Effect of geomorphology and nitrogen deposition on rate of vegetation succession in inland drift sands

Abstract

Questions (1) At what rate does succession take place in active and more stabilized drift sands in regions with low and high N deposition in the Netherlands? (2) What is the present composition of pioneer vegetation in active and more stabilized drift sands in regions with low and high N deposition? (3) What efforts are necessary to conserve bare sand in drift sands? Location Eight inland dunes in the Netherlands, which represent four active and four more stabilized drift sands in regions with low and high N deposition. Methods Aerial photographs from 1950, 1981, 1995 and 2007 were used to compare rates of succession from bare sand towards forest. For each site, a detailed vegetation map was made in 2007. Results In all studied sites, bare sand decreased, especially in regions with high N deposition. This decline was significantly higher between 1981 and 2007 than between 1950 and 1981. The loss of bare sand did not lead to an increase of pioneer vegetation, which remained more or less stable; it led, however, to an increase of heath and forest. In active drift sands, pioneer vegetation was characterized by Corynephorus canescens and Polytrichum piliferum, while lichens, lichen‐rich grassland and Campylopus introflexus were more common in stabilized drift sands. In regions with high N deposition, the proportion of Campylopus introflexus to older pioneer stages was significantly higher, and the contribution of forest to the ‘heath/forest’ vegetation class was also higher. The calculated life span of bare sand decreased in all sites. Extrapolation of the results suggests that in the absence of restoration measures, bare sand will vanish by 2035. Conclusions In both active and more stabilized drift sands, a generic loss of bare sand and an increase in forest area was found. The increase was higher in regions with high N deposition. Conservation management should include the annual transformation of 43 ha of forest into bare sand in order to stop the loss of bare sand.

Evolution of sandy soils within deflation hollows in shifting areas of sand - a case study from the Błędów Desert (Poland)

“…The studied soils are typical of shifting sand areas in West and Central European countries (Sparrius et al 2013), and were described for Belgium (Maddelein & Lust 1992), Denmark (Stützer 1998;Mikkelsen et al 2007), the Netherlands (Elgersma 1998), and Poland (Rahmonov & Oleś (Table 1).…”

“…Areas of shifting sand under conditions of humid temperate climate are important places for testing the effects of abiotic and biotic processes on soil morphology, because in such zones the relatively dynamic changes in the natural environment caused by aeolian processes are easily observable (Maddelein & Lust 1992;Lichter 1998;Sparrius et al 2013). A series of events has induced a drift of sands or the creation of a shifting sand area.…”

“…A series of events has induced a drift of sands or the creation of a shifting sand area. In West and Central Europe, intensive land use connected with sheep grazing, deforestation, and gathering of sod, which began in the Middle Ages and lasted until the 1850s, resulted in the activation of shifting sands (Maddelein & Lust 1992;Sparrius et al 2013). The development of mining and metallurgy increased the demand for wood, which caused further deforestation and activation of shifting sands in industrial areas (Rahmonov et al 2006).…”

“…Large-scale planting of pine, which fixed shifting sands in place, was introduced in the 20 th century in many areas. Small areas were left without vegetation and were supposed to protect valuable psammophilous habitats or meant to be used for military purposes (Sparrius et al 2013). In Poland, the history of shifting sands is well-represented by the area of the Błędów Desert (Rahmonov & Oleś 2010) and by a large number of smaller areas (currently military training areas) (Jankowski & Sewerniak 2013).…”

“…In Poland, the history of shifting sands is well-represented by the area of the Błędów Desert (Rahmonov & Oleś 2010) and by a large number of smaller areas (currently military training areas) (Jankowski & Sewerniak 2013). Such terrain is highly appropriate for a study of the early stages of soil formation and further development of the soil profile (Sparrius et al 2013).…”