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Digging by badgers and rabbits on some wooded slopes in Belgium
Author(s) -
Voslamber Berend,
Veen Arthur W. L.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
earth surface processes and landforms
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.294
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9837
pISSN - 0197-9337
DOI - 10.1002/esp.3290100111
Subject(s) - digging , temperate climate , period (music) , physical geography , geography , ecology , hectare , temperate rainforest , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , biology , geology , archaeology , ecosystem , geotechnical engineering , acoustics , agriculture , physics
Eight forest areas, totalling 128.7 hectares, located near the northern border area of the Belgian Ardennes, have been surveyed for soil material brought to the surface by burrowing animals. It appeared that at least 7003.6 kg/ha were present, brought up by badgers and rabbits. The amount turned out to vary a factor 10 3 between the eight regions. During the half year survey period badgers added some 570 kg to their mounds. On this basis the rate of mass transport effected directly by badgers may be estimated at an insignificant 0.02 gcm −1 y −1 . Also, production of available sediment by these animals is relatively unimportant in this temperate humid forest environment.