Impacts of Riparian and Non-riparian Woody Encroachment on Tallgrass Prairie Ecohydrology

Keen, Rachel M.; Nippert, Jesse B.; Sullivan, Pamela L.; Ratajczak, Zak; Ritchey, Brynn; O’Keefe, Kimberly; Dodds, Walter K.

doi:10.1007/s10021-022-00756-7

Title: Impacts of Riparian and Non-riparian Woody Encroachment on Tallgrass Prairie Ecohydrology

Journal Article · Wed Apr 13 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · Ecosystems

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-022-00756-7· OSTI ID:1865276

^[1]; Nippert, Jesse B. ^[1]; Sullivan, Pamela L. ^[2]; Ratajczak, Zak ^[1]; Ritchey, Brynn ^[1]; O’Keefe, Kimberly ^[3]; Dodds, Walter K. ^[1]

Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (United States)
Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States)
St. Edward’s University, Austin, TX (United States)

Woody encroachment has impacted grassland ecohydrology worldwide, prompting management strategies aimed at woody vegetation removal to prevent or mitigate loss of water yield. For this work, we measured stream discharge following sustained cutting of riparian trees (2010–2020) in a native tallgrass prairie (northeastern Kansas, USA). Discharge has declined at this site since the 1980’s despite a concurrent increase in precipitation. This decline has been previously attributed to increased transpiration of stream water by riparian vegetation. We used water stable isotopes (δ¹⁸O and δ²H) to determine whether riparian grasses, shrubs, and trees primarily used stream/groundwater or soil water. Additionally, we quantified the increase in riparian and non-riparian woody cover (1978–2020) and combined it with sap-flux data to estimate changes in transpirative water loss. Sustained cutting of riparian trees did not result in increased discharge. Rather than stream/groundwater, the largest proportion of water used by riparian trees (Quercus spp.) was deep soil water. Cornus drummondii (clonal woody shrub) used a higher proportion of stream water and had greater overall variability in water-use. Riparian shrub cover increased about 57% from 1978 to 2020. Over the same time period, shrub cover increased about 20% in areas outside the riparian zone, resulting in an estimated 25% increase in daily transpirative water loss. Although stream water use was less than 50% for all riparian zone species, the total increase in shrub cover on this watershed, coupled with higher transpiration rates of shrubs, suggests that these woody species—within and outside the riparian zone—are key contributors to observed declines in stream flow in this system.

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Research Organization:: Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0019037

OSTI ID:: 1865276

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2242473

Journal Information:: Ecosystems, Vol. 26; ISSN 1432-9840

Publisher:: SpringerCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Impacts of Riparian and Non-riparian Woody Encroachment on Tallgrass Prairie Ecohydrology

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