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Digging by vertebrates as an activity promoting the development of water-repellent patches in sub-surface soil
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Digging by vertebrates as an activity promoting the development of water-repellent patches in sub-surface soil

M.J. Garkaklis, J.S. Bradley and R.D. Wooller
Journal of Arid Environments, Vol.45(1), pp.35-42
2000
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/jare.1999.0603
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Abstract

Dry sclerophyll woodlands in south-western Australia are refugia for remnant populations of woyliesBettongia penicillata . These marsupials create holes as they forage for the fruiting bodies of hypogeous fungi. The effect of these holes on the water-repellent woodland soils was evaluated using simulated diggings. Water repellency was significantly higher in surface than in sub-surface soils, although patches of moderately water-repellent sub-soils did occur. In situ assessments of simulated diggings that were allowed to decay showed a five-fold increase in water repellency in sub-surface soil once they had become filled-in. Buried organic material was found in many decayed diggings that were severely water-repellent, and very severe water repellency occurred where masses of fungal hyphae were present. This suggests that vertebrate diggings in which surface litter and organic debris become trapped can provide a site for the development of sub-surface water repellency.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#2 Zero Hunger
#14 Life Below Water
#15 Life on Land

Source: InCites

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25 Record Views
34 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

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Citation topics
3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
3.45 Soil Science
3.45.879 Soil Erosion
Web Of Science research areas
Ecology
Environmental Sciences
ESI research areas
Environment/Ecology
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