5:15 PM - 6:45 PM
[HDS08-P10] Developing a list of native herbaceous plants for landslide revegetation in Taiwan
Keywords:environmental stress, herbaceous plants, landslide, native plants
In recent years, the frequency of landslides has increased due to climate change. It not only results in loss of life and economic damage but also leads to the destruction of ecosystems. Ground cover herbaceous plants are used widely by many countries for landslide revegetation because of their fast-growing capability so that post-landslide soil erosion is controlled. Previous studies have shown that some exotic plants for landslide revegetation pose a risk of species invasion. Furthermore, plant lists for landslide revegetation in Taiwan are provided mainly based on experts’ personal observations and field experiences with little scientific evidence. This study aimed to identify habitat properties of landslides and establish a list of native plants for landslide revegetation in Taiwan by analyzing post-landslide habitats and vegetation island wide.
Results showed that landslides in Taiwan mainly occur at elevations between 500-2,000 m, where the day-night temperature difference is significant. The post-landslide terrains are steep, averaging around 38.50±8.86°, and predominantly facing southeast. Soils of post-landslide habitats are characterized by low moisture, low compaction, high percolation and low nutrients, which are stressful for plant growth. We ultimately identified 42 native herbaceous plants suitable for landslide revegetation. These plants are primarily composed of tropically and subtropically originated Poaceae C4 species (e.g. Miscanthus floridulus, Cynodon dactylon) and temperately originated Asteraceae species (e.g. Eupatorium formosanumm, Wedelia chinensis). They are typically perennial plants adapted to arid and infertile environments, and their seeds can disperse through multiple methods. To facilitate the application of these plants for landslide revegetation, we developed heat maps showing native herbaceous species suitable for specific landslide habitats. These maps enable rapid and precise selection of species and, in turn, raise the successfulness of landslide revegetation. This study can serve as a foundation for future research on the interaction between landslides and native plants and ecological friendliness in the course of landslide treatment.
Results showed that landslides in Taiwan mainly occur at elevations between 500-2,000 m, where the day-night temperature difference is significant. The post-landslide terrains are steep, averaging around 38.50±8.86°, and predominantly facing southeast. Soils of post-landslide habitats are characterized by low moisture, low compaction, high percolation and low nutrients, which are stressful for plant growth. We ultimately identified 42 native herbaceous plants suitable for landslide revegetation. These plants are primarily composed of tropically and subtropically originated Poaceae C4 species (e.g. Miscanthus floridulus, Cynodon dactylon) and temperately originated Asteraceae species (e.g. Eupatorium formosanumm, Wedelia chinensis). They are typically perennial plants adapted to arid and infertile environments, and their seeds can disperse through multiple methods. To facilitate the application of these plants for landslide revegetation, we developed heat maps showing native herbaceous species suitable for specific landslide habitats. These maps enable rapid and precise selection of species and, in turn, raise the successfulness of landslide revegetation. This study can serve as a foundation for future research on the interaction between landslides and native plants and ecological friendliness in the course of landslide treatment.