ABSTRACT 

Understanding evolution of soils and landforms (and other Earth surface systems) has itself evolved from concepts of single-path, single-outcome development to those that recognize multiple possible developmental trajectories and different maturely developed states. Soil geomorphology and pedology should now move beyond showing that multiple trajectories are possible to investigating why some evolutionary pathways (EPs) are common and persistent, whereas others are rare and transient. A typology of EPs is developed and applied to soil formation in the North Carolina coastal plain. Some EPs are impossible because of violation of generally applicable laws or absence of necessary conditions; others are currently impossible, having occurred in the past but requiring conditions that no longer exist. Improbable paths are possible but rare, because necessary circumstances involve rare events or boundary conditions. Inhibited EPs are also possible but rare because of resistance factors or feedbacks that prevent or inhibit them. Transient paths may be common but are not long-lived or well preserved and are thus rarely observed. Recurring but nonrepeating EPs occur in different locations but are irreversible in any given location and cannot recur except in the case of system-resetting disturbance or new inputs. Recurring EPs are not inhibited or self-limited, occur in different locations, and may be repeated because of ongoing or recurrent processes or conditions. Selected path types occur in multiple situations, but with increased probability due to feedbacks or responses that encourage or enhance recurrence and/or persistence. The case study shows examples of all possible EP types.

中文翻译：

---

土壤-地貌系统中的进化途径

摘要 

对土壤和地貌（以及其他地球表面系统）的演化的理解本身已经从单路径，单结果发展的概念演变为可以识别多种可能的发展轨迹和不同成熟状态的概念。土壤地貌学和土壤学现在应该超越显示多种轨迹可能的范围，以调查为什么某些进化途径（EP）是常见且持久的，而其他EP是罕见且短暂的。EP的类型学被开发出来并应用于北卡罗莱纳州沿海平原的土壤形成。由于违反了普遍适用的法律或缺少必要的条件，有些EP是不可能的；过去已经发生过，但现在要求的条件已经不复存在，目前尚不可能实现。不可能的路径是可能的，但很罕见，因为必要的情况涉及很少的事件或边界条件。受抑制的EP也是可能的，但由于阻力因素或阻止或抑制它们的反馈而很少见。瞬态路径可能很常见，但寿命不长或保存得很好，因此很少观察到。重复但非重复的EP出现在不同的位置，但在任何给定的位置都是不可逆的，除非系统重置干扰或有新的输入，否则这些EP不会重复发生。反复出现的EP不受抑制或自我限制，出现在不同的位置，并且可能由于正在进行或经常发生的过程或条件而重复出现。选定的路径类型在多种情况下都会发生，但是由于鼓励或增强重复性和/或持久性的反馈或响应，概率增加。案例研究显示了所有可能的EP类型的示例。但由于鼓励或增强复发和/或持久性的反馈或响应而导致的可能性增加。案例研究显示了所有可能的EP类型的示例。但由于鼓励或增强复发和/或持久性的反馈或响应而导致的可能性增加。案例研究显示了所有可能的EP类型的示例。