RT Journal Article
T1 Sheet erosion rates determined by usingdendrogeomorphological analysis of exposed treeroots: Two examples from Central Spain
A1 Bodoque del Pozo, José María
A1 Díez Herrero, Andrés
A1 Martín Duque, José Francisco
A1 Rubiales Jiménez, Juan Manuel
A1 Godfrey, Andrew E.
A1 Pedraza Gilsanz, Javier de
A1 Carrasco González, Rosa María
A1 Sanz Santos, Miguel Angel
AB This paper describes the determination of sheet erosion rates by using dendrogeomorphologicalmethods on exposed tree roots. Two sites on the northern slope of the Guadarrama Mountains,Central Spain, were studied: a popular trail in a Scots pine forest (Senda Schmidt, Valsaı´n) growingon granites and gneisses, and an open holm-oak forest on granitic slopes (Monterrubio). These siteswere selected because they showed high denudation morphologies due to accelerated soil-erosionprocesses caused by human influence (trampling by continuous trekking and overgrazing), resultingin exposed roots. The method applied is based on the morphological pattern of roots, defined by thegrowth-ring series of the sampled roots. In order to confirm the validity of the criteria used and tomake the estimations of erosion more accurate, several anatomical indicators of exposed and nonexposedPinus sylvestris roots were characterized.The study entailed a statistical analysis of exposure time and erosion depth. The influence ofenvironmental factors affecting the variation in velocity of the erosion processes was also examined.With a significance level of 95%, the mean erosion rates were in the range of 1.7–2.6 mm/year (29–44 t/ha/year) on Senda Schmidt over the last 101 years, and 1.1–1.8 mm/year (19–31 t/ha/year) inMonterrubio over the last 42 years. Using a multifactor analysis of variance, we observed a change inthe erosion rates as a function of position on the path along Senda Schmidt. In Monterrubio,however, we reached no significant conclusions, apart from an inverse relationship between erosionand slope gradient that was difficult to interpret.Climate conditions in Senda Schmidt and the accuracy of dating Scots pine indicate that theevaluation on P. sylvestris roots is fairly reliable, which is not the case for oak roots. Although thispaper is based on the application of an existing method, its novelty lies in being the first attempt inSpain to estimate dacceleratedT sheet erosion rates (due to recreational activities and overgrazing)using dendrogeomorphological techniques, supplemented by anatomical indicators for P. sylvestris.
PB Elsevier B.V.
SN 0341-8162
YR 2005
FD 2005
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/50455
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/50455
LA eng
DS Docta Complutense
RD 17 jul 2024