Response of aridland trees to artificial summer rains: Implications for climate change in the southwestern U.S.
- Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (United States)
The Arizona monsoon in the southwestern U.S. brings summertime precipitation to a region where water most limits primary productivity. Woodland species in southern Utah were given 25 mm of artificial rain in late July and mid September, 1994, to evaluate inter and intraspecific responses to monsoon precipitation. {delta}D of xylem water and predawn water potential increased following irrigation for Juniperus osteosperma and Pinus edulis indicating that these species have active surface roots during the monsoon season. The capacity of these trees to respond to irrigation, however, was greater in September than in July. Either high soil temperature limits root function in July or surface root growth over August promotes greater response in September. Quercus gambelii, a common associate within these woodlands, did not respond to the irrigations, demonstrating its reliance on deeper roots through the growing season. Future shifts in the seasonality of precipitation might, therefore, have differential effects on these woodland species leading to vegetation change. Interactions between changes in temperature and the seasonality of precipitation, however, need to be considered when predicting these responses.
- OSTI ID:
- 107153
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9507129-; ISSN 0012-9623; TRN: 95:006512-0069
- Journal Information:
- Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America, Vol. 76, Issue 3; Conference: 80. anniversary of the transdisciplinary nature of ecology, Snowbird, UT (United States), 30 Jul - 3 Aug 1995; Other Information: PBD: Sep 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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