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Title: Thawing seasonal ground ice: An important water source for boreal forest plants in Interior Alaska

Journal Article · · Ecohydrology
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1796· OSTI ID:1533158
 [1];  [1];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK (United States)
  2. Univ. of Alaska, Anchorage, AK (United States)
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Little is known about the ecological impacts of permafrost degradation on water fluxes in boreal ecosystems, such as those in Interior Alaska. Low plant water stress suggests a reliance on a diversity of water sources. In addition to rainfall, we hypothesize that deep soil water derived from thawing seasonal ground ice (TSGI) supports plants during dry periods. We analyzed water stable isotopes from soils, plants, ice, and rain collected from stable and unstable permafrost sites. We found that TSGI provides a background water source for plants during wet years (at least 10–20%) and a stable source during dry years (at least 30–50%) and early in the growing season (60–80% in wet and dry years). Plant water uptake patterns “track” the soil thawing front, using deep and shallow layers in wet years and deep layers during dry years. This plasticity allows boreal plants to cope with seasonal drought and exploit available water sources. The availability of TGSI depends on the amount of rainfall the prior year and on permafrost stability. Thawing permafrost may reduce the buffering capacity of TGSI due to less seasonal ice from greater drainage and/or a deeper active layer. This study demonstrates the importance of two buffering mechanisms for plants to cope with rainfall variability within boreal forest underlain by permafrost—availability of TSGI and plasticity in water uptake patterns. We suggest that plant utilization of stored water may be why evapotranspiration in northern latitudes can exceed growing season precipitation.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0006913
OSTI ID:
1533158
Journal Information:
Ecohydrology, Vol. 10, Issue 3; ISSN 1936-0584
Publisher:
WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 12 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (2)

Tree density influences ecohydrological drivers of plant–water relations in a larch boreal forest in Siberia journal July 2019
Seasonal ground ice impacts on spring ecohydrological conditions in a western boreal plains peatland journal November 2019

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Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Environmental Sciences & Ecology
Water Resources
active layer
Bayesian model
boreal forests
isotope mixing model
permafrost
plant water sources
stable isotopes
subarctic