SFI-30806 Soil, Water, Vegetation

Vak

Studiepunten 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

NCP-10304 Ecologie en SFI-10804 Bodem en Water 1 en NCP-20304 Systeem- en Landschapsecologie A of NCP-20406 Systeem- en Landschapsecologie B of SOQ-20804 Bodenkunde I

Continuation courses:

SFI-32806 Global Biogeochemical Cycles, Thesis

Contents:

Advanced course on causes of spatial and temporal variations in soil, water and vegetation in (semi-) terrestrial ecosystems. How do natural vegetations, hydrology, and soil properties interact in various landscapes? What determines the establishment and survival of plant (species)? How do plants affect soil processes that feed back to the vegetation? The answers will help to understand (1) the roles of soil and hydrology in plant biodiversity, and of soil+vegetation in element cycling, and (2) effects of disturbances by storms, fires, deforestation, and drainage.
We present principles of (1) nutrient requirements of plants, (2) adaptations to nutrient stress, drought, anoxia, salinity, (3) plant speciation resulting from soil heterogeneity, (4) hydrological and soil processes involved soil pH and redox, and supply of nutrients, oxygen, and water (5) soil organic matter dynamics, and (6) nutrient cycling. We present methods to describe landscapes, and dynamics of hydrology and vegetation. We treat applications, e.g. (1) effects of man's disturbances of climate, nutrient cycling and hydrology, specially in Dutch settings (coversands, coastal dunes, fens and bogs, tidal flats), and (2) soil- and hydrological measures to achieve or maintain specific nature values.

Aims:

The course provides insight into soil, water and vegetation relationships in terrestrial ecosystems and methods to study those:
- the interaction between soil processes, hydrology and (semi) natural vegetations;
- effects of changes in soils and hydrology from atmospheric deposition, climate change, land management including reclamation or afforestation, deforestation and drainage;
- methods to study soil, water and vegetation relationships and to predict effects of changes and measures.

Activities:

- attend lectures and study of course book;
- self study of several chapters, and attending related question-sessions;
- exercises (analysing data sets, model computation, essay writing, oral presentations).

Examination:

Exam with open questions, and results of individual or groupwork.

Literature:

Reader and scientific aritcles.