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The Role of Vegetation in the Okavango Delta Silica Sink

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Abstract

We assessed the role of vegetation and hydrology in the Si cycle in the Okavango Delta. Our results show a large storage of biogenic Si (BSi) in vegetation and the sediments. The biological storage is among the highest observed so far for any ecosystem worldwide. Floodplain vegetation accumulates similar amounts of BSi in both the temporary floodplains and the permanent floodplains, with most values observed between 20 and 100 g Si m−2. This vegetation Si, after litterfall, contributes to a large biogenic Si storage in the sediments. In temporary floodplains, sediments contain less BSi (375–1950 g Si m−2 in the top 5 cm) than in the permanent floodplains (1950–3600 g Si m−2 in the top 5 cm). BSi concentrations in the floodplain sediments decline exponentially indicating rapid dissolution. In the occasional and seasonal floodplains, unidirectional solute transfer from floodplains to the islands will remove Si from the riverine systems. Our work clearly emphasizes the crucial role of floodplains and wetlands in Si transport through tropical rivers, and the potential interference of hydrology with this role.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank several funding agencies for their funding contributions: University of Botswana, EU Marie Curie Program (Hobits), National Geographic Explorer Grant, the Swedish National Science Foundation (VR) and the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. We would like to thank BELSPO for funding the project SOGLO. This research was carried out under Permit EWT 8/36/4 XVI(6) from the Government of Botswana. Part of the funding was provided by the University of Botswana Office of Research and Development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Ecosystem Management Research Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1C, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium

    Eric Struyf, Dimitri Van Pelt, Patrick Meire & Jonas Schoelynck

  2. Okavango Research Institute, University of Botswana, Private Bag 285, Maun, Botswana

    Keotshephile Mosimane, Mike Murray-Hudson, Piotr Wolski & Managaliso J. Gondwe

  3. Department of Geology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, 22362, Lund, Sweden

    Patrick Frings & Daniel J. Conley

  4. Institute of General Ecology and Environmental Protection, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany

    Jörg Schaller

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  1. Eric Struyf
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  2. Keotshephile Mosimane
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  3. Dimitri Van Pelt
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  9. Managaliso J. Gondwe
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  11. Daniel J. Conley
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Correspondence to Eric Struyf.

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Struyf, E., Mosimane, K., Van Pelt, D. et al. The Role of Vegetation in the Okavango Delta Silica Sink. Wetlands 35, 171–181 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-014-0607-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-014-0607-1

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