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Noise‐driven cooperative dynamics between vegetation and topography in riparian zones
Author(s) -
Vesipa R.,
Camporeale C.,
Ridolfi L.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2015gl065688
Subject(s) - riparian zone , vegetation (pathology) , transect , biomass (ecology) , abiotic component , geology , environmental science , fluvial , ecosystem , ecology , hydrology (agriculture) , soil science , physical geography , geomorphology , geography , oceanography , biology , medicine , paleontology , geotechnical engineering , pathology , structural basin , habitat
Riparian ecosystems exhibit complex biotic and abiotic dynamics, where the triad vegetation‐sediments‐stream determines the ecogeomorphological features of the river landscape. Random fluctuations of the water stage are a key trait of this triad, and a number of behaviors of the fluvial environment can be understood only taking into consideration the role of noise. In order to elucidate how randomness shape riparian transects, a stochastic model that takes into account the main links between vegetation, sediments, and the stream is adopted, emphasizing the capability of vegetation to alter the plot topography. A minimalistic approach is pursued, and the probability density function of vegetation biomass is analytically evaluated in any transect plot. This probability density function strongly depends on the vegetation‐topography feedback. We demonstrate how the vegetation‐induced modifications of the bed topography create more suitable conditions for the survival of vegetation in a stochastically dominated environment.