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Naithani et al., 2013

Paper/Book

Spatial distribution of tree species governs the spatio-temporal interaction of leaf area index and soil moisture across a forested landscape.

Naithani K.J., Baldwin D., Gaines K., Lin H. & Eissenstat D.M. (2013)
PLoS ONE  

Abstract

Quantifying coupled spatio-temporal dynamics of phenology and hydrology and understanding underlying processes is a fundamental challenge in ecohydrology. While variation in phenology and factors influencing it have attracted the attention of ecologists for a long time, the influence of biodiversity on coupled dynamics of phenology and hydrology across a landscape is largely untested. We measured leaf area index (L) and volumetric soil water content (θ) on a co-located spatial grid to characterize forest phenology and hydrology across a forested catchment in central Pennsylvania during 2010. We used hierarchical Bayesian modeling to quantify spatio-temporal patterns of L and θ. Our results suggest that the spatial distribution of tree species across the landscape created unique spatio-temporal patterns of L, which created patterns of water demand reflected in variable soil moisture across space and time. We found a lag of about 11 days between increase in L and decline in θ. Vegetation and soil moisture become increasingly homogenized and coupled from leaf-onset to maturity but heterogeneous and uncoupled from leaf maturity to senescence. Our results provide insight into spatio-temporal coupling between biodiversity and soil hydrology that is useful to enhance ecohydrological modeling in humid temperate forests.

Citation

Naithani K.J., Baldwin D., Gaines K., Lin H. & Eissenstat D.M. (2013): Spatial distribution of tree species governs the spatio-temporal interaction of leaf area index and soil moisture across a forested landscape. PLoS ONE . DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058704

This Paper/Book acknowledges NSF CZO grant support.


Associated Data

Shale Hills - Soil Moisture, Hydropedologic Properties (2006-2015)
1 components    Susquehanna Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory    Hydrology, Soil Science / Pedology, Biology / Ecology    Naithani, Kusum; Baldwin, Doug

Shale Hills - Vegetation - Tree Survey (2008-2012)
3 components    Susquehanna Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory    Biology / Ecology    Eissenstat, David M.; Kaye, Margot