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Increase in soil aggregate stability along a Mediterranean successional gradient in severely eroded gully bed ecosystems: combined effects of soil, root traits and plant community characteristics

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Abstract

Background and aims

Our objectives were to evaluate changes in soil aggregate stability along a successional gradient, located in severely eroded Mediterranean gully bed ecosystems and to identify predictors of soil aggregate stability variations among several soil, root traits and plant community characteristics.

Methods

We selected 75 plots in gully beds, representing five successional stages that differ in plant community composition, dominated by herbs, shrubs or trees according to successional stage. In each plot, we measured soil aggregate stability, basic soil characteristics, root traits and plant diversity indices.

Results

Soil aggregate stability increased along the successional gradient, being thrice higher in tree-dominated communities as compared to grass-dominated communities. This increase was mainly driven by soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation. In early successional stages showing low SOC (below 24 g.kg−1 or 12 g.kg−1 in some cases), fine sand content and the percentage of fine roots acted as co-drivers enhancing soil aggregate stability while silt content decreased it.

Conclusion

Plant succession in severely eroded Mediterranean gully bed ecosystems is accompanied by a strong stabilization of soil aggregates, mainly driven by SOC accumulation and for early successional stages, by soil granulometry and root traits as co-drivers. Stimulating succession thus appears as a promising restoration strategy for severely eroded ecosystems.

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Abbreviations

SOC:

Soil organic carbon

CaCO3 :

Soil calcium carbonate

RMD:

Root mass density

RLD:

Root length density

SRL:

Specific root length

Herbs, Shrub, STree, TTree:

Plant communities respectively dominated by herbs, shrubs, small trees (height < 2 m) and tall trees (height > 2 m)

Forest:

Stabilized forested slopes used as a control

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Acknowledgments

We thank Electricité de France (EDF), Agence de l’eau Rhône, Méditerranée et Corse, Région Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur and European Union (FEDER program « L’Europe s’engage en PACA avec le Fonds Européen de Développement Régional ») for financial support. We also thank Astrid Morel, Fabien Candy, Nathan Daumergue, Alain Bédécarrats, Sophie Labonne and Séverine Louis for their help in the fieldwork and in the laboratory. We are grateful to Eline Jongmans for her statistical help and to Luis Mérino-Martin for his comments on the final version of the manuscript. The insightful comments of the anonymous reviewers helped us to significantly improve the manuscript. Hence, we thank them for their contribution to the quality of the paper. Finally, this study was made possible by a research grant provided by the University of Grenoble Alpes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Irstea, UR EMGR Ecosystèmes Montagnards, 2 rue de la Papeterie, BP 76, Saint-Martin-d’Hères, F-38402, France

    Amandine Erktan, Lauric Cécillon & Freddy Rey

  2. Université Grenoble Alpes, F-38402, Grenoble, France

    Amandine Erktan, Lauric Cécillon, Cédric Legout & Freddy Rey

  3. INRA, UMR AMAP (botAnique et Modélisation de l’Architecture des Plantes et des végétations), TA A-51/PS1 Boulevard de la Lironde, 34398, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    Amandine Erktan

  4. WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF, Flüelastrasse 11, CH-7260, Davos Dorf, Switzerland

    Frank Graf

  5. Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175 (CNRS – Université de Montpellier – Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier – EPHE), 1919 Route de Mende, 34293, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    Catherine Roumet

  6. LTHE, Université Joseph Fourier, CNRS, G-INP, IRD, 70 Rue de la physique, 38400, Saint Martin d’Hères, France

    Cédric Legout

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  1. Amandine Erktan
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  2. Lauric Cécillon
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  3. Frank Graf
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  4. Catherine Roumet
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  5. Cédric Legout
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  6. Freddy Rey
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amandine Erktan.

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Responsible Editor: Kees Jan van Groenigen.

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Appendix S1

Percentage cover of the five plant community successional stages studied dominated by herbs (Herbs); shrub; (Shrub); small trees (height <2m; STree); tall trees (>2m; TTree) and plant communities located on forested slopes (Forest). Each color represents the relative abundance of different growth forms (trees, shrubs, forbs, and grasses). Data are mean +/- standard error (n = 15 per plant community type). Kruskal and Wallis non parametric tests were run for each vegetation cover type (α = 0.05). Letters indicate significant differences between successional stages given by Mann Whitney Wilcoxon test. A total vegetative cover of above 100 % indicates that the plant community is pluristratified. (DOCX 32 kb)

Appendix S2

List of dominant plant species found in the five plant community successional stages in gully beds. Herbs; Shrub; STree; TTree: plant communities, located in gully beds, dominated by herbs, shrubs, small tress (<2m) and high trees (>2m) respectively. Forest: plant communities belonging to forested slopes. (DOCX 18 kb)

Appendix S3

Correlation matrix between soil, plant community and roots characteristics along the successional gradient (n = 75). Data are correlation coefficient r and significance levels according to Pearson correlation test (n.s non significant; * P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001). The grey shaded parts represent the plant related parameters. (DOCX 20 kb)

Appendix S4

Interaction between soil, plant community and roots characteristics with SOC to explain soil aggregate stability variations along the successional gradient. Data are pairwise linear regression models showing the interaction between SOC and soil, plant and root characteristics to explain soil aggregate stability. Models showing a significant interaction between SOC and the “Variable 2” tested are highlighted in bold characters. Levels of significance are ns: non significant; *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001 (DOCX 21 kb)

Appendix S5

Linear regression results for repeated ANCOVA analysis. Data are estimates (Effects), standard error and p-value (P) of the tested variables in series of linear pairwise regression models (with an interaction term) with soil aggregate stability as the dependent variable, SOC as the covariate and respectively silt content, sand content and percentage of fine roots as the variables tested. Levels of significance are ns: non significant; *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001 (DOCX 19 kb)

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Erktan, A., Cécillon, L., Graf, F. et al. Increase in soil aggregate stability along a Mediterranean successional gradient in severely eroded gully bed ecosystems: combined effects of soil, root traits and plant community characteristics. Plant Soil 398, 121–137 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2647-6

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