Vegetation arcs and litter dams : similarities and differences

The significance of soil, water and landscape processes in banded vegetation patterning

Auteurs :
EDDY, J.
HUMPHREYS, G.S.
HART, D.M.
MITCHELL, P.B.
FANNING, P.C.
VALENTIN, C.

Description :
Vegetation arcs are near parallel bands of denser vegetation aligned perpendicular to slope and separated by barer inter-arc zones. These patterns occur in arid and semi-arid areas of gentle gradient. Similar, but much smaller scale patterns, here referred to as litter dams and microterraces, occur in a variety of climatic regions, from tropical to temperate to arid, on steeper slopes, as well as on very gentle slopes. The AA. describe similarities between arcs and dams in attributes such as shape, orientation, cross-sectional profile, spatial organisation, and surface features (arrangement of plants, surface crusts).


Type de document :
Article de monographie

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 1999, vol. 37, n°. 1-2, p. 57-73, Collation : Illustration, Références bibliographiques : 36 ref.

Date :
1999

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena