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The Role of Vegetation in the Okavango Delta Silica Sink

Struyf, Eric ; Mosimane, Keotshephile ; Van Pelt, Dimitri ; Murray-Hudson, Mike ; Meire, Patrick ; Frings, Patrick LU ; Wolski, Piotr ; Schaller, Joerg ; Gondwe, Managaliso J. and Schoelynck, Jonas , et al. (2015) In Wetlands 35(1). p.171-181
Abstract
We assessed the role of vegetation and hydrology in the Si cycle in the Okavango Delta. Our results show a large storage of biogenic Si (BSi) in vegetation and the sediments. The biological storage is among the highest observed so far for any ecosystem worldwide. Floodplain vegetation accumulates similar amounts of BSi in both the temporary floodplains and the permanent floodplains, with most values observed between 20 and 100 g Si m(-2). This vegetation Si, after litterfall, contributes to a large biogenic Si storage in the sediments. In temporary floodplains, sediments contain less BSi (375-1950 g Si m(-2) in the top 5 cm) than in the permanent floodplains (1950-3600 g Si m(-2) in the top 5 cm). BSi concentrations in the floodplain... (More)
We assessed the role of vegetation and hydrology in the Si cycle in the Okavango Delta. Our results show a large storage of biogenic Si (BSi) in vegetation and the sediments. The biological storage is among the highest observed so far for any ecosystem worldwide. Floodplain vegetation accumulates similar amounts of BSi in both the temporary floodplains and the permanent floodplains, with most values observed between 20 and 100 g Si m(-2). This vegetation Si, after litterfall, contributes to a large biogenic Si storage in the sediments. In temporary floodplains, sediments contain less BSi (375-1950 g Si m(-2) in the top 5 cm) than in the permanent floodplains (1950-3600 g Si m(-2) in the top 5 cm). BSi concentrations in the floodplain sediments decline exponentially indicating rapid dissolution. In the occasional and seasonal floodplains, unidirectional solute transfer from floodplains to the islands will remove Si from the riverine systems. Our work clearly emphasizes the crucial role of floodplains and wetlands in Si transport through tropical rivers, and the potential interference of hydrology with this role. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Tropical wetlands, Biogenic silica, Okavango Delta, Hydrology
in
Wetlands
volume
35
issue
1
pages
171 - 181
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • wos:000348235100016
  • scopus:84925537244
ISSN
0277-5212
DOI
10.1007/s13157-014-0607-1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
fbd48052-af35-4eab-933f-c888992f27e0 (old id 5053380)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:00:39
date last changed
2022-04-14 07:30:23
@article{fbd48052-af35-4eab-933f-c888992f27e0,
  abstract     = {{We assessed the role of vegetation and hydrology in the Si cycle in the Okavango Delta. Our results show a large storage of biogenic Si (BSi) in vegetation and the sediments. The biological storage is among the highest observed so far for any ecosystem worldwide. Floodplain vegetation accumulates similar amounts of BSi in both the temporary floodplains and the permanent floodplains, with most values observed between 20 and 100 g Si m(-2). This vegetation Si, after litterfall, contributes to a large biogenic Si storage in the sediments. In temporary floodplains, sediments contain less BSi (375-1950 g Si m(-2) in the top 5 cm) than in the permanent floodplains (1950-3600 g Si m(-2) in the top 5 cm). BSi concentrations in the floodplain sediments decline exponentially indicating rapid dissolution. In the occasional and seasonal floodplains, unidirectional solute transfer from floodplains to the islands will remove Si from the riverine systems. Our work clearly emphasizes the crucial role of floodplains and wetlands in Si transport through tropical rivers, and the potential interference of hydrology with this role.}},
  author       = {{Struyf, Eric and Mosimane, Keotshephile and Van Pelt, Dimitri and Murray-Hudson, Mike and Meire, Patrick and Frings, Patrick and Wolski, Piotr and Schaller, Joerg and Gondwe, Managaliso J. and Schoelynck, Jonas and Conley, Daniel}},
  issn         = {{0277-5212}},
  keywords     = {{Tropical wetlands; Biogenic silica; Okavango Delta; Hydrology}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{171--181}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Wetlands}},
  title        = {{The Role of Vegetation in the Okavango Delta Silica Sink}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13157-014-0607-1}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s13157-014-0607-1}},
  volume       = {{35}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}