SpringerLink
Log in

Does the invasive plant, Impatiens glandulifera, promote soil erosion along the riparian zone? An investigation on a small watercourse in northwest Switzerland

  • SEDIMENTS, SEC 4 • SEDIMENT-ECOLOGY INTERACTIONS • RESEARCH ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The invasive plant, Impatiens glandulifera (common English name: Himalayan Balsam), is now found in many river catchments in most European countries. Its preference for damp, nutrient-rich soils, along with its intolerance to cold weather and rapid dieback, has implicated it in promoting soil erosion along the riparian zone. Despite the implication, its influence on the sediment dynamics of river systems remains unconfirmed. This communication reports the preliminary findings of ongoing work to investigate a possible link between I. glandulifera and accelerated erosion rates in inland river systems.

Materials and methods

Erosion pins, a micro-profile bridge, and a digital caliper were employed to measure changes in the soil surface profile (SSP) at six separate locations, each contaminated with I. glandulifera, along the riparian zone of a small watercourse in northwest Switzerland. Changes in SSP were also measured at an identical number of nearby locations supporting natural vegetation, in order to establish baseline erosion conditions. Soil surface profiles at all 12 locations were re-measured on seven separate occasions, from October 2012 to May 2013. This covers the time before dieback occurred to the germination and seasonal regrowth of new plants.

Results and discussion

A total of 720 individual SSP measurements were recorded during the above monitoring period. Increasingly negative values relative to initial values were documented at most transects, indicating a net reduction in soil surface elevations. This is interpreted as evidence of the removal (i.e., erosion) of surface material. Paired samples statistical analysis of the data indicate that erosion from contaminated sites was significantly greater than erosion from topographically comparable reference sites (t =−5.758; P < 0.05; N = 359) supporting natural vegetation.

Conclusions

The results provide tentative yet compelling evidence that I. glandulifera promotes soil erosion along the riparian zone of the watercourse investigated. Given the unrelenting spread of this notoriously invasive plant throughout inland river systems in many countries, the likelihood of greater quantities of nutrient-rich sediment entering into aquatic environments may steadily reduce water quality in all affected catchments. An absence of effective control measures capable of halting or even slowing its rate of invasion may make it increasingly difficult for affected European Union member states to meet and then maintain key water quality standards set by the Water Framework Directive (WFD) when fully implemented in 2015.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Germany)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beerling DJ, Perrins JM (1993) Impatiens glandulifera Royle (Impatiens roylei Walp.). J Ecol 81:367–382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boardman J, Foster I, Rowntree K, Mighall T, Gates J (2010) Environmental stress and landscape recovery in a semi-arid area, The Karoo, South Africa. Scot Geogr J 126:64–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman DS, Gray A (2012) Complex interactions between the wind and ballistic seed dispersal in Impatiens glandulifera (Royle). J Ecol 100:874–883

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collins AL, Walling DE (2004) Documenting catchment suspended sediment sources: problems, approaches and prospects. Prog Phys Geog 28:159–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cornwall Council (CC) (2013) Himalayan Balsam. on-line factsheet, Cornwall County Council, UK. http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=13835 Accessed 13 July 2013

  • Couper P, Stott T, Maddock I (2002) Insights into river bank erosion processes derived from analysis of negative erosion-pin recordings: observations from three recent UK studies. Earth Surf Proc Land 27:59–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CPS-SKEW (2012) Black list and watch list. Swiss Commission for Wild Plant Conservation. http://www.cps-skew/english/black_list.htm. Accessed 06 August 2012

  • Dawson FH, Holland D (1999) The distribution in bankside habitats of three alien invasive plants in the U.K. in relation to the development of control strategies. Hydrobiologia 415:193–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Environment Agency (EA) (2010) Managing invasive non-native plants. Environment Agency, UK, on-line publication for The Management of Non-Native Invasive Plants in or near Fresh Water. http://www.lbp.org.uk/downloads/Publications/SpeciesInfo/Managing%20Invasive%20Non-Native%20Plants.pdf Accessed 13 July 2013

  • European Commission (EC) (2010) Water Framework Directive. European Commission Publication Factsheet. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/pubs/pdf/factsheets/water-framework-directive.pdf. Accessed 15 August 2012

  • Fanning P (1994) Long-term contemporary erosion rates in an arid rangelands environment in western New South Wales, Australia. J Arid Environ 28:173–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) (2013) Himalayan Balsam Project, River Otter, East Devon. Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, Southwest, UK. http://www.fwagsw.org.uk/projects/himalayan-balsam-project-river-otter-east-devon/ Accessed 13 July 2013

  • Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) (2013) Invasive species in Switzerland—factsheets: Impatiens glandulifera: A Swiss Confederation Publication: 166-167. http://www.bafu.admin.ch/publikationen/publikation/00028/index.html?lang=en. Accessed 13 May 2013

  • Fister W, Rüegg HR, Tesch S, Greenwood P (2013) Eine Präzisonsanlage experimentellen Untersuchung von Bodenerosionsprozessen. Böden im Wandel, Regio Basiliensis, Basler Zeitschrift für Geographie 54(1):19–26 (in German)

    Google Scholar 

  • Geißler C, Kühn P, Böhne M, Bruelheide H, Shi X, Scholten T (2012) Splash erosion potential under tree canopies in subtropical SE China. Catena 91:85–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilvear DJ, Spray CJ, Casas-Mulet R (2013) River rehabilitation for the delivery of multiple ecosystem services at the river network scale. J Environ Manag 126:30–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodson JM, Gurnell AM, Angold PG, Morrissey IP (2002) Riparian seed banks along the lower River Dove, UK: their structure and ecological implications. Geomorphology 47:45–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood P, Fister W, Kinnell PIA, Rüegg HR, Kuhn NJ (2013) Develo** and testing a precision erosion measurement facility for elucidating mobilization mechanisms in shallow-flow conditions. 4th International United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Conference on Desertification and Land Degradation. International Conference on Eremology (ICE) Publication. UNESCO Chair of Eremology, Gent University, Belgium, pp 105–111

  • Greig SM, Dear DA, Carling PA (2005) The impact of fine sediment accumulation on the survival of incubating salmon progeny: implications for sediment management. Sci Total Environ 344:241–258

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haigh MJ (1977) The use of erosion pins in the study of slope evolution. Br Geomorphol Res Group (BGRG) Tech Bull. 18:31–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Heckrath G, Bechmann M, Ekholm P, Ulén B, Djodjic F (2008) Review of indexing tools for identifying high risk areas of phosphorus loss in Nordic catchments. J Hydrol 349:68–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hejda M (2006) Species factsheet: Impatiens glandulifera. Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories for Europe (DAISIE) On-line publication. 6th Framework of the European Commission Project. http://www.europe-aliens.org/pdf/Impatiens_glandulifera.pdf Accessed 11 July 2013

  • Hejda M, Pyŝek P (2006) What is the impact of Impatiens glandulifera on species diversity of invaded riparian vegetation? Biol Conserv 132:143–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helmisaari H (2010) NOBANIS—invasive alien species fact sheet: Impatiens glandulifera. Online database of the North European and Baltic Network on Invasive Alien Species. www.nobanis.org. Accessed 06 August 2012

  • Hulme PE, Bremner ET (2006) Assessing the impact of Impatiens glandulifera on riparian habitats: partitioning diversity components following species removal. J Appl Ecol 43:43–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Invasive Species Ireland (ISI) (2013) Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera. Invasive species Ireland on-line factsheet. http://invasivespeciesireland.com/most-unwanted-species/established/terrestrial/himalayan-balsam Accessed 13 July 2013

  • Keay-Bright J, Boardman J (2009) Evidence from field-based studies of rates of soil erosion on degraded land in the central Karoo, South Africa. Geomorphology 103:455–465

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kollman J, Bañuelos MJ (2004) Latitudinal trends in growth and phenology of the invasive alien plant Impatiens glandulifera (Balsaminacea). Divers Distrib 10:377–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kronvang B, Andersen HE, Larsen SE, Audet J (2013) Importance of bank erosion for sediment input, storage and export at the catchment scale. J Soils Sediments 13:230–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawler DM (1986) River bank erosion and the influence of frost: a statistical examination. Trans Inst Bri Geogr N Ser 11:227–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawler DM, Grove JR, Couperthwaite JS, Leeks GJL (1999) Downstream change in river bank erosion rates in the Swale-Ouse system, northern England. Hydrol Process 13:977–992

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Bissonais Y, Cerdan O, Lecomte V, Benkhadra H, Souchère V, Martin P (2005) Variability of soil surface characteristics influencing runoff and interrill erosion. Catena 62:111–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loughran RJ (1989) The measurement of soil erosion. Prog Phys Geogr 13:216–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malíková L, Prach K (2010) Spread of alien Impatiens glandulifera along rivers invaded at different times. Ecohydrol Hydrobiol 10:81–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mallik AU, Richardson JS (2009) Riparian vegetation change in upstream and downstream reaches of three temperate rivers dammed for hydroelectric generation in British Columbia, Canada. Ecol Eng 35:810–819

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan RPC (1993) Soil erosion and conservation Chp 7. In: Davidson DA (ed). Strategies for erosion control. Longman Scientific & Technical, Essex, UK, pp 162–185

  • Nanko K, Mizugaki S, Onda Y (2008) Estimation of soil splash detachment rates on the forest floor of an unmanaged Japanese cypress plantation based on field measurements of throughfall drop sizes and velocities. Catena 72:348–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Natur- und Umweltschutzkommission (NUS) (2012) Bekämpfung des Drüsigen Springkrauts (Impatiens glandulifera). Control & Management Information Publication. Natur- und Umweltschutzkommission (Brislach). http://www.brislach.ch/de/politik/kommissionen/?amt_id=9824 Accessed 13 July 2013

  • Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (2013) Plants profile: Impatiens glandulifera Royle. Natural Resources Conservation Service on-line factsheet. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=imgl Accessed 11 July 2013

  • Neary DG, Smethurst PJ, Baillie BR, Petrone KC, Cotching WE, Baillie CC (2010) Does tree harvesting in streamside management zones adversely affect stream turbidity?—preliminary observations from an Australian case study. J Soils Sediments 10:652–670

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) (2013) Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera. Norfolk Wildlife Trust on-line Control & Management Factsheet. http://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/Wildlife-in-Norfolk/Species/Plants/Himalayan-balsam.aspx Accessed 13 July 2013

  • Petticrew EL, Krein A, Walling DE (2007) Evaluating fine sediment mobilization and storage in a gravel-bed river using controlled reservoir releases. Hydrol Process 21:198–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pyšek P, Prach K (1995) Invasion dynamics of Impatiens glandulifera—a century of spreading reconstructed. Biol Conserv 74:41–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ries JB (2010) Methodologies for soil erosion and land degradation assessment in Mediterranean-type ecosystems. Land Degrad Dev 21:171–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS) (2013) Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera). Invasive Species & Biosecurity Programme on-line Factsheet, Rivers and Fisheries Trusts Scotland Publication. http://www.invasivespeciesscotland.org.uk/himalayan-balsam-impatiens-glandulifera/ Accessed 13 July 2013

  • Roblin E (1994) Alien invasive weeds—an example of National Rivers Authority sponsored research. In: de Waal LC, Child LE, Wade PM, Brock JH (eds) Ecology and management of invasive riverside plants. John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, UK, pp 189–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) (2013) Himalayan Balsam. Gardening Advice Factsheet. Royal Horticultural Society On-Line Publication. http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?pid=480#section3 Accessed 11 July 2013

  • Shakesby RA (1993) The soil erosion bridge: a device for micro-profiling soil surfaces. Earth Surf Proc Land 18:823–827

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skálová H, Moravcová L, Pyšek P (2011) Germination dynamics and seedling frost resistance of invasive and native Impatiens species reflect local climatic conditions. Perspect Plant Ecol 13:173–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith MW (1975) Microclimatic influences on ground temperatures and permafrost distribution, Mackenzie Delta, Northwest Territories. Can J Earth Sci 12:1421–1438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorne CR (1981) Field measurements of rates of bank erosion and bank material strength. Proceedings of a Symposium on Erosion and Sediment Transport Measurement. IAHS Publ 133, IAHS Press, Wallingford, UK, pp 503–512

  • Wadsworth RA, Collingham YC, Willis SG, Huntley B, Hulme PE Walling D (ed), Tacconi P (ed) (2000) Simulating the spread and management of alien riparian weeds: are they out of control? In J Appl Ecol 37:28–38

  • Walling DE (2005) Tracing suspended sediment sources in catchments and river systems. Sci Total Environ 344:159–184

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walling DE, Collins AL (2008) The catchment sediment budget as a management tool. Environ Sci Pol 11:136–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walling DE, Owens PN, Carter J, Leeks GJL, Lewis S, Meharg AA, Wright J (2003) Storage of sediment-associated nutrients and contaminants in river channel and floodplain systems. Appl Geochem 18:195–220

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weatherspark (2012) Historical Weather Data. http://weatherspark.com/ Accessed 06 Aug 2013

  • White RE (1997) Principles and practice of soil science: the soil as a natural resource, 3rd edn. Blackwell Science, Australia

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams P, Smith M (1989) The Frozen Earth: Fundamentals of Geocryology (2nd ed.). Chp. 4. The Ground Thermal Regime, pp. 83-120. Cambridge University Press, UK

  • Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre (WSBRC) (2013) Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera. Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre On-Line Factsheet. http://www.wsbrc.org.uk/qoxRo0kfkECMi_9xeUCdxg%3D%3D/Species.aspx Accessed 13 July 2013

  • Zhang T (2005) Influence of the seasonal snow cover on the ground thermal regime: an overview. Rev Geophys 43(4): DOI: 10.1029/2004RG000157

Download references

Acknowledgments

This investigation was funded by the Physical Geography and Environmental Change Research Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Switzerland. We are grateful to the ‘Bürgergemeinde’ (Community Mayor of Common Lands) from the town of Brislach, in Canton Basel-Landschaft, for granting ongoing access to the study site. Thanks are also extended to Dr. W. Fister for his help and advice, to S. Kuonen for producing Fig. 2, to D. Hügli, S. Tresch, and R. Gisin, for their collective assistance in making the study possible, and to three anonymous reviewers for their extremely helpful comments and suggestions, all of which have served to strengthen the paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Geography and Environmental Change Research Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 27,, Basel, 4056, Switzerland

    Philip Greenwood & Nikolaus J. Kuhn

Authors
  1. Philip Greenwood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nikolaus J. Kuhn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Philip Greenwood.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Geraldene Wharton

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Greenwood, P., Kuhn, N.J. Does the invasive plant, Impatiens glandulifera, promote soil erosion along the riparian zone? An investigation on a small watercourse in northwest Switzerland. J Soils Sediments 14, 637–650 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-013-0825-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-013-0825-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation