Rainfall Interception Based on Indirect Methods: A Case Study in Temperate Forests in Oaxaca,Mexico

Rainfall interception represents the amount of water trapped in natural cover that is not drained directly to the ground. Intercepted rainfall may evaporate after a rain event, making it one of the main drivers of water balance and hydrologic regionalization. This process can be affected by factors such as climate, altitude, vegetation type, and topography. Here is a simple method of calculating rainfall interception in temperate forests using in Santa Maria Yavesia, Oaxaca, and Mexico as an illustrative study area. We used two rain gauges to measure net precipitation (N_p) under the canopy at each study site and one gauge outside the canopy to obtain gross precipitation (G_p). Throughfall (T_h) was indirectly measured using hemispherical photographs. Rainfall interception was obtained through a combination T_h and G_p and N_p. The mean rainfall interception was 50.6% in the Abies forests, 23%–40% in the coniferous‐mixed forests, and 27.4% in the broad‐leaved forests. We classified rainfall events by intensity to determine the effect of canopy structure and precipitation and found that 75% of the events were weak events, 24% were moderate events, and 1% were strong events. In addition, we found that rainfall interception was lower when the intensity of precipitation was higher. Our method can be replicated in different ecosystems worldwide as a tool for assessing the influence of rainfall interception in terms of ecological services.     

Acid Deposition in the Tuscan Appennines During the Dry Period 1988-89

The typical parameters of acid precipitation are evaluated in the forest of Vallombrosa (Tuscan Appennines) during the dry period 1988-89. Individual rain events (dry and wet deposition) were sampled in a clearing of the forest and below the canopy of an evergreen tree as well as a deciduous broadleaf tree.

In atmospheric precipitation the pH values usually vary around 4.4, with neutralization in the hot season due to calcareous material from distant sources. Relatively large concentrations of Pb and Cd are found in rain, but only in a small amount in canopy leachate. Aluminium, manganese and iron are more significantly washed off than Pb and Cd.     

皇甫川流域主要人工灌木水分生态的研究

通过在丰水年(1998年)和欠水年(1999年)连续两个生长季对皇甫川流域主要灌木沙棘、沙柳和柠条的生物学特性、蒸腾特征及土壤水分含量的测定及分析,得出结果为:三种灌木蒸腾强度在晴天和阴天表现的日变化规律不同。在丰水年和欠水年的生长季内,三种灌木蒸腾强度均随土壤含水量和降雨量的增减而增减,环境因子综合作用于灌木蒸腾的过程。无论丰水年还是欠水年,三种灌木地上生物量的增长与蒸腾耗水量均呈同步增长,生长季内皇甫川流域主要灌木蒸腾系数均较高,灌木的生长是以消耗大量水分为代价,水分是其生长的主要限制因子之一;柠条蒸腾系数较小,这反映了柠条能较有效利用水分,积累干物质,适合于在皇甫川流域生长;通过测定与计算,皇甫川流域沙棘适宜盖度为61%～79%、柠条为43%～55%、沙柳为46%～59%。     

Intra-specific variations of two Leymus chinensis divergence populations in Songnen Plain, northeast China

Population demography, seed production, biomassallocation, net photosynthesis and transpiration of two Leymus chinensis divergence populations and between two years in Songnenplain, northeast China were compared. Strong differences betweenthe dry 1997 and moist 1998 occurred in vegetative shoot and sexualshoot densities, sexual differentiation and tiller densities, aswell as in the lengths of inflorescence, seed numbers perinflorescence, seed weights and biomass allocation in eachpopulation respectively (P<0.01). While strong differences betweenthe two populations occurred in vegetative shoot densities, sexualshoot densities, sexual differentiation and seed weights in eachyear (P<0.01). The differences between the two populations intiller densities and in biomass allocation to sexual shoots were significant (P<0.05). But there were no significant differences between the two populations in the lengths of inflorescence, seed numbers per inflorescence and biomass allocation to rhizomes and vegetative shoots (P>0.05). Excepting the transpiration rate in the early June, the differences between the two populations in net photosynthesis and transpiration rate of vegetative shoots and sexual shoots were strongly significant in the early June and July respectively (P<0.01). Relative stable variations in population demography and physiological traits between the two populations indicated that they are divergently in the Songnen Plain.     

维管束植物桂花树叶片对大气氮沉降的吸收研究

本文通过测定维管束植物桂花树叶片的氮含量和氮同位素组成,分析其对大气氮沉降的截留吸收机制。为期一年(2009.03～2010.03)的监测数据显示,桂花树叶片氮含量为1.33%～3.09%,平均值为2.18%;叶片δ15 N为+0.54‰～+3.78‰,均值为+2.29‰。桂花树叶片N%、δ15 N的季节性变化趋势,总体呈现春、冬高,夏、秋低的规律,这与已有的贵阳市雨水监测数据一致。对比不同树冠厚度的叶片样品,发现叶片N%随树冠厚度增加而降低,顶部叶片N%表现为最高(2.39±0.4%),说明桂花树的树冠层对大气氮沉降有明显的截留吸收作用。桂花树顶部叶片δ15 N最偏负,而上覆树冠层最厚的下方叶片的δ15 N最偏正,反映了树冠层在吸收大气氮沉降过程中存在选择性吸收,引起同位素分馏,即树冠层越厚,穿冠水δ15 N越偏正,且分馏程度与树冠厚度成正比,导致下方叶片δ15 N最高。     

不同铁营养状况下根系特征及蒸腾对黄瓜幼苗吸收镉的影响

采用营养液培养方法,研究了不同铁营养状况下的根系形态变化及蒸腾作用对不同品种黄瓜幼苗吸收镉的影响.结果表明,不加铁处理对地上部生物量的影响大于对根系的影响,并且不同品种间生物量差异显著.不加铁处理和低水平铁处理时,黄瓜根长变长、根表面积变大.与不加铁处理相比,加铁处理显著抑制了黄瓜根系对镉的吸收,中农5号(缺铁敏感黄瓜品种)和津春4号(缺铁不敏感黄瓜品种)每克根对镉的吸收量分别降低了25.5%~45.5%和28.8%~55.0%;但却增加了镉向地上部的转运,镉在叶中的分配系数分别增加了2.2~3.6倍(中农5号)和2.6~3.7倍(津春4号).缺铁敏感的中农5号吸镉总量与根长、根表面积都呈显著正相关性,而缺铁不敏感的津春4号吸镉总量与根长、根表面积之间的关系不显著.不管是中农5号还是津春4号,其蒸腾速率与每克根吸收镉的量均呈显著的正相关关系.不同铁营养状况影响了黄瓜幼苗的根系形态和蒸腾速率,从而影响了根系对镉的吸收,高铁水平显著抑制了黄瓜根系对镉的吸收.     

Effects of Exurban Development and Temperature on Bird Species in the Southern Appalachians

Land‐use dynamics and climatic gradients have large effects on many terrestrial systems. Exurban development, one of the fastest growing forms of land use in the United States, may affect wildlife through habitat fragmentation and building presence may alter habitat quality. We studied the effects of residential development and temperature gradients on bird species occurrence at 140 study sites in the southern Appalachian Mountains (North Carolina, U.S.A.) that varied with respect to building density and elevation. We used occupancy models to determine 36 bird species’ associations with building density, forest canopy cover, average daily mean temperature, and an interaction between building density and mean temperature. Responses varied with habitat requirement, breeding range, and migration distance. Building density and mean temperature were both included in the top occupancy models for 19 of 36 species and a building density by temperature interaction was included in models for 8 bird species. As exurban development expands in the southern Appalachians, interior forest species and Neotropical migrants are likely to decline, but shrubland or edge species are not likely to benefit. Overall, effects of building density were greater than those of forest canopy cover. Exurban development had a greater effect on birds at high elevations due to a greater abundance of sensitive forest‐interior species and Neotropical migrants. A warming climate may exacerbate these negative effects. Efectos del Desarrollo Exurbano y de la Temperatura sobre Especies de Aves en las Apalaches del Sur     

CHEMISTRY RESPONSE OF TWO FORESTED WATERSHEDS TO ACID ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION1

ABSTRACT: The deposition and chemistry of precipitation were estimated for one year in two forest ecosystems in the South-Central United States. Precipitation, throughfall, litter leachate, and soil leachate were analyzed for a small catchment of pine-hardwoods in southeastern Oklahoma and for a catchment of loblolly pines (Pinus taeda L.) in northern Mississippi. In the pine-hardwood forest, 98 percent of the acid deposition was neutralized, 50 percent in the forest canopy, and 48 percent in the forest floor. In the pine forest, 75 percent of the acid deposition was neutralized, all in the forest floor. The pine-hardwood ecosystem accumulated sulfate, nitrate, and ammonia ions, and lost base cations. During seasons of deficient precipitation, dry deposition appeared to enrich the concentrations of hydrogen, nitrate, sulfate, and ammonia ions in throughfall samples at both locations.     

A PRELIMINARY QUANTIFICATION OF THE IMPACTS OF ASPEN TO CONIFER SUCCESSION ON WATER YIELD- II. MODELING RESULTS1

ABSTRACT: Heat pulse velocity techniques were developed for effective monitoring of water movement in aspen (Populus tremuloides), subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), and Englemann spruce (Picea engelmannif). Water loss was monitored in replicated trees of each species for one year. These data were used to modify the plant activity index (a reflection of the ability of plants to transpire water at various times during a year) and the crop coefficient (a reflection of differences in consumptive use rates of water by different vegetation types when all other factors are held constant) for each species within the model ASPCON, a deterministic, lumped-parameter model describing the hydrology of aspen to conifer succession. Results of the modeling in dicate 18.6 cm net loss of moisture available for streamflow when spruce replaced aspen, and a loss of 7.2 cm when fir forests replaced aspen. The aspen to conifer successional trend appears, therefore, to be significantly reducing water yields in the western United States.     

RELATIVE RATES OF EVAPORATIVE WATER LOSSES FROM OPEN AND VEGETATION COVERED WATER BODIES1

ABSTRACT: A review of literature pertaining to the relative rates of evaporation from vegetation covered and open water bodies is presented. The review indicates that the only reliable experiments capable of correctly addressing this question are those conducted in situ. Experiments of this nature show the ratio of vegetation covered (swamp) evaporation to open water evaporation to generally be less than unity over extensive surfaces and to only approach unity for vegetation that is young and vigorous. Recent experimental evidence presented within a theoretical context, however, indicates that even in the latter situation the ratio may never reach unity. Consequently, over large lakes and reservoirs, the presence of vegetation may actually be a water conservation mechanism, with the eradication of the vegetation leading to significantly increased evaporative water losses.