How Does Soil Depletion Affect the Ecosystem?

Soil is crucial to terrestrial, wetland and aquatic ecosystems. It provides a substrate for plants, habitat for animals and is the location of many physical and chemical processes associated with nutrient cycling.

Causes

The movement of soil between ecosystems occurs naturally due to wind and water movement. However, human activities such as clearing land, developing roads and altering water movement can accelerate soil loss and result in negative ecosystem effects.

Elevation

Soil loss and erosion are common problems in many coastal wetland systems. As the wetland elevation decreases and water level rises, terrestrial habitat is lost.

Nutrients

Essential nutrients, such as carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, are found in the soil in various forms. As soil is depleted from a system, these nutrients are lost from the system and transported elsewhere.

Pollution

Excess soil entering aquatic systems can minimize the amount of light reaching aquatic plants, thereby inducing undue stress. Furthermore, an excess of soil-bound nutrients and toxins can decrease water quality and threaten the plants and animals.

Vegetation

Plants need a stable substrate to establish a root system and obtain nutrients required for cellular maintenance and overall growth. Loss of soil can result in plant death or stunted growth due to nutrient limitation.

References

• Effects of Soil Erosion on Soil Productivity and Soil Quality
• "Great Plains Research;" Sedimentation of Prairie Wetlands; Robert A. Gleason and Ned H. Euliss, Jr.; 1998