Manmade dunes are used to stabilize the barrier islands of the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States so that they are more amenable to development. Although this strategy has stabilized extensive sections of the barrier-island substrate, it has also caused significant ecological changes. The rate and pattern of the resulting vegetation changes along the Outer Banks of North Carolina were determined using sequential aerial photography. Successional trends have been altered in favor of more stable woody communities. 相似文献
Channel changes from 1919 to 1989 were documented in two study reaches of the Merced River in Yosemite National Park through
a review of historical photographs and documents and a comparison of survey data. Bank erosion was prevalent and channel width
increased an average of 27% in the upstream reach, where human use was concentrated. Here, trampling of the banks and riparian
vegetation was common, and banks eroded on straight stretches as frequently as on meander bends. Six bridges in the upper
reach constrict the channel by an average of 38% of the original width, causing severe erosion. In the downstream control
reach, where human use was minimal, channel widths both decreased and increased, with a mean increase of only 4% since 1919.
Bank erosion in the control reach occurred primarily on meander bends. The control reach also had denser stands of riparian
vegetation and a higher frequency of large woody debris in channels. There is only one bridge in the lower reach, located
at the downstream end. Since 1919, bank erosion in the impacted upstream reach contributed a significant amount of sediment
(74,800 tonnes, equivalent to 2.0 t/km2/yr) to the river. An analysis of 75 years of precipitation and hydrologic records showed no trends responsible for bank erosion
in the upper reach. Sediment input to the upper reach has not changed significantly during the study period. Floodplain soils
are sandy, with low cohesion and are easily detached by lateral erosion. The degree of channel widening was positively correlated
with the percentage of bare ground on the streambanks and low bank stability ratings. Low bank stability ratings were, in
turn, strongly associated with high human use areas. Channel widening and bank erosion in the upper reach were due primarily
to destruction of riparian vegetation by human trampling and the effect of bridge constrictions on high flow, and secondarily
to poorly installed channel revetments. Several specific recommendations for river restoration were provided to park management. 相似文献
We applied the simulation model ROMUL of soil organic matter dynamics in order to analyse and predict forest soil organic matter (SOM) changes following stand growth and also to identify gaps of data and modelling problems. SOM build-up was analysed (a) from bare sand to forest soil during a primary succession in Scots pine forest and (b) on mature forest soil under Douglas fir plantations as an example of secondary succession in The Netherlands. As some of the experimental data were unreliable we compiled a set of various scenarios with different soil moisture regime, initial SOM pools and amount and quality of above and below ground litter input. This allowed us to find the scenarios that reflect the SOM dynamics more realistically. In the Scots pine forest, total litter input was estimated as 0.50 kg m−2 year−1. Two scenarios were defined for the test runs: (a) forest floor moisture regimes—‘dry, mesic and hydric’ and (b) augmenting a root litter pool with three ratios of needles and branches to roots: 1:1, 1:1.5 and 1:2.0. The scenario finally compiled had the following characteristics: (a) climate for dry site with summer drought and high winter moisture of forest floor; (b) a litter input of 0.25 kg m−2 year−1 above ground and 0.50 kg m−2 year−1 below ground; (c) a low nitrogen and ash content in all litter fall fractions. The test runs for the estimation of the initial SOM pools and the amount and proportion of above and below ground litter fall were also performed in the Douglas fir plantation. The inputs of above ground litter tested in various combinations were 0.30 and 0.60 kg m−2 year−1, and below ground litter 0.30, 0.60 and 0.90 kg m−2 year−1. The scenario that fitted the experimental data had an SOM pool of 20–25 kg m−2, an aboveground litter input of 0.6 kg m−2 year−1and a below ground litter input of 0.9 kg m−2 year−1. The long-term simulation corresponded well with the observed patterns of soil organic matter accumulation associated with the forest soil development in primary and secondary succession. During primary succession in Scots pine forest on dry sand there is a consistent accumulation of a raw humus forest floor. The soil dynamics in the Douglas fir plantation also coincide with the observed patterns of SOM changes during the secondary succession, with SOM decreasing significantly under young forest, and SOM being restored in the older stands. 相似文献
This study has shown theoretical, observed and experimental evidence of pollutants released, transported and deposited during the Kosovo conflict in 1999 and their effects on precipitation in Serbia. The greatest bombardment of the chemical industry, oil refineries and fuel storage in Serbia which occurred during April, resulted in releases of many hazardous, toxic and cancerogenic substances. The number of April's days with precipitation greater or equal to 0.1 mm in 1999 are compared to those in the period from 1961 to 1990 registered at thirty meteorological stations in Serbia and especially at the Belgrade-Observatory station in the period from 1888 to 1995. The maximums of days with precipitation greater or equal to 0.1 mm were at the wider Belgrade area and at the central and southwestern parts of Serbia during April 1999. This is confirmed by using the Eta trajectory analysis. 相似文献