The impact of large Trees on bedrock denudation on forested hillslopes in the southern United States

Alice Turkington, Michael Shouse

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Trees can have bioprotective effects, such as binding soil on rocky surfaces. Trees are shown to have a predominantly bioerosive effect on exposed bedrock surfaces, however, through the development and growth of root grooves on siliceous sandstone; further, trees have opened joints and bedding planes, facilitating infill by root hairs and micro-organisms. Uprooted trees bring fresh, unweathered bedrock to the surface, attesting to the biomechanical weathering of subsoil bedrock, and extension of the root wad into bedrock. An extensive study of soil depths beneath, and adjacent to, dead trees demonstrates that trees significantly deepen soil in this environment; topographic variables are not closely related to soil thickness on the hillslopes. Since the publication of Yatsu's (1988) The Nature of Weathering, biomechanical and biochemical weathering processes have been investigated at a range of scales. This paper examines the impact of large trees on bedrock denudation on forested hillslopes in the southern United States, based on both fieldwork and a review of recently published studies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)259-278
Number of pages20
JournalChikei/Transactions, Japanese Geomorphological Union
Volume40
Issue number3
StatePublished - Jul 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Chikei Dojo Saigai Kenkyo Bumon. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Bedrock weathering
  • Biomechanical weathering
  • Root grooves
  • Soil thickness
  • Tree-rock interactions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Earth-Surface Processes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The impact of large Trees on bedrock denudation on forested hillslopes in the southern United States'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this