Catchment-scale patterns of biogeomorphic interaction in an alpine glacier foreland

Abstract

The interaction between abiotic and biotic development in glacier forelands depends on species traits and the frequency and magnitude of geomorphic events as shown on plot-scale studies. However, upscaling of biogeomorphic interactions is still scarce and it remains unclear how these interactions form and shape dynamic patches. In this study, we combined traditional field based methods of geomorphology and ecology with remote sensing and soil erosion modelling. Geomorphic mapping allows the delineation of process domains for further methods specification. Field based plot sampling along a chronosequences provides insight into distribution of species composition. Catchment wide patterns of functional groups of vegetation (graminoids, forbs, woody) were analyzed with a random forest algorithm using UAV-based multispectral imagery recorded. Small scale geomorphic events are described through simulated annual sediment transport rates derived from the revised universal soil loss equation model (RUSLE). The dataset will show temporal and spatial distribution of the stabilizing effect of plant functional types. Analyses of potential erosion rates will show the relationship of small scale sediment transport with species distribution. Results of this study will contribute to our understanding of processes that form biogeomorphic landscape patterns in glacier forelands at different scales. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Full text

EGU22-7777
EGU General Assembly 2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Catchment-scale patterns of biogeomorphic interaction in an alpine
glacier foreland
Stefan Haselberger1, Simon Scheper2, Ulrich Zangerl1, Lisa-Maria Ohler3, Jan-Christoph Otto3,
Robert R. Junker4, and Sabine Kraushaar1
1University of Vienna, Geography and Regional Research, Vienna, Austria (stefan.haselberger@univie.ac.at)
2Dr. Simon Scheper—Research|Consulting|Teaching, Dähre, Germany
3University of Salzburg, Department of Geography and Geology, Salzburg, Austria
4Philipps-University Marburg, Evolutionary Ecology of Plants, Department of Biologie, Marburg, Germany
The interaction between abiotic and biotic development in glacier forelands depends on species
traits and the frequency and magnitude of geomorphic events as shown on plot-scale studies.
However, upscaling of biogeomorphic interactions is still scarce and it remains unclear how these
interactions form and shape dynamic patches.
In this study, we combined traditional field based methods of geomorphology and ecology with
remote sensing and soil erosion modelling. Geomorphic mapping allows the delineation of
process domains for further methods specification. Field based plot sampling along a
chronosequences provides insight into distribution of species composition. Catchment wide
patterns of functional groups of vegetation (graminoids, forbs, woody) were analyzed with a
random forest algorithm using UAV-based multispectral imagery recorded. Small scale
geomorphic events are described through simulated annual sediment transport rates derived
from the revised universal soil loss equation model (RUSLE).
The dataset will show temporal and spatial distribution of the stabilizing effect of plant functional
types. Analyses of potential erosion rates will show the relationship of small scale sediment
transport with species distribution. Results of this study will contribute to our understanding of
processes that form biogeomorphic landscape patterns in glacier forelands at different scales.
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)