Livestock Modify Ground Surface Microtopography and Penetration Resistance in a Semi-Arid Shrubland Export

@article{citeulike:5110795, abstract = {Ground surface microtopography and soil penetration resistance play a major role in the geomorphic processes that occur on the hillsides of semi-arid rangelands. Although these two features are known to be impacted by the occurrence of shrub vegetation, the role of livestock remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of livestock on microtopography and penetration depth associated with patches of Sarcopoterium spinosum, a dominant shrub in the northern Negev region of Israel. Soil surface slope and penetration depth were determined for five segments along shrub-centered transects on the hillside axis: under the shrub canopy; upslope (US) and downslope (DS) of the central stem cluster; immediately upslope of the shrub (TR); upper intershrub (UI; above TR); and lower intershrub (LI; below DS). The effect of livestock was determined by comparing values obtained inside and outside 10-year-old exclosures. Livestock presence reduced soil penetration depth from 14.9 to 10.6 mm at segment UI, from 16.9 to 5.9 mm at segment TR, and from 15.2 to 9.9 mm at segment LI. The presence of livestock sharpened the step-like microtopographic profile along the transect: it reduced the incline from 10.2 to 5.7° at segment TR, and from 12.8 to 9.2° at segment US, whereas it increased the incline from 17.8 to 21.2° at segment DS. Such changes increase the spatial discontinuity of the hillside surface and can be expected to influence the spatial redistribution of water and soil resources, and thereby ecosystem functioning and productivity. These results lend credence to the view that livestock can function as physical ecosystem engineers by modulating resource availability to other organisms.}, author = {Stavi, Ilan and Ungar, Eugene D. and Lavee, Hanoch and Sarah, Pariente}, citeulike-article-id = {5110795}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15324980903028371}, doi = {10.1080/15324980903028371}, journal = {Arid Land Research and Management}, keywords = {compaction, desert, erosion, flow, negev, overland, routes, soil, trampling, water}, number = {3}, pages = {237--247}, posted-at = {2009-07-10 20:51:44}, priority = {2}, publisher = {Taylor \& Francis}, title = {Livestock Modify Ground Surface Microtopography and Penetration Resistance in a Semi-Arid Shrubland}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15324980903028371}, volume = {23}, year = {2009} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:5110795 L3 - citeulike-article-id:5110795 N2 - Ground surface microtopography and soil penetration resistance play a major role in the geomorphic processes that occur on the hillsides of semi-arid rangelands. Although these two features are known to be impacted by the occurrence of shrub vegetation, the role of livestock remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of livestock on microtopography and penetration depth associated with patches of Sarcopoterium spinosum, a dominant shrub in the northern Negev region of Israel. Soil surface slope and penetration depth were determined for five segments along shrub-centered transects on the hillside axis: under the shrub canopy; upslope (US) and downslope (DS) of the central stem cluster; immediately upslope of the shrub (TR); upper intershrub (UI; above TR); and lower intershrub (LI; below DS). The effect of livestock was determined by comparing values obtained inside and outside 10-year-old exclosures. Livestock presence reduced soil penetration depth from 14.9 to 10.6 mm at segment UI, from 16.9 to 5.9 mm at segment TR, and from 15.2 to 9.9 mm at segment LI. The presence of livestock sharpened the step-like microtopographic profile along the transect: it reduced the incline from 10.2 to 5.7° at segment TR, and from 12.8 to 9.2° at segment US, whereas it increased the incline from 17.8 to 21.2° at segment DS. Such changes increase the spatial discontinuity of the hillside surface and can be expected to influence the spatial redistribution of water and soil resources, and thereby ecosystem functioning and productivity. These results lend credence to the view that livestock can function as physical ecosystem engineers by modulating resource availability to other organisms. IS - 3 JF - Arid Land Research and Management EP - 247 TI - Livestock Modify Ground Surface Microtopography and Penetration Resistance in a Semi-Arid Shrubland PB - Taylor & Francis VL - 23 SP - 237 KW - compaction KW - desert KW - erosion KW - flow KW - negev KW - overland KW - routes KW - soil KW - trampling KW - water AU - Stavi, Ilan AU - Ungar, Eugene AU - Lavee, Hanoch AU - Sarah, Pariente PY - 2009/// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15324980903028371 ER -