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Henni Ylänne. Photo.

Henni Ylänne

Researcher

Henni Ylänne. Photo.

Stomping in silence : Conceptualizing trampling effects on soils in polar tundra

Author

  • Maria Tuomi
  • Maria Väisänen
  • Henni Ylänne
  • Francis Q. Brearley
  • Isabel C. Barrio
  • Kari Anne Bråthen
  • Isabell Eischeid
  • Bruce C. Forbes
  • Ingibjörg S. Jónsdóttir
  • Anders L. Kolstad
  • Petr Macek
  • Matteo Petit Bon
  • James D.M. Speed
  • Sari Stark
  • Kristin Svavarsdóttir
  • Jóhann Thórsson
  • C. Guillermo Bueno
Show all

Summary, in English

Ungulate trampling modifies soils and interlinked ecosystem functions across biomes. Until today, most research has focused on temperate ecosystems and mineral soils while trampling effects on cold and organic matter-rich tundra soils remain largely unknown. We aimed to develop a general model of trampling effects on soil structure, biota, microclimate and biogeochemical processes, with a particular focus on polar tundra soils. To reach this goal, we reviewed literature about the effects of trampling and physical disturbances on soils across biomes and used this to discuss the knowns and unknowns of trampling effects on tundra soils. We identified the following four pathways through which trampling affects soils: (a) soil compaction; (b) reductions in soil fauna and fungi; (c) rapid losses in vegetation biomass and cover; and (d) longer term shifts in vegetation community composition. We found that, in polar tundra, soil responses to trampling pathways 1 and 3 could be characterized by nonlinear dynamics and tundra-specific context dependencies that we formulated into testable hypotheses. In conclusion, trampling may affect tundra soil significantly but many direct, interacting and cascading responses remain unknown. We call for research to advance the understanding of trampling effects on soils to support informed efforts to manage and predict the functioning of tundra systems under global changes. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

Department/s

  • Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC)
  • BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate

Publishing year

2021

Language

English

Pages

306-317

Publication/Series

Functional Ecology

Volume

35

Issue

2

Document type

Journal article review

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Ecology

Keywords

  • Arctic ecosystems
  • grazing
  • herbivore–soil interactions
  • herbivory
  • non-trophic interactions
  • physical disturbance
  • treading

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0269-8463