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Tropical montane rain forest soils. Development and nutrient status along an altitudinal gradient in the South Ecuadorian Andes

Abstract:

Soils are closely linked with the vegetation. They anchor the plant roots and provide most terrestrial plants with water und nutrients. Vice versa, soil genesis can be highly affected by feedback mechanisms of the vegetation, e.g., humus formation, mineral weathering, development of soil structure, and soil erosion. Hence, in terrestrial ecosystems soils act as driving variables as well as response variables. Therefore, in modern interdisciplinary approaches to identify the controlling factors in ecosystems, the spatial patterns of environmental resources, the reconstruction of the landscape history, and the influence of anthropogenic disturbance on ecosystems usually include the evaluation and analyses of soils. The results can be interrelated with bio- and physicogeographical, botanical, and plant physiological studies to provide insight into the functioning of ecosystems and to establish resource-saving land management systems.