Towards climate-resilient restoration in mesic eucalypt woodlands: characterizing topsoil biophysical condition in different degradation states

TitleTowards climate-resilient restoration in mesic eucalypt woodlands: characterizing topsoil biophysical condition in different degradation states
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsProber S.M, Stol J., Piper M., Gupta V, Cunningham S.
JournalPlant and Soil
Volume383
Pagination231-244
Date PublishedOct
Type of ArticleArticle
ISBN Number0032-079X
Accession NumberWOS:000342415800017
KeywordsAgricultural landscapes, BULK-DENSITY, Climate adaptation, Climate change, communities, Ecosystem function, GRASSY WOODLANDS, interactions, land-use, MICROBIAL, physiological profiles, Plant-soil, Soil carbon, SOIL COMPACTION, soil health, SOUTH-EASTERN AUSTRALIA, vegetation, WATER INFILTRATION
Abstract

Investments in restoring native vegetation must increasingly allow for likely impacts of climate change, requiring re-evaluation of limits to ecological recovery and persistence. Nutrient enrichment and weed invasion are significant limits to restoration in mesic ecosystems, but in a drying climate, limits could shift towards more fundamental ecosystem functions. We used a state and transition framework to identify landuse-related changes in topsoil biophysical characteristics likely to influence climate resilience in mesic temperate eucalypt woodlands. We compared topsoil condition in little-modified 'reference' states of the native ground-layer (dominated by tall tussock grasses) with four degraded ground-layer states identified in our state and transition framework. We hypothesized that 'nutrient-depleted' states (dominated by short tussock grasses) and 'nutrient-enriched' states (dominated by exotic annuals) would exhibit characteristics reflecting increased and decreased ecosystem vulnerability to a drying climate respectively. Our hypothesis that nutrient-depleted states are more vulnerable to a drying climate was supported by their significantly slower soil-water infiltration rates and significantly lower levels of topsoil carbon, clay, micro-invertebrates, microbial activity and modeled water holding capacity than reference states. However, degradation was less pronounced beneath trees, and our prediction regarding enriched states was supported only for carbon. Topsoil biophysical characteristics associated with different ground-layer states are predictable using a state and transition framework. Climate resilience of nutrient-depleted states appears compromised by topsoil biophysical degradation, indicating increasing need for attention in mesic ecosystems predicted to become drier under climate change.

Short TitlePlant SoilPlant Soil
Alternate JournalPlant Soil
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Times Cited: 0
Cited Reference Count: 66
Prober, Suzanne M. Stol, Jacqui Piper, Melissa Gupta, V. V. S. R. Cunningham, Saul A.
Prober, Suzanne/G-6465-2010; vvsr, Gupta/C-1722-2009
Australian government through Caring for our Country
This study was supported by the Australian government through Caring for our Country. We thank E. Lindsay for helping conceive and obtain funds for the project, S. Kroker for laboratory MicroResp analysis, Steve Marvanek for assistance with soil classifications, J. Speijers for statistical advice, and the many land managers who allowed us to sample their woodlands.

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