Skip to main content
Publications | Persons | Institutes | Projects
[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Organism traits determine the strength of scale-dependent bio-geomorphic feedbacks: A flume study on three intertidal plant species
Bouma, T.J.; Temmerman, S.; van Duren, L.A.; Martini, E.; Vandenbruwaene, W.; Callaghan, D.P.; Balke, T.; Biermans, G.; Klaassen, P.C.; van Steeg, R.; Dekker, F.; van de Koppel, J.; Herman, P.M.J.; de Vries, M.B. (2013). Organism traits determine the strength of scale-dependent bio-geomorphic feedbacks: A flume study on three intertidal plant species. Geomorphology (Amst.) 180-181: 57-65. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2012.09.005
In: Geomorphology. Elsevier: Amsterdam; New York; Oxford; Tokyo. ISSN 0169-555X; e-ISSN 1872-695X, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Author keywords
    Habitat modification; Saltmarsh; Positive feedbacks; Negative feedbacks; Biogeomorphology; Flow deviation

Authors  Top 
  • Bouma, T.J., more
  • Temmerman, S., more
  • van Duren, L.A., more
  • Martini, E.
  • Vandenbruwaene, W., more
  • Callaghan, D.P., more
  • Balke, T., more
  • Biermans, G., more
  • Klaassen, P.C., more
  • van Steeg, R.
  • Dekker, F., more
  • van de Koppel, J., more
  • Herman, P.M.J., more
  • de Vries, M.B.

Abstract
    There is a growing recognition of the important role of scale-dependent feedback for biogeomorphological landscape formation, where organisms locally improve survival and growth but at the same time negatively affect organisms at larger distance. However, little is known on how scale-dependent bio-geomorphic feedback is influenced by organism traits in combination with abiotic forcing. This was studied by measuring in a flume, the flow patterns around patches of three contrasting marsh species (Spartina anglica, Puccinellia maritima and Salicornia procumbens), using the flow acceleration around vegetation patches and deceleration within vegetation patches as quantitative proxy for the negative and positive feedback to the vegetation performance. The importance of external forcing was assessed by comparing three realistic current velocities: 0.1, 02 and 0.3 m s(-1). Our results showed that the dense clonal growth of stiff Spartina anglica shoots caused strongest flow deviations, irrespective of the applied current velocity. In contrast, the more sparsely growing, shorter stiff shoots of Salicornia procumbens induced much less flow deviation, allowing more water to pass through and over the vegetation canopy. The dense but highly flexible shoots of Puccinellia maritima caused strong flow deviations at low velocities, which diminished at higher velocities due to bending of the vegetation. Overall, these hydrodynamic results demonstrate that plant species traits interact with environmental conditions in creating scale-dependent feedbacks explaining why the effects of vegetation on landscape formation in saltmarshes are species specific.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors