The relationships between soil chemical properties and vegetation succession in the aspect of changes of distance from the glacier forehead and time elapsed after glacier retreat in the Irenebreen foreland (NW Svalbard)

• Published in: Plant and soil Vol. 428; no. 1/2; pp. 195 - 211
• Main Authors: Wietrzyk, Paulina, Rola, Kaja, Osyczka, Piotr, Nicia, Paweł, Szymański, Wojciech, Węgrzyn, Michał
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer 01.07.2018; Springer International Publishing; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic plants; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Botanical research; Bryophytes; Chemical properties; Ecological succession; Ecology; Exponential functions; Flowers & plants; Forehead; Glaciers; Lichens; Life Sciences; Natural history; Nitrogen; Organic carbon; pH effects; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plant succession; Plants; Regular Article; Soil chemistry; Soil pH; Soil properties; Soil research; Soil Science & Conservation; Soils; Sulfur; Total organic carbon; Vegetation; Vegetation cover; Svalbard; Tundra soils; Cryptogamic species; Arctic; Nitrogen; Carbon; Sulphur
• ISSN: 0032-079X; 1573-5036
• DOI: 10.1007/s11104-018-3660-3

Aims The aim of this study was to determine relationships between soil chemical parameters (i.e. content of total organic carbon, total nitrogen, total sulphur, soil pH) and vegetation development in relation to distance from the current glacier forehead and time elapsed after glacier retreat in the Irenebreen foreland. Methods Three transects were designated along the foreland. Species and vegetation cover were investigated in 1 m2 plots, placed every 50 m along each transect; corresponding soil samples were collected and chemically analysed. Results The total organic carbon and total nitrogen contents in soil change according to power and exponential functions, respectively, whereas soil pH decreases linearly with increased time elapsed after glacier retreat. The wide variation in total sulphur contents prevent the determination of clear relationships. Bryophytes and vascular plants dominate in the younger part of the foreland, whereas epigeic lichens prevail in the older part. Conclusions Vegetation cover seems to be the main factor effects on soil properties; however, chemical soil properties and distance from the glacier forehead affect species distribution and vegetation cover. Considered so far as the first pioneers, the epigeic lichens need more time than bryophytes and vascular plants to colonise the foreland.