Primary Colonization of Volcanic Rocks by Plants in Arid Baja California, Mexico

Abstract

In an arid region of Baja California Sur, Mexico, field observations, combined with chemical and physical analyses, mineral analysis and scanning electron microscopy of unweathered and weathered volcanic rocks, revealed the presence of rock-colonizing plants (most are tree-shaped cacti, possibly rock weathering), growing in volcanic rocks without benefit of soil. Many are at the seedling stage. At least four cactus species (Pachycereus pringlei [S. Wats] Britt. and Ross, Stenocereus thurberi [Engelm.] Buxb. subsp. thurberi, Mamillaria fraileana [Britt. and Rose] Boed., Opuntia cholla F. A. C. Weber), and one tree (wild fig, Ficus palmeri [S. Wats]) were capable of cracking, growing in and colonizing cliffs and rocks formed from ancient lava flows and, consequently, forming soil for succession by other plant species. This study shows that plant colonization of volcanic rocks may assist soil formation, which eventually leads to accumulation of soil, water and nutrients in a desert terrestrial ecosystem that otherwise lacks these essential plant-growth variables.

Key words

Rock colonization - rock weathering - soil formation - rock-weathering cacti

References

• 01 Adams,  J. B.,, Palmer,  F.,, and Staley,  J. T.. (1992);  Rock weathering in deserts: mobilization and concentration of ferric iron by microorganisms.  Geomicrobiology Journal. 10 99-114
• 02 Angers,  D. A., and Caron,  J.. (1998);  Plant-induced changes in soil structure: processes and feedbacks.  Biogeochemistry. 42 55-72
• 03 Ascaso,  C.,, Sancho,  L. G.,, and Rodríguez-Pascual,  C.. (1990);  The weathering action of saxicolous lichens in maritime Antarctica.  Polar Biology. 11 33-40
• 04 Bashan,  Y.,, Davis,  E. A.,, Carrillo-Garcia,  A.,, and Linderman,  R. G.. (2000);  Assessment of VA mycorrhizal inoculum potential in relation to the establishment of cactus seedlings under mesquite nurse-trees in the Sonoran desert.  Applied Soil Ecology. 14 165-176
• 05 Bashan,  Y.,, Gonzalez-Bashan,  L. E.,, and Leon de la Luz,  J. L.. (2001);  King cactus. The giant cardon cactus of Baja California.  Wildflower. 17 10-16
• 06 Bashan,  Y.,, Toledo,  G.,, and Holguin,  G.. (1995);  Flat top decay syndrome of the giant cardon cactus (Pachycereus pringlei): description and distribution in Baja California Sur, Mexico.  Canadian Journal of Botany. 73 683-692
• 07 Berthelin,  J.,, Leyval,  C.,, Laheurte,  F.,, and de Giudici,  P.. (1991) Involvement of roots and rhizosphere microflora in the chemical weathering of soil minerals. Plant root growth: an ecological perspective. Atkinson, D., ed. Oxford, U. K.; Blackwell Scientific Publications pp. 187-200
• 08 Best,  M. G.. (1982) Igneous and metamorphic petrology. New York; W.H. Freeman and Company
• 09 Carrillo-Garcia,  A.,, Leon de la Luz,  J. L.,, Bashan,  Y.,, and Bethlenfalvay,  G. J.. (1999);  Nurse plants, mycorrhizae and plant establishment in a distributed area of the Sonoran desert.  Restoration Ecology. 7 321-335
• 10 Carrillo-Garcia,  A.,, Bashan,  Y.,, and Bethlenfalvay,  G. J.. (2000 a);  Resource-island soils and the survival of the giant cactus, cardon, of Baja California Sur.  Plant and Soil. 218 207-214
• 11 Carrillo-Garcia,  A.,, Bashan,  Y.,, Diaz-Rivera,  E.,, and Bethlenfalvay,  G. J.. (2000 b);  Effects of resource-island soils, competition, and inoculation with Azospirillum on survival and growth of Pachycereus pringlei, the giant cactus of the Sonoran desert.  Restoration Ecology. 8 65-73
• 12 Chang,  T. T., and Li,  C. Y.. (1998);  Weathering of limestone, marble, and calcium phosphate by ectomycorrhizal fungi and associated microorganisms.  Taiwan Journal of Forest Science . 13 85-90
• 13 Chen,  J.,, Blume,  H.-P.,, and Beyer,  L.. (2000);  Weathering of rocks induced by lichens colonization - a review.  Catena. 39 121-146
• 14 Danin,  A., and Caneva,  G.. (1990);  Deterioration of limestones walls in Jerusalem and marble monuments in Rome caused by cyanobacteria and cyanophilous lichens.  International Biodeterioration. 26 397-417
• 15 Flores,  E. Z.. (1998) Geosudcaliforniana. Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur, Mexico; Geografia, agua y ciclones
• 16 Franklin,  J. F., and Dyrness,  C. T.. (1973) Natural vegetation of Oregon and Washington. USDA Forest Service; General Technical Report PNW-8 417 p.
• 17 García-Carreño,  F. L.,, Troyo-Dieguez,  E.,, and Ochoa,  J. L.. (1992);  Relationships between saline ground water, soil and leaf tissue composition of the phreatophyte mezquite.  Ground Waters. 30 676-682
• 18 Gobran,  C. R.,, Clegg,  S.,, and Courchesne,  F.. (1998);  Rhizospheric processes influencing the biogeochemistry of forest ecosystems.  Biogeochemistry. 42 107-120
• 19 Goudie,  A. S., and Parker,  A. G.. (1999);  Experimental simulation of rapid rock block disintegration by sodium chloride in a foggy coastal desert.  Journal of Arid Environments. 40 347-355
• 20 Gregory,  P. J., and Hinsinger,  P.. (1999);  New approaches to studying chemical and physical changes in rhizospher: an overview.  Plant and Soil. 211 1-9
• 21 Hinsinger,  P., and Gilkes,  R. J.. (1993);  Root-induced irreversible transformation of triactahedral mica in the rhizosphere of rape.  Journal of Soil Science. 44 535-545
• 22 Hinsinger,  P., and Gilkes,  R. J.. (1995);  Root-induced dissolution of phosphate rock in the rhizosphere of lupins grown in alkaline soil.  Australian Journal of Soil Research. 33 477-489
• 23 Hirsch,  P.,, Eckhardt,  F. E. W.,, and Palmer,  R. J. Jr.. (1995);  Fungi active in weathering of rock and stone monuments.  Canadian Journal of Botany. 73 (Suppl. 1) S1384-S1390
• 24 Illmer,  P.,, Barbato,  A.,, and Schinner,  F.. (1995 a);  Solubilization of hardy-soluble AIPO₄ with P-solubilizing microorganisms.  Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 27 265-270
• 25 Illmer,  P., and Schinner,  F.. (1995 b);  Solubilization of inorganic calcium phosphate-solubilization mechanisms.  Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 27 257-263
• 26 Jongmans,  A. G.,, van Breemen,  N.,, Lundstrom,  U.,, van Hees,  P. A. W.,, Finlay,  R. D.,, Srinivasan,  M.,, Unestam,  T.,, Giesler,  R.,, Melkerund,  P. A.,, and Olsson,  M.. (1997);  Rock-eating fungi.  Nature. 389 682-683
• 27 Kelly,  E. F.,, Chadwick,  O. A.,, and Hilinski,  T. E.. (1998);  The effect of plants on mineral weathering.  Biogeochemistry. 42 21-53
• 28 Leyval,  C.,, Laheurte,  F.,, Belgy,  G.,, and Berthelin,  J.. (1990);  Weathering of micas in the rhizosphere of maize, pine and beech seedlings influenced by mycorrhizal and bacterial inoculation.  Symbiosis. 9 105-109
• 29 Lundstrom,  U. S.,, van Breemen,  N.,, Bain,  D. C.,, van Hees,  P. A. W.,, Giesler,  R.,, Gustafsson,  J. P.,, Ilvesniemi,  H.,, Karltun,  E.,, Melkerud,  P. A.,, Olsson,  M.,, Riise,  G.,, Wahlberg,  O.,, Bergelin,  A.,, Hishop,  K.,, Finlay,  R.,, Jongmans,  A. G.,, Magnusson,  T.,, Mannerkoski,  H.,, Nordgren,  A.,, Nyberg,  L.,, Star,  M.,, and Strand,  L. T.. (2000);  Advances in understanding the podzolization process resulting from multidisciplinary study of three coniferous forest soils in the Nordic Countries.  Geoderma. 94 335-353
• 30 Palmer,  R. J. Jr.,, Siebert,  J.,, and Hirsch,  P.. (1991);  Biomass and organic acids in sandstone of a weathering building production by bacterial and fungal isolates.  Microbial Ecology . 21 253-266
• 31 Phillips,  D. H., and FitzPatrick,  E. A.. (1999);  Biological influences on the morphology and micromorphology of selected Podzols (Spodosols) and Cambisols (inceptisols) from the eastern United States and north-east Scotland.  Geoderma. 90 327-364
• 32 Sagoe,  C. I.,, Ando,  T.,, Kouno,  K.,, and Nagaoka,  T.. (1998);  Relative importance of protons and solution calcium concentration in phosphate rock dissolution by organic acids.  Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. 44 617-625
• 33 Van Breemen,  N.,, Finlay,  R.,, Lundstrom,  U.,, Jongmans,  A. G.,, Giesler,  R.,, and Olsson,  M.. (2000);  Mycorrhizal weathering: a true case of mineral plant nutrition?.  Biogeochemistry. 49 53-67
• 34 Van Loon,  J. C.. (1985) Selected methods for trace metals. New York; Wiley-Interscience Publications pp. 281-282
• 35 Vazquez,  P.,, Holguin,  G.,, Puente,  M. E.,, Lopez-Cortes,  A.,, and Bashan,  Y.. (2000);  Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms associated with the rhizosphere of mangroves growing in a semiarid coastal lagoon.  Biology and Fertility of Soils. 30 460-468
• 36 Verges,  V.. (1985);  Solution and associated features of limestone fragments in a calcareous soil (Lithic Calcixeroll) from southern France.  Geoderma. 36 109-122
• 37 Welton,  J. E.. (1984) SEM Petrology Atlas. Tulsa, Oklahoma; American Association of Petroleum Geologists

Section Editor: M. C. Ball