Similar vegetation‐geomorphic disturbance feedbacks shape unstable glacier forelands across mountain regions

Glacier forelands are among the most rapidly changing landscapes on Earth. Stable ground is rare as geomorphic processes move sediments across large areas of glacier for decades to centuries following retreat. Yet, ecological studies sample exclusively stable terrain fulfill chronosequence criteria, thus missing potential feedbacks between disturbances and vegetation colonization. By influencing soil development, such vegetation-geomorphic disturbance could be crucial understand foreland ecosystem development in a climate. We surveyed environmental properties, including intensities, 105 plots located both unstable moraine two geomorphologically active New Zealand Switzerland. Our plot data showed that intensities permanently changed from high/moderate low/stable when reached cover values around 40%. Around this value, species with response effect traits adapted dominated. This suggests can act “biogeomorphic” engineers stabilize through positive feedback loops. Across floristic regions, biogeomorphic engineer creating stabilization, mat growth association mycorrhiza, remarkably similar. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling revealed linked sequence decreasing composition pioneer late successional species. interpret disturbance-vegetation succession “biogeomorphic succession,” common pathway river coastal ecosystems world. Soil were related only advanced once covered 40%–45% plot, indicating role stabilization. Different topoclimatic conditions explain variance timescales root forelands. As widely unstable, we propose consider ecosystems” which structure function shaped by their plant species, similar rivers coasts.