is mainly related to seed traits, including seed size, seed shape, presence of appendages, and ability of a seed to secrete mucilage. Although initially considered as a risk of seed loss, seed removal by runoff has recently been described as an ecological driver that shapes plant composition from the first phases of the plant life by favouring species with seeds able to resist erosion and by selecting for plant traits that prevent seed loss. Moreover, the interaction of seed transport by overland flow with the high seed trapping capacity of vegetated patches results in a "patch-to-patch" transport of seeds that plays a relevant role in vegetation establishment and patterning in arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems.Overall, this review shows how the knowledge about seed fate in overland flow can be used to explain a number of important characteristics of whole plant communities. It also underlines important gaps in knowledge that should be filled in. Future lines of research are proposed in order to broaden our understanding of the origin, maintenance and dynamics of patchiness in arid and semiarid ecosystems and to improve restoration success of intensively eroded ecosystems. Among the most exciting challenges, empirical studies are needed to understand the relevance of short-distance seed displacements in the origin and maintenance of patchiness, addressing the feedbacks between structure and function and abiotic a...

show abstract

Section: Factors Influencing Seed Removal By Runoff 321 External Famentioning

confidence: 76%

Section: Conceptual Model Of Seed Fates and Movements In And On The Soilmentioning

confidence: 78%

Section: Conceptual Model Of Seed Fates and Movements In And On The Soilmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Seed Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The fate of seeds in the soil: a review of the influence of overland flow on seed removal and its consequences for the vegetation of arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems

Bochet

2015

SOIL

100

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Previous studies indicate that soil erosion has a great impact on seed yield and seed germination rate; that is, more serious states of soil erosion lead to lower yields and germination rates of seeds (Zhang et al ., ). However, soil erosion cannot cause seeds on the soil surface or in the soil to decrease in abundance significantly (Jiao et al ., ). However, the harsh environment on the eroded slope may be the dominant limitation on seedling survival, growth and vegetation recovery.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Effect of Rainfall Erosion: Seedling Damage and Establishment Problems

Wang

Jiao

Dong

et al. 2012

Land Degrad. Develop.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Physical damage is one of the main factors that cause seedling mortality in many ecosystems. However, the impact of physical damage due to rainfall erosion on seedling mortality is seldom investigated. In this study, we ask the following question: how does rainfall erosion influence seedling damage and establishment in the Loess Plateau region of China? Seedling damage and establishment experiments under different patterns of simulated rainfall were conducted. The seedling damage rate, damage type and growth status were investigated. The seedling damage rate was influenced by rainfall intensity and duration and by the runoff volume. The mean damage rate of all three studied species did not exceed 15 per cent, and the highest damage rate of individual species under special rainfall events was approximately 30 per cent. The type of damage suffered by the seedlings of Sophora viciifolia (which produces large seeds) mainly took the form of striking down, whereas seedlings of Artemisia scoparia (which produces small seeds) suffered the highest rates of washing away among the three studied species. In the seedling establishment experiment, after 120 days with six rainfall events, S. viciifolia had the highest seedling establishment rate (80·1 ± 2·5 per cent), followed by Bothriochloa ischaemun (67·2 ± 2·2 per cent), and A. scoparia (28·1 ± 2·5 per cent). The seedling damage rate, damage type and establishment rate were also related to seed size. Whether physical damage to seedlings is a major factor limiting vegetation restoration in eroded environments requires further research. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

show abstract

Seed Removal due to Overland Flow on Abandoned Slopes in the Chinese Hilly Gullied Loess Plateau Region

Jiao

Chen³

et al. 2016

Land Degrad Dev

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Theories and empirical evidences suggest that seed removal due to overland flow can result two main spatial outcomes, seed redistribution and seed loss. However, it is not fully understood in some sensitive habitats, such as in abandoned cropland of the Chinese hilly gullied Loess Plateau region. This study evaluates seed redistribution patterns in major micro‐sites including eroded, deposited and trap micro‐sites, characterizes seed loss by using runoff plot, and explores the effect of vegetation coverage and rainfall on seed loss along three abandoned slopes in the Zhifanggou watershed. Soil seed bank densities in eroded, deposited and trap micro‐sites were recorded at 4,482, 7,697 and 5,649 seeds m−2, respectively. Seed density of loss due to overland flow in 2011 and 2012 were recorded at 52 and 27 seeds m−2, respectively. Seed loss rate, which was the ratio of seed loss density to the mean density of soil seed banks in the three micro‐sites due to soil erosion during the study period was 0 · 6%. Seed densities of loss exhibited an exponent relationship with natural erosive rainfalls, and significant correlations were not found between seed loss and vegetation coverage. Therefore, soil erosion resulted in seed redistribution and caused seeds to concentrate in soils or on soil surfaces in trap or deposited micro‐sites. Seed loss was affected by erosive rainfall significantly, but it could not cause the loss of large quantities of seeds. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

show abstract

Can seed removal through soil erosion explain the scarcity of vegetation in the Chinese Loess Plateau?

Cited by 15 publications

References 34 publications

The fate of seeds in the soil: a review of the influence of overland flow on seed removal and its consequences for the vegetation of arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems

The fate of seeds in the soil: a review of the influence of overland flow on seed removal and its consequences for the vegetation of arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems

Effect of Rainfall Erosion: Seedling Damage and Establishment Problems

Seed Removal due to Overland Flow on Abandoned Slopes in the Chinese Hilly Gullied Loess Plateau Region

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About