•  
  •  
 

MOSS-BASED TREATMENTS AND BANK TOPSOIL MOISTURE DYNAMICS IN LOW-ORDER STREAMS: FIELD EXPERIMENTS

Abstract

Riparian vegetation strongly influences topsoil moisture and, by extension, streambank stability. In low-order alluvial streams with persistently wet soils, conventional stabilization using woody or herbaceous plants can be limited. We evaluated mosses (Bryophyta) as an alternative biotechnical option to moderate bank topsoil moisture and potentially reduce erosion. Fifty-six bank sites across two streams were established, each comprising four experimental plot types, and monitored biannually over three years. At each visit, plots were scanned with terrestrial LiDAR, topsoil moisture was measured at 2-cm depth intervals from the surface, and site-scale geomorphic data were collected. Preliminary results show that moss presence measurably alters topsoil moisture regimes on streambanks. While mosses exhibit a tendency to colonize suitable substrates, environmental constraints—including shading, inundation frequency, and sediment mobility—can limit establishment and persistence. These findings suggest moss-based treatments may complement existing riparian stabilization strategies in wet, low-order systems, contingent on site-specific conditions and management of limiting factors.

Acknowledgements

NSF, Office of Undergraduate Research at Kennesaw State University

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS