Name: laboratory and field protocol for estimating sheet erosion rates from dendrogeomorphology
Uploaded: 2019-01-07T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Laboratory and Field Protocol for Estimating Sheet Erosion Rates from Dendrogeomorphology at JoVE.com

The research projects that funded this research were: MARCoNI (CGL2013-42728-R); Dendro-Avenidas (CGL2007-62063); MAS Dendro-Avenidas (CGL2010-19274) of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology and the project IDEA-GESPPNN (OAPN 163/2010), which was funded by the Environmental Ministry of Spain.

1. Sampling Strategy
<ol>
	<li>Geomorphic process identification
	<ol>
		<li>Implement the Hydrologic Response Units approach (HRU)21. To this end, identify homogenous areas within the study site, comprising lithology and surface deposits, canopy cover, vegetative residue in contact with the soil surface and slope. Select among all the HRUs those in which the sheet erosion process is predominant.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
<img alt="Figure 1...

The protocol deployed demonstrates the value of detailed and proper characterization of ground surface microtopography, as it enables to measure trustworthy sheet erosion rates from dendrogeomorphology. Our methodological approach focuses on the importance of characterizing the microtopography in the surroundings of exposure roots to improve erosion rate estimation. This factor has been largely ignored in previous studies, resulting in a misinterpretation of soil erosion rates derived from dendrogeomorphology<sup class="...

Both economic and environmental impacts produced by sheet erosion makes this topic in a worldwide concern1. Several methods, from direct techniques to physical-based and empirical approaches, are used to calculate soil erosion rates on a variety of temporal and spatial scales. Direct techniques use field measurements under natural conditions and are mainly based on the use of Gerlach troughs2, water collectors3, erosion pins4 and profilometers5. Furthermore, models of soil erosion have been increasingly focused on representing in detail the real physical processes responsible for erosion6.
Dendrogeomorphology7 is a subdivision of dendrochronology8 that it is successful in characterizing frequency and magnitude of geomorphic processes9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17. Regarding sheet erosion, dendrogeomorphology is usually employed to enhance or replace the methodologies mentioned above, particularly in areas where erosion rates derived from direct techniques are either scarce or unavailable. Dendrogeomorphology is a very flexible method for assessing soil erosion and can be utilized to calibrate physical-based and empirical models, or perhaps as a data source to enhance the reliability of direct estimation techniques18,19. Dendrogeomorphology enables soil erosion to be established over large areas where exposed roots are available. These exposed roots should show clear tree rings limits and respond to annual growth patterns to be considered as optimum to apply dendrogeomorphological techniques20. Further, exposed roots to be sampled should be preferably located in homogenous units based on their reaction to soil erosion21.
The conventional dendrogeomorphical way of estimating sheet erosion is grounded on measuring in situ the eroded soil thickness (Ex) from the time of the very first exposure to the present22,23,24. The ratio between these two variables is utilized to calculate an erosion value in mm&#8729;yr1. Much of the research conducted to date has focused entirely on efficiently identifying the initial year of exposure. As an outcome, modifications in the root due to exposure are analyzed at the macroscopic level25, or at the tissue and cellular levels26,27,28. The principal anatomical change present in the exposed roots of conifers is increasing growth ring thickness, as a consequence of a significant number of cells within the earlywood (EW)26. A cutback has similarly been found within the lumen area of EW tracheids along with an increased cell wall structure thickness of latewood (LW) tracheids24,27,29. These modifications have been described and quantified as beginning when erosion lowers the ground surface over the root to roughly three cm30. Less attention was granted to the adequate determination of the Ex parameter. The age of exposed roots was typically connected with the height of the root&#39;s center axis of growth over the ground surface31,32. The estimation of Ex was consequently corrected considering ongoing secondary growth30,33. More recently, these methodological approaches have also integrated the characterization of soil microtopography to obtain reliable erosion rates34,35,36.
We present a laboratory and field protocol to estimate more accurate and reliable sheet erosion rates from dendrogeomorphology. In this particular protocol, we examine the hypothesis that sampling all exposed roots, regardless of orientation relative to runoff path and in conjunction with microtopographical analysis, enables erosion rates to be precisely reconstructed and quantified. Our objective, therefore, is to provide a protocol to estimate erosion rates from maximizing the sample size of exposed roots, using macroscopic and microscopic information found in growth tree-ring series and also high-resolution topographic data.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1336">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:235px;">Topographic map, soil map, land cover map</td>
			<td style="width:197px;"></td>
			<td style="width:155px;"></td>
			<td style="width:751px;">To be obtained from public institutions or generate at the first phase of research</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:235px;">Single ring infiltometer</td>
			<td style="width:197px;">Turf-Tec International</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">IN16-W</td>
			<td>http://www.turf-tec.com/IN16Lit.html</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:235px;">Handsaw</td>
			<td style="width:197px;"></td>
			<td style="width:155px;"></td>
			<td style="width:751px;">There is noy any specific characteristics to be considered regarding the model</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:235px;">Measuring tape</td>
			<td style="width:197px;"></td>
			<td style="width:155px;"></td>
			<td>With accuracy of 1 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:235px;">Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS)</td>
			<td style="width:197px;">Leica-Geosystems</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">Leica ScanStation P16</td>
			<td>https://leica-geosystems.com/products/laser-scanners/scanners/leica-scanstation-p16</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:235px;">Microtopographic Profile Gauge</td>
			<td style="width:197px;">RS Online</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">Facom, 19</td>
			<td>https://www.classic-conservation.com/es/herramientas-para-talla-y-escultura-en-madera/511-galga-medidora-de-perfiles.html</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:235px;">Sandpaper</td>
			<td style="width:197px;"></td>
			<td style="width:155px;"></td>
			<td>from 80 to 400 grit</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:235px;">Scanner</td>
			<td style="width:197px;">EPSON</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">Perfection V800 Photo</td>
			<td>https://www.epson.co.uk/products/scanners/consumer-scanners/perfection-v800-photo</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:235px;">Image analysis system</td>
			<td style="width:197px;">Regent Instruments Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">WinDENDRO</td>
			<td>http://www.regentinstruments.com/assets/windendro_analysisprocess.html</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:235px;">Measuring table</td>
			<td style="width:197px;">IML</td>
			<td style="width:155px;"></td>
			<td>https://www.iml-service.com/product/iml-measuringtable/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:235px;">Sliding microtome</td>
			<td style="width:197px;">Thermo Fisher SCIENTIFIC</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">Microm HM 450-387760</td>
			<td>http://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/910020</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:235px;">Optical microscope</td>
			<td style="width:197px;">OLYMPUS</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">MX63/MX63L</td>
			<td>https://www.olympus-ims.com/en/microscope/mx63l/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:235px;">Digital camera for microscope</td>
			<td style="width:197px;">OLYMPUS</td>
			<td style="width:155px;">DP74</td>
			<td>https://www.olympus-ims.com/en/microscope/dc/</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:235px;">Safranin</td>
			<td style="width:197px;"></td>
			<td style="width:155px;"></td>
			<td style="width:751px;">Empirical Formula (Hill Notation) C20H19ClN4&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="24">
			<td height="24" style="height:24px;width:235px;">Astrablue</td>
			<td style="width:197px;"></td>
			<td style="width:155px;"></td>
			<td style="width:751px;">Empirical Formula C47H52CuN14O6S3</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:235px;">Alcohol</td>
			<td style="width:197px;"></td>
			<td style="width:155px;"></td>
			<td style="width:751px;">Alcohol by volume (50%, 75% and 100%)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:235px;">Distilled water</td>
			<td style="width:197px;"></td>
			<td style="width:155px;"></td>
			<td>H2O</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:235px;">Citrus oil clearing agent</td>
			<td style="width:197px;"></td>
			<td style="width:155px;"></td>
			<td>https://www.nationaldiagnostics.com/histology/product/histo-clear</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:235px;">Coated slides</td>
			<td style="width:197px;">Thermo Fisher SCIENTIFIC</td>
			<td style="width:155px;"></td>
			<td>https://www.fishersci.com/us/en/products/I9C8JXMT/coated-glass-microscope-slides.html</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:235px;">Hardening epoxy</td>
			<td style="width:197px;">MERCK</td>
			<td style="width:155px;"></td>
			<td>https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sial/03989?lang=es&#38;region=ES</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

laboratory and field protocol for estimating sheet erosion rates from dendrogeomorphology

Sheet erosion is among the crucial drivers of soil degradation. Erosion is controlled by environmental factors and human activities, which often lead to severe environmental impacts. The understanding of sheet erosion is, consequently, a worldwide issue with implications for both environment and economies. However, the knowledge on how erosion evolves in space and time is still limited, as well as its effects on the environment. Below, we explain a new dendrogeomorphological protocol for deriving eroded soil thickness (Ex) by acquiring accurate microtopographic data using both terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and microtopographic profile gauges. Additionally, standard dendrogeomorphic procedures, dependent on anatomical variations in root rings, are utilized to establish the timing of exposure. Both TLS and microtopographic profile gauges are used to obtain ground surface pro&#64257;les, from which Ex is estimated after the threshold distance (TD) is determined, i.e., the distance between the root and the sediment knickpoint, which allows de&#64257;ning the lowering of the ground surface caused by sheet erosion. For each profile, we measured the height between the topside of the root and a virtual plane tangential to the ground surface. In this way, we intended to avoid small-scale impacts of soil deformation, which may be due to pressures exerted by the root system, or by the arrangement of exposed roots. This may provoke small amounts of soil sedimentation or erosion depending on how they physically affect the surface runoff. We demonstrate that an adequate microtopographic characterization of exposed roots and their associated ground surface is very valuable to obtain accurate erosion rates. This finding could be utilized to develop the best management practices designed to eventually halt or perhaps, at least, lessen soil erosion, so that more sustainable management policies can be put into practice.

Samples of exposed roots suffer serious cambial deterioration due to the impact of exposure (e.g., modifications in temperature, incidence of light) plus the physical stress, due to trampling by hikers or animal grazing and browsing that the roots undergo after they are exposed. Determining the existence of discontinuous rings, as well as precisely dating the first year of response to exposure was accomplished in the lab as in Protocol 4 (steps 4.1.6 to 4.1.8). We chose the incre...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Laboratory and Field Protocol for Estimating Sheet Erosion Rates from Dendrogeomorphology at JoVE.com

Laboratory and Field Protocol for Estimating Sheet Erosion Rates from Dendrogeomorphology

Characterizing erosion from dendrogeomorphology has usually focused on accurately finding the starting time of root exposure, by examining macroscopic or cell level changes caused by exposure. Here, we offer a detailed description of different novel techniques to obtain more precise erosion rates from highly accurate microtopographic data.

Sheet erosion is among the crucial drivers of soil degradation. Erosion is controlled by environmental factors and human activities, which often lead to ...

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