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Rohde MM, Albano CM, Huggins X, Klausmeyer KR, Morton C, Sharman A, Zaveri E, Saito L, Freed Z, Howard JK, Job N, Richter H, Toderich K, Rodella AS, Gleeson T, Huntington J, Chandanpurkar HA, Purdy AJ, Famiglietti JS, Singer MB, Roberts DA, Caylor K, Stella JC. Groundwater-dependent ecosystem map exposes global dryland protection needs. Nature 2024; 632:101-107. [PMID: 39020182 PMCID: PMC11291274 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07702-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Groundwater is the most ubiquitous source of liquid freshwater globally, yet its role in supporting diverse ecosystems is rarely acknowledged1,2. However, the location and extent of groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) are unknown in many geographies, and protection measures are lacking1,3. Here, we map GDEs at high-resolution (roughly 30 m) and find them present on more than one-third of global drylands analysed, including important global biodiversity hotspots4. GDEs are more extensive and contiguous in landscapes dominated by pastoralism with lower rates of groundwater depletion, suggesting that many GDEs are likely to have already been lost due to water and land use practices. Nevertheless, 53% of GDEs exist within regions showing declining groundwater trends, which highlights the urgent need to protect GDEs from the threat of groundwater depletion. However, we found that only 21% of GDEs exist on protected lands or in jurisdictions with sustainable groundwater management policies, invoking a call to action to protect these vital ecosystems. Furthermore, we examine the linkage of GDEs with cultural and socio-economic factors in the Greater Sahel region, where GDEs play an essential role in supporting biodiversity and rural livelihoods, to explore other means for protection of GDEs in politically unstable regions. Our GDE map provides critical information for prioritizing and developing policies and protection mechanisms across various local, regional or international scales to safeguard these important ecosystems and the societies dependent on them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa M Rohde
- California Water Program, The Nature Conservancy, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, USA.
- Rohde Environmental Consulting, LLC, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Christine M Albano
- Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Xander Huggins
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Kirk R Klausmeyer
- California Water Program, The Nature Conservancy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Charles Morton
- Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV, USA
| | | | | | | | - Zach Freed
- Oregon Sustainable Water Program, The Nature Conservancy, Bend, OR, USA
| | - Jeanette K Howard
- California Water Program, The Nature Conservancy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nancy Job
- Freshwater Biodiversity Programme, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Holly Richter
- The Nature Conservancy, Hereford, AZ, USA
- Resilient Rivers LLC, Hereford, AZ, USA
| | - Kristina Toderich
- International Platform for Dryland Research and Education, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
- Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
| | | | - Tom Gleeson
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Justin Huntington
- Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV, USA
| | | | - Adam J Purdy
- California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA, USA
| | - James S Famiglietti
- School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Michael Bliss Singer
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
- Water Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
- Earth Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
| | - Dar A Roberts
- Department of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Kelly Caylor
- Earth Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Department of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - John C Stella
- State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, USA
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Wang Y, Wang J, He Y, Qu M, Zhu W, Xue Y, Li J. Interkingdom ecological networks between plants and fungi drive soil multifunctionality across arid inland river basin. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:6939-6952. [PMID: 37902115 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
Despite the known collective contribution of above- (plants) and below-ground (soil fungi) biodiversity on multiple soil functions, how the associations among plant and fungal communities regulate soil multifunctionality (SMF) differentially remains unknown. Here, plant communities were investigated at 81 plots across a typical arid inland river basin, within which associated soil fungal communities and seven soil functions (nutrients storage and biological activity) were measured in surface (0-15 cm) and subsurface soil (15-30 cm). We evaluated the relative importance of species richness and biotic associations (reflected by network complexity) on SMF. Our results demonstrated that plant species richness and plant-fungus network complexity promoted SMF in surface and subsurface soil. SMF in two soil layers was mainly determined by plant-fungus network complexity, mean groundwater depth and soil variables, among which plant-fungus network complexity played a crucial role. Plant-fungus network complexity had stronger effects on SMF in surface soil than in subsurface soil. We present evidence that plant-fungus network complexity surpassed plant-fungal species richness in determining SMF in surface and subsurface soil. Moreover, plant-fungal species richness could not directly affect SMF. Greater plant-fungal species richness indirectly promoted SMF since they ensured greater plant-fungal associations. Collectively, we concluded that interkingdom networks between plants and fungi drive SMF even in different soil layers. Our findings enhanced our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms that above- and below-ground associations promote SMF in arid inland river basins. Future study should place more emphasis on the associations among plant and microbial communities in protecting soil functions under global changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Wang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
- Ejina Institute of Populus euphratica, Beijing Forestry University, Alax, China
| | - Jianming Wang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
- Ejina Institute of Populus euphratica, Beijing Forestry University, Alax, China
| | - Yicheng He
- China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Mengjun Qu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
- Ejina Institute of Populus euphratica, Beijing Forestry University, Alax, China
| | - Weilin Zhu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
- Ejina Institute of Populus euphratica, Beijing Forestry University, Alax, China
| | - Yujie Xue
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
- Ejina Institute of Populus euphratica, Beijing Forestry University, Alax, China
| | - Jingwen Li
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
- Ejina Institute of Populus euphratica, Beijing Forestry University, Alax, China
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3
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Portela AP, Gonçalves JF, Durance I, Vieira C, Honrado J. Riparian forest response to extreme drought is influenced by climatic context and canopy structure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 881:163128. [PMID: 37030365 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Droughts significantly impact forest ecosystems, reducing forest health and productivity, compromising ecosystem functioning, and nature-based solutions for climate change. The response and resilience of riparian forests to drought are poorly understood despite their key role in the functioning of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Here we investigate riparian forest drought responses and resilience to an extreme drought event at a regional scale. We also examine how drought event characteristics, average climate conditions, topography, soil, vegetation structure, and functional diversity shape the resilience of riparian forests to drought. We used a time series of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) to calculate the resistance to and recovery after an extreme drought (2017-2018) in 49 sites across an Atlantic-Mediterranean climate gradient in North Portugal. We used generalized additive models and multi-model inference to understand which factors best explained drought responses. We found a trade-off between drought resistance and recovery (maximum r = -0.5) and contrasting strategies across the climatic gradient of the study area. Riparian forests in the Atlantic regions showed comparatively higher resistance, while Mediterranean forests recovered more. Canopy structure and climate context were the most relevant predictors of resistance and recovery. However, median NDVI and NDWI had not returned to pre-drought levels (RcNDWI mean = 1.21, RcNDVI mean = 1.01) three years after the event. Our study shows that riparian forests have contrasting drought response strategies and may be susceptible to extended legacy effects associated with extreme and/or recurring droughts, similarly to upland forests. This work highlights the drought vulnerability of riparian ecosystems and emphasises the need for further studies on long-term resilience to droughts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Portela
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal.
| | - João F Gonçalves
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; proMetheus-Research Unit in Materials, Energy and Environment for Sustainability, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo (IPVC), Avenida do Atlântico, No. 644, 4900-348 Viana do Castelo, Portugal.
| | - Isabelle Durance
- Water Research Institute and School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, United Kingdom.
| | - Cristiana Vieira
- Museu de História Natural e da Ciência da Universidade do Porto (MHNC-UP/UPorto/PRISC), Praça Gomes Teixeira, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal..
| | - João Honrado
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal.
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4
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Perrone D, Rohde MM, Hammond Wagner C, Anderson R, Arthur S, Atume N, Brown M, Esaki-Kua L, Gonzalez Fernandez M, Garvey KA, Heidel K, Jones WD, Khosrowshahi Asl S, Munill C, Nelson R, Ortiz-Partida JP, Remson EJ. Stakeholder integration predicts better outcomes from groundwater sustainability policy. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3793. [PMID: 37369674 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39363-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural resources policies that promote sustainable management are critical for protecting diverse stakeholders against depletion. Although integrating diverse stakeholders into these policies has been theorized to improve protection, empirical evidence is lacking. Here, we evaluate 108 Sustainability Plans under California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act to quantify how well stakeholders are integrated into plans and protected from groundwater depletion. We find that the majority of Sustainability Plans do not integrate or protect the majority of their stakeholders. Nevertheless, our results show that when stakeholders are more integrated into a Sustainability Plan, they are more likely to be protected, particularly for those that lack formal access to decision-making processes. Our findings provide strong empirical evidence that integrating diverse stakeholders into sustainability planning is beneficial for stakeholders who are vulnerable to the impacts of natural resource depletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra Perrone
- Environmental Studies, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
| | - Melissa M Rohde
- California Water Program, The Nature Conservancy, Sacramento, CA, USA.
- SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, USA.
- Rohde Environmental Consulting, LLC, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Courtney Hammond Wagner
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Food Systems Research Unit, Burlington, VT, USA.
- Water in the West, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Rebecca Anderson
- Independent Consultant, Portland, OR, USA
- WaterNow Alliance, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Meagan Brown
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Kelly A Garvey
- Water in the West, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | | | - William D Jones
- Environmental Studies, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Food Systems Research Unit, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Sara Khosrowshahi Asl
- Water in the West, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Rebecca Nelson
- Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - E J Remson
- California Water Program, The Nature Conservancy, Sacramento, CA, USA
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5
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Adams SA, Graham NR, Holmquist AJ, Sheffer MM, Steigerwald EC, Sahasrabudhe R, Nguyen O, Beraut E, Fairbairn C, Sacco S, Seligmann W, Escalona M, Shaffer HB, Toffelmier E, Gillespie RG. Reference genome of the long-jawed orb-weaver, Tetragnatha versicolor (Araneae: Tetragnathidae). J Hered 2023; 114:395-403. [PMID: 37042574 PMCID: PMC10287146 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esad013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate-driven changes in hydrological regimes are of global importance and are particularly significant in riparian ecosystems. Riparian ecosystems in California provide refuge to many native and vulnerable species within a xeric landscape. California Tetragnatha spiders play a key role in riparian ecosystems, serving as a link between terrestrial and aquatic elements. Their tight reliance on water paired with the widespread distributions of many species make them ideal candidates to better understand the relative role of waterways versus geographic distance in shaping the population structure of riparian species. To assist in better understanding population structure, we constructed a reference genome assembly for Tetragnatha versicolor using long-read sequencing, scaffolded with proximity ligation Omni-C data. The near-chromosome-level assembly is comprised of 174 scaffolds spanning 1.06 Gb pairs, with a scaffold N50 of 64.1 Mb pairs and BUSCO completeness of 97.6%. This reference genome will facilitate future study of T. versicolor population structure associated with the rapidly changing environment of California.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seira A Adams
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Natalie R Graham
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Anna J Holmquist
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Monica M Sheffer
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- eScience Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Emma C Steigerwald
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Ruta Sahasrabudhe
- DNA Technologies and Expression Analysis Core Laboratory, Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Oanh Nguyen
- DNA Technologies and Expression Analysis Core Laboratory, Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Eric Beraut
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Colin Fairbairn
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Samuel Sacco
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - William Seligmann
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Merly Escalona
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - H Bradley Shaffer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Erin Toffelmier
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Rosemary G Gillespie
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States
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6
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Huggins X, Gleeson T, Castilla-Rho J, Holley C, Re V, Famiglietti JS. Groundwater connections and sustainability in social-ecological systems. GROUND WATER 2023. [PMID: 36928631 DOI: 10.1111/gwat.13305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater resources are connected with social, economic, ecological, and Earth systems. We introduce the framing of groundwater-connected systems to better represent the nature and complexity of these connections in data collection, scientific investigations, governance and management approaches, and groundwater education. Groundwater-connected systems are social, economic, ecological, and Earth systems that interact with groundwater, such as irrigated agriculture, groundwater-dependent ecosystems, and cultural relationships to groundwater expressions such as springs and rivers. Groundwater-connected systems form social-ecological systems with complex behaviours such as feedbacks, non-linear processes, multiple stable system states, and path dependency. These complex behaviours are only visible through this integrated system framing and are not endogenous properties of physical groundwater systems. The framing is syncretic as it aims to provide a common conceptual foundation for the growing disciplines of socio-hydrogeology, eco-hydrogeology, groundwater governance, and hydro-social groundwater analysis. The framing also facilitates greater alignment between the groundwater sustainability discourse and emerging sustainability concepts and principles. Aligning with these concepts and principles presents groundwater sustainability as more than a physical state to be reached; and argues that place-based and multi-faceted goals, values, justice, knowledge systems, governance and management must continually be integrated to maintain groundwater's social, ecological, and Earth system functions. The groundwater-connected system framing can underpin a broad, methodologically pluralistic, and community-driven new wave of data collection and analysis, research, governance, management, and education. These developments, together, can invigorate efforts to foster sustainable groundwater futures in the complex systems groundwater is embedded within. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xander Huggins
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
- Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Tom Gleeson
- Department of Civil Engineering and School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - Juan Castilla-Rho
- Faculty of Business, Government & Law and Center for Change Governance, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australia
| | - Cameron Holley
- School of Law, Society and Criminology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Viviana Re
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - James S Famiglietti
- School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
- Global Institute for Water Security and School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
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7
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Yonghong S, Fandi L, Gaofeng Z, Zhang K, Qi Z. The biophysical climate mitigation potential of riparian forest ecosystems in arid Northwest China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 862:160856. [PMID: 36521605 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Forests influence climate through both the biochemical and biophysical processes, and the impacts of the latter on local climate may be much larger than the former. However, the biophysical effects of afforestation in arid regions have received little attention compared with afforestation in the tropic, temperate and boreal zones. In this study, we combined in situ eddy covariance flux measurements from a neighboring pairs of forested and background desert sites with the decomposed temperature metric (DTM) method to characterize the impacts of arid forests on surface temperature (Ts). A clear-sky, one-dimensional planetary boundary layer (PBL) model was used to estimate the impacts of afforestation on state of regional climate. We showed that despite absorbing more net radiation (35.4 W m-2) the riparian forests tended to cool Ts (-1.28 °C) on annual basis, but with a significant seasonality. Specifically, afforestation may lead to a net cooling effect from March to September and a slightly warming effect in other months. The DTM method revealed that evapotranspiration played a dominant role in cooling surface temperature, while surface albedo (α) and incoming longwave radiation (L↓) acted together to increase forest surface temperature. From June to September, a shallower, cooler and wetter boundary layer was developed over the forest due to high plant transpiration. In other months, the PBL was slightly deeper and warmer over the forest than that over the desert. Therefore, the riparian forests were important in moderating warming trends in arid regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Yonghong
- Key Laboratory of Eco-hydrology of Inland River Basin (CAS), Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, CAS, Lanzhou 730000, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Luo Fandi
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| | - Zhu Gaofeng
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Mathematics, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhang Qi
- Key Laboratory of Eco-hydrology of Inland River Basin (CAS), Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, CAS, Lanzhou 730000, China
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8
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Williams J, Stella JC, Voelker SL, Lambert AM, Pelletier LM, Drake JE, Friedman JM, Roberts DA, Singer MB. Local groundwater decline exacerbates response of dryland riparian woodlands to climatic drought. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:6771-6788. [PMID: 36045489 PMCID: PMC9804274 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Dryland riparian woodlands are considered to be locally buffered from droughts by shallow and stable groundwater levels. However, climate change is causing more frequent and severe drought events, accompanied by warmer temperatures, collectively threatening the persistence of these groundwater dependent ecosystems through a combination of increasing evaporative demand and decreasing groundwater supply. We conducted a dendro-isotopic analysis of radial growth and seasonal (semi-annual) carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13 C) to investigate the response of riparian cottonwood stands to the unprecedented California-wide drought from 2012 to 2019, along the largest remaining free-flowing river in Southern California. Our goals were to identify principal drivers and indicators of drought stress for dryland riparian woodlands, determine their thresholds of tolerance to hydroclimatic stressors, and ultimately assess their vulnerability to climate change. Riparian trees were highly responsive to drought conditions along the river, exhibiting suppressed growth and strong stomatal closure (inferred from reduced Δ13 C) during peak drought years. However, patterns of radial growth and Δ13 C were quite variable among sites that differed in climatic conditions and rate of groundwater decline. We show that the rate of groundwater decline, as opposed to climate factors, was the primary driver of site differences in drought stress, and trees showed greater sensitivity to temperature at sites subjected to faster groundwater decline. Across sites, higher correlation between radial growth and Δ13 C for individual trees, and higher inter-correlation of Δ13 C among trees were indicative of greater drought stress. Trees showed a threshold of tolerance to groundwater decline at 0.5 m year-1 beyond which drought stress became increasingly evident and severe. For sites that exceeded this threshold, peak physiological stress occurred when total groundwater recession exceeded ~3 m. These findings indicate that drought-induced groundwater decline associated with more extreme droughts is a primary threat to dryland riparian woodlands and increases their susceptibility to projected warmer temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared Williams
- Graduate Program in Environmental ScienceCollege of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New YorkSyracuseNew YorkUSA
- Marine Science InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - John C. Stella
- Graduate Program in Environmental ScienceCollege of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New YorkSyracuseNew YorkUSA
- Department of Sustainable Resources ManagementState University of New York College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuseNew YorkUSA
| | - Steven L. Voelker
- College of Forest Resources and Environmental ScienceMichigan Technological UniversityHoughtonMichiganUSA
| | - Adam M. Lambert
- Marine Science InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
- Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological RestorationUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Lissa M. Pelletier
- Graduate Program in Environmental ScienceCollege of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New YorkSyracuseNew YorkUSA
| | - John E. Drake
- Department of Sustainable Resources ManagementState University of New York College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuseNew YorkUSA
| | | | - Dar A. Roberts
- Department of GeographyUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
- Earth Research InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
| | - Michael Bliss Singer
- Earth Research InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCaliforniaUSA
- School of Earth and Environmental SciencesCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
- Water Research InstituteCardiff UniversityCardiffUK
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9
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Whole-Plant Water Use and Hydraulics of Populus euphratica and Tamarix ramosissima Seedlings in Adaption to Groundwater Variation. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14121869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
Riparian phreatophytes in hyperarid areas face selection pressure from limiting groundwater availability and high transpiration demand. We examined whole-plant water use and hydraulic traits in Populus euphratica and Tamarix ramosissima seedlings to understand how they adapt to groundwater variations. These species coexist in the Tarim River floodplain of western China. Measurements were performed on 3-year-old seedlings grown in lysimeters simulating various groundwater depths. P. euphratica had relatively greater leaf area-specific water use due to its comparatively higher sapwood area to leaf area ratio (Hv). A high Hv indicates that its sapwood has a limited capacity to support its leaf area. P. euphratica also showed significantly higher leaf-specific conductivity (ksl) than T. ramosissima but both had similar sapwood-specific conductivities (kss). Therefore, it was Hv rather than kss which accounted for the interspecific difference in ksl. When groundwater was not directly available, ksl and Hv in P. euphratica were increased. This response favors water loss control, but limits plant growth. In contrast, T. ramosissima is more capable of using deep groundwater. Stomatal sensitivity to increasing leaf-to-area vapor pressure deficit was also higher in P. euphratica. Overall, P. euphratica is less effective than T. ramosissima at compensating for transpirational water loss at a whole-plant level. For this reason, P. euphratica is restricted to riverbanks, whereas T. ramosissima occurs over a wide range of groundwater depths.
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Research Advances in Plant Physiology and Ecology of Desert Riparian Forests under Drought Stress. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13040619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Under drought stress, desert riparian forest plants are highly self-regulating and have their own unique water use and regulation strategies, which can respond positively in several aspects such as physiology, ecology, and individual phenotypes when coping and adapting to the stresses brought by external environmental changes. In addition, as an important component of arid zone ecosystems, desert riparian forest plants maintain the cycling process of energy and material in desert areas. Therefore, it is of great ecological value to study the role played by desert riparian forest plants in desertification control and biodiversity conservation in arid zones. The purpose of this study is to provide basic data and scientific basis for the conservation, and restoration of desert riparian forests in the inland river basin of arid zone. In this paper, the physiological and ecological responses of desert riparian plants under drought stress were analyzed by reviewing the literature and focusing on the key scientific issues such as drought avoidance mechanisms, water use, and water redistribution, and the relationship between interspecific water competition and resource sharing of desert riparian plants. The results showed that: (1) In the inland river basin of arid zone, desert riparian plants show a mutual coordination of increasing soluble sugars, proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), and decreasing peroxidase (POD), to form a unique drought avoidance mechanism, and improve their drought tolerance by changing leaf stomatal conductance resulted from regulating abscisic acid (ABA) and cytokinin (CTK) content. (2) Desert riparian forest plants have their own unique water use and regulation strategies. When the degree of drought stress increased, Populus euphratica enhanced the water flow of dominant branches by actively sacrificing the inferior branches to ensure and improve the overall survival chances of the plant, while Tamarix ramosissima weaken hydraulic conductance, and increase subsurface material inputs by reducing plant height to cope with drought stress. (3) The root systems of desert riparian plants have hydraulic uplift and water redistribution functions, and, in the hydraulic uplift process of P. euphratica and T. ramosissima root systems, there is a possibility of assisting with other species in water utilization and the existence of a resource sharing mechanism.
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A New Method of Estimating Groundwater Evapotranspiration at Sub-Daily Scale Using Water Table Fluctuations. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14060876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Riparian ecosystems fundamentally depend on groundwater, and accurate estimations of groundwater evapotranspiration (ETG) are important for understanding ecosystem functionality and managing regional water resources. Over the past several decades, various methods have been proposed to estimate groundwater evapotranspiration based on water table fluctuations. However, the majority of methods cannot resolve sub-daily variations in ETG. In this study, we proposed a new hydraulic theory-based ETG estimation method at a sub-daily time scale. To evaluate its performance, we employed a variety of measurements (i.e., water table levels, latent heat flux and soil water contents) at a riparian forest (T. ramosissima) in Northwest China from 25 July to 10 October in 2017. The results indicated that the proposed method can successfully estimate ETG at both sub-daily (R2 = 0.75) and daily (R2 = 0.88) time scales, but the variations in the specific yield under different water table conditions should be carefully taken into account. In addition, we investigated the seasonal variations in water uptake source of the riparian plant, and found that it had strong plasticity in water usage during the study period. That is, it consumed approximately equal amounts of soil water and groundwater when soil moisture was available, and tended to consume more groundwater for survival as the soil moisture was depleted. To verify the seasonal patterns of the water uptake of the riparian forest, systematic isotope-based studies are needed in future study.
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Keeley ATH, Fremier AK, Goertler PAL, Huber PR, Sturrock AM, Bashevkin SM, Barbaree BA, Grenier JL, Dilts TE, Gogol-Prokurat M, Colombano DD, Bush EE, Laws A, Gallo JA, Kondolf M, Stahl AT. Governing Ecological Connectivity in Cross-Scale Dependent Systems. Bioscience 2022; 72:372-386. [PMID: 35370478 PMCID: PMC8970826 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Ecosystem management and governance of cross-scale dependent systems require integrating knowledge about ecological connectivity in its multiple forms and scales. Although scientists, managers, and policymakers are increasingly recognizing the importance of connectivity, governmental organizations may not be currently equipped to manage ecosystems with strong cross-boundary dependencies. Managing the different aspects of connectivity requires building social connectivity to increase the flow of information, as well as the capacity to coordinate planning, funding, and actions among both formal and informal governance bodies. We use estuaries in particular the San Francisco Estuary, in California, in the United States, as examples of cross-scale dependent systems affected by many intertwined aspects of connectivity. We describe the different types of estuarine connectivity observed in both natural and human-affected states and discuss the human dimensions of restoring beneficial physical and ecological processes. Finally, we provide recommendations for policy, practice, and research on how to restore functional connectivity to estuaries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pascale A L Goertler
- Delta Stewardship Council, Delta Science Program, Sacramento, California, United States
| | - Patrick R Huber
- University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States
| | | | | | - Blake A Barbaree
- Point Blue Conservation Science, based Petaluma, California, United States
| | - J Letitia Grenier
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, Richmond, California, United States
| | | | - Melanie Gogol-Prokurat
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Biogeographic Data Branch in Sacramento, California, United States
| | | | - Eva E Bush
- Delta Stewardship Council Delta Science Program, Sacramento, California, United States
| | - Angela Laws
- The Xerces Society, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - John A Gallo
- Conservation Biology Institute, Corvallis, Oregon, United States
| | - Mathias Kondolf
- University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, United States
| | - Amanda T Stahl
- Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States
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