A comparison of deflation basin (wetland) soils from wet and dry climatic zones in Tasmania

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A comparison of deflation basin (wetland) soils from wet and dry climatic zones in Tasmania

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/224842

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Title: A comparison of deflation basin (wetland) soils from wet and dry climatic zones in Tasmania
Author(s): Neave, Melissa; Rayburg, Scott; Curtis, Ellen
Abstract: Deflation basins, or shallow depressions formed by wind erosion, are found in many semi-arid regions around the world. Because these features are topographic lows they become sites of water accumulation and are often associated with wetlands that represent important refugia for biota in dry environments. Despite being important habitats little is known about the relationship between water and sediment in these features. This study assesses soil geochemical properties from 50 wet-climate and 39 dry-climate deflation basins in Tasmania. The results reveal clear differences between wet-climate and dry-climate deflation basin soils. Macronutrients typically have higher concentrations in wet-climate soils (with the exception of potassium and calcium) while metals and other trace elements typically have higher concentrations in dry-climate soils. These findings have important implications for wetland biological-soil associations, with high plant productivity likely in wet-climate deflation basins as a result of both favourable nutrient status and better water availability.
Publication type: Conference paper
Source: Proceedings of 'Current trends and expected climate change impacts', Symposium HS04 on Water Quality, held during the 25th General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG 2011), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 28 June-07 July 2011 / Norman E. Peters, Valentina Krysanova, Ahti Lepisto, Rajendra Prasad, Martin Thoms, Rob Wilby and Sarantuyaa Zandaryaa (eds.), Vol. 348, pp. 26-31
Publication year: 2011
Keyword(s): Australia; Geochemistry; Nutrients; Tasmania; Trace elements; Water balance
Publisher: International Association of Hydrological Sciences Press
ISSN: 0144-7815 (series ISSN)
ISBN: 9781907161230, 1907161236
Publisher URL: http://iahs.info/redbooks/348.htm
Peer reviewed