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Soil drainage and phosphorus depletion contribute to retrogressive succession along a New Zealand chronosequence

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Abstract

Background and aims

Models of retrogressive succession have emphasised the role of phosphorus (P) depletion in driving biomass loss on surfaces of increasing geologic age, but the influence of impeded drainage on old surfaces has received much less attention. We tested whether poor drainage contributed to changes in ecosystem properties along a 291,000-year chronosequence in New Zealand (the Waitutu chronosequence).

Methods

Soil and ecosystem properties were measured at 24 evenly distributed points within each of eight 1.5 ha plots located on young, intermediate and old surfaces. Regression analyses tested whether drainage, in addition to P, affected ecosystem functioning. A complementary fertilization experiment tested whether P was indeed limiting on the most nutrient-depleted sites.

Results

Most phosphorus depletion occurred in the early stages of pedogenesis (within 24,000 years), and the older surfaces were similar in soil-P contents, whereas drainage was initially good but became increasingly impeded with surface age. In the fertilizer experiment, species showed positive responses to both nitrogen (N) and P addition on the oldest surfaces, supporting Walker and Syer’s model. However, water table depth was also found to be strongly correlated with plant species composition, forest basal area, light transmission, and litter decomposition when comparisons were made across sites, emphasising that it too has strong influences on ecosystem processes.

Conclusions

Poor drainage influences the process of retrogressive succession along the Waitutu chronosequence. We discuss the implications of our work with regard to other chronosequences, suggesting that topography is likely to have strong influences on retrogressive processes.

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Acknowledgments

This is a Waitutu Ecosystem Project paper. Data were collected on Department of Conservation and Maori-owned land currently managed by the Department of Conservation; we thank both groups for their substantial help. We thank Robert Allen, Richard Duncan, Duane Peltzer, Peter Grubb, Peter Bellingham, Sarah Richardson and two anonymous reviewers for advice and comments. We thank the many summer workers and Landcare Research staff who contributed towards data collection and entry, with particular thanks to Sean Husheer for leading on permanent plot measurements. This research was supported by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (New Zealand), the Natural Environmental Research Council (UK), the New Zealand Department of Conservation and by investment of retained earnings by Landcare Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK

    David A. Coomes & Warren A. Bentley

  2. York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada

    Andrew J. Tanentzap

  3. Landcare Research, P.O. Box 40, Lincoln, 7640, New Zealand

    Larry E. Burrows

Authors
  1. David A. Coomes
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  2. Warren A. Bentley
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  3. Andrew J. Tanentzap
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  4. Larry E. Burrows
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David A. Coomes.

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Responsible Editor: Benjamin L. Turner.

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Coomes, D.A., Bentley, W.A., Tanentzap, A.J. et al. Soil drainage and phosphorus depletion contribute to retrogressive succession along a New Zealand chronosequence. Plant Soil 367, 77–91 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1649-5

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