1. Effects of Convex and Concave slopes on Vegetation Characteristics
Joe Persico

2. Introduction/Background
Question: How could convex and concave slopes (both north and south) affect vegetation and soil characteristics in the high alpine?
This may change the way that water flows from snowmelt and drainage and can help us understand the dynamics of this ecosystem (Aandahl, 1949)
Looking at north and south facing slopes as well to
affects the landscape on a larger scale
J.E Pinder III worked in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Read the question, This is important because the vegetation and geology of the high alpine affects how nutrients and water flow into the subalpine and lower areas Pinder worked in Lassen looking at vegetation characteristics

3. Site Description #1
Just above cable gate near our alpine field day site.
South west of Niwot Mountain
South facing slope with both a concave and convex section
Just above treeline
Mostly small herbaceous vegetation with some willows and Krummholz
Slope aspect: 150° S-SE
Slope Angle: 9°
Coordinates: 40°03'04.0"N 105°35'04.7"W
Describe the first site

4. Site Description #2 Above Cable Gate and over Niwot Ridge
Northwest facing slope
Northwest of Niwot Mountain and just below
Just above treeline with small Krummholz creeping in
Concave and convex sections of the slope
Mostly small herbaceous vegetation with some Krummholz and willows
Slope Aspect: 320° N-NW
Slope Angle: 6-8°
Coordinates: 40°03'13.9"N 105°34'38.0"W
Describe the second site

5. Methods
Walked past cable gate a south facing and north facing slope with concave and convex sections
Each convex or concave section set a 30m transect perpendicular to the aspect of the slope
Record the angle and distance to center for concave and convex slopes
Each transect had 3 Daubenmire plots
Small sample of soil at each site at depth 10cm was taken
Line intercept method was also used along each transect within each plot
Steps repeated along transects on our North facing slope
Data recorded and analyzed Anova-with replication and chi-squared
Read methods quickly notable species, methods for daubenmire

6. Results/Figures

7. Results/Figures

8. Results/Figures

9. Results/Figures

10. Conclusions
Significant difference in moss and lichen frequency between concave and convex slopes
Graminoids do not show a significant difference in frequency
Obvious differences in cover type
Observationally more barren on convex slopes
Not much difference between north and south facing
Soils showed little differences (dry vs. wet)
Steepness and angle create differences
Frequency of moss and lichen is higher on convex slopes while graminoids observationally looked different but tests didn’t show this
North and south facing slopes had little difference

11. Conclusions and Discussion
Percent cover shows significant difference in terms of moss and lichen
Also shows significant difference in graminoid cover between convex and concave
More water loving plants reside in concave landscapes (Bridge and Johnson, 2009)
Wind rain and other disturbances discourage plants from colonizing in convex slopes
Concave have more protection from stressors (Gilbert, 1909)
Affects water runoff and fire patterns in the alpine regions (Pinder, et al., 1997)
Soils are drier and more prone to runoff on convex slopes

13. Works cited
Sakai, A. & Ohsawa, “Vegetation pattern and microtopography on a landslide scar of Mt Kiyosumi, central Japan.” M. Ecol. Res. (1993) 8: Issue 1 pp
Aandahl, Andrew R. “The Characterization of Slope Positions and Their Influence on the Total Nitrogen Content of a Few Virgin Soils of Western Iowa1.” Soil Science Society of America Journal, vol. 13, no. C, (1949) p. 449., doi: /sssaj c0081x.
Bridge, S.r.j. and E.a. Johnson. “Geomorphic Principles of Terrain Organization and Vegetation Gradients.” Journal of Vegetation Science, vol. 11, no. 1, (2000) pp. 57–70., doi: /
Iii, J. E. Pinder, G. C. Kroh, J. D. White and A. M. Basham May, “The Relationships between Vegetation Type and Topography in Lassen Volcanic National Park.” Plant Ecology Formerly `Vegetation', vol. 131, no. 1, (1997) pp. 17–29., doi: /a:
Gilbert, G. K. “The Convexity of Hilltops.” The Journal of Geology, vol. 17, no. 4, (1909) pp. 344–350., doi: /