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When does colonisation of a semi-arid hillslope generate vegetation patterns?
1Department of Mathematics and Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK. J.A.Sherratt@hw.ac.uk.
Journal of Mathematical Biology
|November 9, 2015
Summary
Patterned vegetation in semi-arid regions can form from colonisation of bare ground, not just uniform vegetation. Specific conditions involving water redistribution and slope gradients are key for this pattern formation.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Mathematical modeling
- Hydrology
Background:
- Patterned vegetation is common in semi-arid regions.
- Previous research often assumes patterns arise from uniform vegetation due to environmental changes.
- An alternative hypothesis suggests patterns can emerge from the colonization of bare ground.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the conditions under which vegetation patterns form through colonization on sloping ground.
- To analyze the role of slope gradient and water redistribution in pattern formation.
- To examine pattern generation in established ecological models.
Main Methods:
- Mathematical modeling using the Klausmeier and Rietkerk models.
- Analysis of vegetation dynamics under varying slope gradients and water diffusion parameters.
- Simulation of bare ground colonization processes.
Main Results:
- Colonization-induced patterning requires a water diffusion term in the Klausmeier model.
- Low slope gradients combined with significant water diffusion promote pattern formation.
- Similar conclusions were reached for the Rietkerk model with a vegetation biomass threshold.
Conclusions:
- Water redistribution is a fundamental mechanism for vegetation pattern generation.
- Colonization of bare ground, influenced by slope and water dynamics, can lead to patterned vegetation like tiger bush.
- The findings are consistent across different mathematical models, highlighting the robustness of water redistribution as a driver.
Keywords:
ColonizationDesertPattern formationPeriodic travelling waveReaction–diffusion–advectionSemi-aridMore Related Videos
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