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Land
Special Issues
Multiple-Scale Geodiversity: Determination, Classification and Implications
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Multiple-Scale Geodiversity: Determination, Classification and Implications

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Systems and Global Change".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2023) | Viewed by 6809

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Hezi Yizhaq

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Solar Energy and Environmental Physics, BIDR, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus 8499000, Beer Sheva 84101, Israel
Interests: pattern formation; non-linear dynamics; ecohydrology; aeolian geomorpholgy; spatial ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Ilan Stavi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Dead-Sea and Arava Science Center, Tamar Regional Council, Yotvata 88820, Israel
Interests: ecohydrology; food security; geo-ecology; land use change; surface process
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Geodiversity is defined as the natural heterogeneity of geological, geomorphic, and soil characteristics, and demonstrates the complexity of natural systems. Spatial scales in studies on geodiversity have usually ranged between watershed and vegetation patchiness. Many studies have assessed the impact of geodiversity on biodiversity, and particularly on vegetation diversity. Other studies have focused on the impact of geodiversity on surface processes, with the specific impact on hydrological connectivity and its implications for water overland flow, soil erosion, and hydro-geomorphic functioning. Overall, it seems that geodiversity affects natural cycles, environmental sustainability, and ecosystem services. Recent studies have highlighted the ameliorative impact of geodiversity on the susceptibility of water-limited ecosystems to climatic change. Specifically, recent modelling studies have shown that geodiversity increases the durability and resilience of high-geodiversity ecosystems in long-term drought episodes. Despite being predominantly determined by natural conditions, geodiversity can also be formed by anthropogenic activities. Practically, human-made geodiversity, either intentional or unintentional, can either restore or degrade the ecological functioning of target lands, such as water harvesting systems or trampling routes formed by grazing of domesticated animals. This Special Issue will encompass studies dealing with the entire range of spatial and temporal scales, as well as with all biomes and land uses, where geodiversity is relevant. Field and experimental studies and modeling and conceptual studies are welcomed.

Prof. Dr. Hezi Yizhaq
Prof. Dr. Ilan Stavi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • climate change
  • water limited systems
  • ecological modelling
  • ecosystem services and functions
  • surface heterogeneity
  • land use and management
  • Natural vs. anthropogenic impact
  • Spatial analysis

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 6776 KiB  
Article
Classifying Slope Unit by Combining Terrain Feature Lines Based on Digital Elevation Models
by Hao Wang, Guanghui Hu, Junfei Ma, Hong Wei, Sijin Li, Guoan Tang and Liyang Xiong
Land 2023, 12(1), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12010193 - 6 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3377
Abstract
In recent years, applications and analyses based on slope units have become increasingly widespread. Compared with grid units, slope units can better represent terrain features and boundaries and allow a more complete view of the morphology of the Earth’s surface. Maps based on [...] Read more.
In recent years, applications and analyses based on slope units have become increasingly widespread. Compared with grid units, slope units can better represent terrain features and boundaries and allow a more complete view of the morphology of the Earth’s surface. Maps based on slope units also offer significant improvements for disaster prediction and the analysis of slope land resources. Therefore, we need a reasonable method of slope unit classification. Although some methods have been proposed for slope unit classification, they have been too focused on morphological variations and have not fully considered the importance of geomorphology, and the geomorphological and physical significance of slope partitioning remain unclear. Therefore, we propose a novel slope unit classification method by combining terrain feature lines (CTFL) derived from the meaning of geomorphology ontology that use several terrain feature lines, such as geomorphic water division lines, valley shoulder lines, slope toe lines, and shady/sunny slope boundary lines, to classify slopes. The Jiuyuangou and Lushan study areas were selected to test the CTFL method. Compared with the traditional hydrological method, the CTFL method can effectively overcome topographic abruptness and distortions, improve the uniformity of slope and aspect within individual units, and increase the accuracy of slope unit applications and analyses. This work fully considers the importance of geomorphology and is conducive to future studies of slope unit division. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiple-Scale Geodiversity: Determination, Classification and Implications)
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9 pages, 2569 KiB  
Article
Hillslope Geodiversity Impact on Biocrusts’ Biogeochemical Functions
by Eli Zaady, Ilan Stavi, Vladislav Dubinin, Nina Kamennaya, Hiam Abu-Glion, Shimshon Shuker and Hezi Yizhaq
Land 2022, 11(11), 1983; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11111983 - 5 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2204
Abstract
Geodiversity integrates physical parameters such as geological, geomorphological, and pedological components. It represents the abiotic diversity of the earth surface layer. It incorporates geological (bedrocks and mineral sediments), geomorphological (geography, land surface formations, physical processes), pedological (soils), and hydrological characteristics. Biological soil crusts [...] Read more.
Geodiversity integrates physical parameters such as geological, geomorphological, and pedological components. It represents the abiotic diversity of the earth surface layer. It incorporates geological (bedrocks and mineral sediments), geomorphological (geography, land surface formations, physical processes), pedological (soils), and hydrological characteristics. Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) play an essential role in regulating the biogeochemical cycles of carbon and nitrogen. Their ability is dependent on habitat conditions, composition, and cover percentage of the ground surface, all of which are affected by geodiversity. This study’s objective was to assess the effects of geodiversity on the biogeochemical functions of biocrusts by regulating the soil water dynamics and the subsequent impact on readily available nitrogen and carbon. Hillslope geodiversity is determined by the geodiversity found in the stone cover on the ground surface and in the stone content throughout the soil profile, as well as by the soil profile thickness of the underlying bedrock. We hypothesized that in dry environments, the physical conditions in high-geodiversity hillslopes, compared to low-geodiversity hillslopes, positively affect the soil water budget, which would affect the biocrusts and their readily available nitrogen and carbon. The results showed higher soil moisture content in the heterogeneous hillslopes. The ammonium and labile organic carbon in the biocrusts were more substantial in the heterogeneous than in the homogeneous hillslopes, while soil protein, nitrite, and soil organic matter were similar. We suggest that the comparatively high soil moisture content in the heterogeneous hillslopes stimulates biocrust community activities and increases the readily available nitrogen and carbon, thus improving the survival of shrubs in these ecosystems under long-term drought conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiple-Scale Geodiversity: Determination, Classification and Implications)
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