Hydraulic redistribution supplies a major water subsidy and improves water status of understory species in a longleaf pine ecosystem

Belovitch, Michael W.; Brantley, Steven T.; Aubrey, Doug P.

doi:10.1002/eco.2680

Hydraulic redistribution supplies a major water subsidy and improves water status of understory species in a longleaf pine ecosystem

Journal Article · Fri May 31 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · Ecohydrology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.2680· OSTI ID:2369030

Belovitch, Michael W. ^[1]; ^[2]; ^[3]

Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia Athens Georgia USA, Ecohydrology Lab Jones Center at Ichauway Newton Georgia USA, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory University of Georgia Aiken South Carolina USA
Ecohydrology Lab Jones Center at Ichauway Newton Georgia USA
Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia Athens Georgia USA, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory University of Georgia Aiken South Carolina USA

Abstract

Hydraulic redistribution (HR) is a common phenomenon in water‐limited ecosystems; however, it remains unclear how the volume of water transported via HR compares to other components of the hydrologic budget and how HR influences water availability for understory plant communities. In this study, we investigate the absolute and relative magnitude of HR on a forest water budget and identify potential impacts of this water subsidy to understory plant communities. We scaled tree‐level estimates of transpiration and HR of three common tree species naturally occurring in a longleaf pine woodland with plot‐level measurements of basal area to determine their magnitude at the stand scale. We trenched plots containing understory vegetation but devoid of mature trees and their connected roots to exclude HR subsidies to understory plant species. We analysed soil water isotopes and assessed leaf water potential (Ψ _L ) in trenched and control plots to determine if HR results in mixing of water among soil strata and improves understory plant moisture status. Water inputs from HR were equivalent to >30% of total rainfall for the site during the observation period and ~40% of total tree water uptake, depending on species. A stable isotope mixing model confirmed that soil water within HR‐exposed plots was more similar to groundwater, whereas soil water within trenched plots was more similar to precipitation. Exclusion of HR via trenching decreased soil moisture and pre‐dawn Ψ _L for all understory species. These three lines of evidence suggest that HR from overstory trees redistributes a sizable portion of water from deeper to shallower soil profiles and that this water subsidy enhances understory plant water status.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: EM0004391

OSTI ID:: 2369030

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2369033
OSTI ID: 2575884

Journal Information:: Ecohydrology, Journal Name: Ecohydrology Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 17; ISSN 1936-0584

Publisher:: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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