Modeling Spatial Patterns of Humus Forms in Montane and Subalpine Forests: Implications of Local Variability for Upscaling

Niels Hellwig, Dylan Tatti, Giacomo Sartori, Kerstin Anschlag, Ulfert Graefe, Markus Egli, Jean-Michel Gobat and Gabriele Broll
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Niels Hellwig: Institute of Geography, Osnabrück University, Seminarstraße 19ab, 49074 Osnabrück, Germany
Dylan Tatti: Functional ecology laboratory, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Giacomo Sartori: Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3, 38122 Trento, Italy
Kerstin Anschlag: Institute of Geography, Osnabrück University, Seminarstraße 19ab, 49074 Osnabrück, Germany
Ulfert Graefe: IFAB Institut für Angewandte Bodenbiologie GmbH, Tornberg 24a, 22337 Hamburg, Germany
Markus Egli: Department of Geography, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Jean-Michel Gobat: Functional ecology laboratory, University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Gabriele Broll: Institute of Geography, Osnabrück University, Seminarstraße 19ab, 49074 Osnabrück, Germany

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Humus forms are a distinctive morphological indicator of soil organic matter decomposition. The spatial distribution of humus forms depends on environmental factors such as topography, climate and vegetation. In montane and subalpine forests, environmental influences show a high spatial heterogeneity, which is reflected by a high spatial variability of humus forms. This study aims at examining spatial patterns of humus forms and their dependence on the spatial scale in a high mountain forest environment (Val di Sole/Val di Rabbi, Trentino, Italian Alps). On the basis of the distributions of environmental covariates across the study area, we described humus forms at the local scale (six sampling sites), slope scale (60 sampling sites) and landscape scale (30 additional sampling sites). The local variability of humus forms was analyzed with regard to the ground cover type. At the slope and landscape scale, spatial patterns of humus forms were modeled applying random forests and ordinary kriging of the model residuals. The results indicate that the occurrence of the humus form classes Mull, Mullmoder, Moder, Amphi and Eroded Moder generally depends on the topographical position. Local-scale patterns are mostly related to micro-topography (local accumulation and erosion sites) and ground cover, whereas slope-scale patterns are mainly connected with slope exposure and elevation. Patterns at the landscape scale show a rather irregular distribution, as spatial models at this scale do not account for local to slope-scale variations of humus forms. Moreover, models at the slope scale perform distinctly better than at the landscape scale. In conclusion, the results of this study highlight that landscape-scale predictions of humus forms should be accompanied by local- and slope-scale studies in order to enhance the general understanding of humus form patterns.

Keywords: soil organic matter decomposition; spatial modeling; random forest; multi-scale analysis; forest soils; Italian Alps (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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