Root biomechanical traits in a montane mediterranean forest watershed: Variations with species diversity and soil depth

F V Moresi; M Maesano; G Matteucci; M Romagnoli; Roy C Sidle; G S Mugnozza

doi:10.3390/f10040341

Back

Root biomechanical traits in a montane mediterranean forest watershed: Variations with species diversity and soil depth

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Root biomechanical traits in a montane mediterranean forest watershed: Variations with species diversity and soil depth

F V Moresi, M Maesano, G Matteucci, M Romagnoli, Roy C Sidle and G S Mugnozza

Forests, Vol.10(4)

2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/f10040341

Files and links (2)

pdf

PDF - Published Version (Open Access)3.78 MBDownload View

Published Version PDF - Published Version (Open Access) Open Access CC BY V4.0

url

https://doi.org/10.3390/f10040341View

Published Version

Abstract

Ecology

Plant Biology

Forestry Sciences

root tensile strength

root area ratio

root cohesion

slope stability

forest management

landslides

Mediterranean species

natural hazards

protection forests

soil bioengineering

Plant roots play a key role in stabilizing slopes, particularly in the Mediterranean region, characterized by rough and unstable terrain. However, forest species differ in their stabilizing capacities. The purpose of this study is to fill the gap of knowledge on root biomechanical properties of relevant Mediterranean trees and shrubs in relation to slope stability. Root specimens of typical montane Mediterranean tree and shrub species were sampled in Southern Italy. Root characteristics, such as tensile strength (Tr) and root area ratio (RAR), were assessed from live roots sampled in trenches, while root cohesion was calculated. Power law functions yielded the best fit for the relationship of Tr versus root diameter; however, no significant relationship was found between root strength and root moisture content. RAR varied amongst different tree and shrub species. Roots of Quercus cerris L. were the most resistant to breaking under tension, while roots of Ilex aquifolium L. had the highest tensile strength among all shrub species. Results provide quantitative information on the role of root systems of montane Mediterranean forest species in stabilizing soils and will improve modeling of landslide susceptibility to the prevention and mitigation of natural hazards in mountain environments.

Details

Title: Root biomechanical traits in a montane mediterranean forest watershed: Variations with species diversity and soil depth
Authors: F V Moresi (Author) - University Consortium for Environmental Research, Italy
M Maesano (Author) - National Research Council of Italy, Italy
G Matteucci (Author) - National Research Council of Italy, Italy
M Romagnoli (Author) - University of Tuscia, Italy
Roy C Sidle (Author) - University of Central Asia
G S Mugnozza (Author) - University of Tuscia, Italy
Publication details: Forests, Vol.10(4)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date published: 2019
DOI: 10.3390/f10040341
ISSN: 1999-4907
Copyright note: Copyright © 2019. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451112302621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

54 File views/ downloads

138 Record Views

31 Times Cited - Web of Science

See more details

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Forestry

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites