A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal
Stomping in silence: Conceptualizing trampling effects on soils in polar tundra
Authors: Maria Tuomi, Maria Väisänen, Henni Ylänne, Francis Q. Brearley, Isabel C. Barrio, Kari Anne Bråthen, Isabell Eischeid, Bruce C. Forbes, Ingibjörg S. Jónsdóttir, Anders L. Kolstad, Petr Macek, Matteo Petit Bon, James D. M. Speed, Sari Stark, Kristin Svavarsdóttir, Jóhann Thórsson, C. Guillermo Bueno
Publisher: WILEY
Publication year: 2020
Journal: Functional Ecology
Journal name in source: FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
Journal acronym: FUNCT ECOL
Number of pages: 12
ISSN: 0269-8463
eISSN: 1365-2435
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.13719
Web address : https://hdl.handle.net/10037/20777
Abstract
Ungulate trampling modifies soils and interlinked ecosystem functions across biomes. Until today, most research has focused on temperate ecosystems and mineral soils while trampling effects on cold and organic matter-rich tundra soils remain largely unknown.We aimed to develop a general model of trampling effects on soil structure, biota, microclimate and biogeochemical processes, with a particular focus on polar tundra soils. To reach this goal, we reviewed literature about the effects of trampling and physical disturbances on soils across biomes and used this to discuss the knowns and unknowns of trampling effects on tundra soils.We identified the following four pathways through which trampling affects soils: (a) soil compaction; (b) reductions in soil fauna and fungi; (c) rapid losses in vegetation biomass and cover; and (d) longer term shifts in vegetation community composition.We found that, in polar tundra, soil responses to trampling pathways 1 and 3 could be characterized by nonlinear dynamics and tundra-specific context dependencies that we formulated into testable hypotheses.In conclusion, trampling may affect tundra soil significantly but many direct, interacting and cascading responses remain unknown. We call for research to advance the understanding of trampling effects on soils to support informed efforts to manage and predict the functioning of tundra systems under global changes.A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Ungulate trampling modifies soils and interlinked ecosystem functions across biomes. Until today, most research has focused on temperate ecosystems and mineral soils while trampling effects on cold and organic matter-rich tundra soils remain largely unknown.We aimed to develop a general model of trampling effects on soil structure, biota, microclimate and biogeochemical processes, with a particular focus on polar tundra soils. To reach this goal, we reviewed literature about the effects of trampling and physical disturbances on soils across biomes and used this to discuss the knowns and unknowns of trampling effects on tundra soils.We identified the following four pathways through which trampling affects soils: (a) soil compaction; (b) reductions in soil fauna and fungi; (c) rapid losses in vegetation biomass and cover; and (d) longer term shifts in vegetation community composition.We found that, in polar tundra, soil responses to trampling pathways 1 and 3 could be characterized by nonlinear dynamics and tundra-specific context dependencies that we formulated into testable hypotheses.In conclusion, trampling may affect tundra soil significantly but many direct, interacting and cascading responses remain unknown. We call for research to advance the understanding of trampling effects on soils to support informed efforts to manage and predict the functioning of tundra systems under global changes.A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
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