Forest ecosystems create pedogenic patchworks through woody debris, trees, and disturbance

Abstract: Forest ecosystems are highly diverse and heterogeneous in organisms, soils, litter such as woody debris, and disturbance regimes. Nonetheless, the causes, intensity, self-organization, and functioning of forest soil heterogeneity within single stands have received little attention. The concept “pedogenic patches” is introduced to integrate ecology and soil formation into a holistic view of forest soil heterogeneity. We define “pedogenic patches” as spatially limited and temporally defined locations that have at least one soil-forming factor which differs enough from their surroundings to cause differing intensities of soil processes and thus divergent pedogenic processes. Per this definition, discrete components of soil-forming factors such as woody debris, trees, canopy gaps, boulders, and creek banks can create pedogenic patches if pedogenic process rates lead to different soil morphology compared to their surroundings. A pedogenic patch’s quantitative intensity depends on the size, age, number, and distinctness of soil-forming factors and processes. Furthermore, pedogenic patches are the quanta of soil formation: Point-wise pedogenic patches with a degree of intense, persistent, and resilient pedogenesis can move in forest ecosystems to create patchwork soilscapes of various heterogeneity. Forest ecosystem studies could identify pedogenic patches to measure soil formation and evaluate forest soil heterogeneity through various diversity indices. Doing so would provide new insights into forest floor functioning, soil-regulated biodiversity, evolution of forests through disturbance, and ecological trade-offs of self-organizing ecosystems

Angaben zum Objekt

• Standort: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Umfang: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: Englisch
• Anmerkungen: Geoderma. - 429 (2023) , 116246, ISSN: 1872-6259

Beteiligte, Orts- und Zeitangaben

• Ereignis: Veröffentlichung
• (wo): Freiburg
• (wer): Universität
• (wann): 2023
• Urheber: Stutz, Kenton P. ; Lang, Friederike

Weitere Informationen

• DOI: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116246
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:25-freidok-2371718
• Rechteinformation: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Letzte Aktualisierung: 14.08.2025, 11:01 MESZ