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Hydrologic processes on tree islands in the Everglades (Florida, USA): tracking the effects of tree establishment and growth

Processus hydrologiques sur des îles arborées aux Everglades (Floride, USA): suivi des effets de la plantation et de la croissance d’arbres

Procesos hidrológicos en islas de árboles en los Everglades (Florida, EEUU): seguimiento de los efectos de la plantación de los árboles y su crecimiento

美国佛罗里达州大沼泽地树岛的水文过程——追踪树木种植及生长的影响

Processos hidrológicos em ilhas cobertas de árvores nos Everglades (Flórida, EUA): rastreio dos efeitos da implementação de árvores e do seu crescimento

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Abstract

The hydrodynamics of tree islands during the growth of newly planted trees has been found to be influenced by both vegetation biomass and geologic conditions. From July 2007 through June 2009, groundwater and surface-water levels were monitored on eight recently planted tree islands at the Loxahatchee Impoundment Landscape Assessment (LILA) facility in Boynton Beach, Florida, USA. Over the 2-year study, stand development coincided with the development of a water-table depression in the center of each of the islands that was bounded by a hydraulic divide along the edges. The water-table depression was greater in islands composed of limestone as compared to those composed of peat. The findings of this study suggest that groundwater evapotranspiration by trees on tree islands creates complex hydrologic interactions between the shallow groundwater in tree islands and the surrounding surface water and groundwater bodies.

Résumé

On a découvert que, durant la croissance d’arbres nouvellement plantés, l’hydrodynamique d’îles arborées avait été influencée à la fois par la biomasse végétale et par le contexte géologique. De juillet 2007 à Juin 2009, l’aquifère et les niveaux de la nappe libre ont été contrôlés sur huit iles récemment arborées du site de Loxahatchee Impoundment Landscape Assessment (LILA), Boynton Beach, Florida, USA. Sur deux années d’étude, l’état du développement a coïncidé avec celui d’une dépression de la nappe libre au centre de chacune des iles, limitée par une ligne de partage des eaux. La dépression de la nappe est plus importante dans les iles calcaires que dans les iles constituées de tourbe. Les résultats de cette étude suggèrent que l’évapotranspiration due aux arbres sur des îles arborées crée des interactions hydrogéologiques complexes entre l’eau de surface et l’eau des nappes.

Resumen

Se ha encontrado que la hidrodinámica de las islas de árboles durante el crecimiento de árboles recientemente plantados está influenciada por la biomasa de la vegetación y las condiciones geológicas. Desde julio de 2007 hasta junio de 2009, los niveles de aguas subterráneas y superficiales fueron monitoreados en ocho islas de árboles recientemente plantados en las instalaciones del Loxahatchee Impoundment Landscape Assessment (LILA) en Boynton Beach, Florida, EEUU. Durante los dos años de estudio, el desarrollo de las plantaciones coincidió con el desarrollo de la profundización del nivel freático en el centro de cada una de las islas que fueron limitadas por una divisorias hidráulica a los largo de sus bordes. La profundización del nivel freático fue mayor en las islas compuestas de calizas en comparación a aquellas compuestas por turba. Los hallazgos de este estudio sugieren que la evapotranspiración de agua subterránea desde los árboles en tres islas crea interacciones hidrológicas complejas entre el agua subterránea somera en las islas de los árboles y en los cuerpos de agua subterránea y aguas superficiales circundantes.

摘要

在新种植树木的生长时期, 树岛的流体力学已被发现受植被生物量和地质条件两个因素的影响。从2007年7月到2009年6月, 对在美国佛罗里达州的Boynton Beach的Loxahatchee蓄水景观评价(LILA)设备的八个最新种植树的岛屿进行地下水位和地表水位的测量. 通过两年的研究, 植物发育与在受沿着边缘的水力分水岭约束的每个岛屿中心的水面降落漏斗的发展相符合. 由石灰岩组成的树岛的水面降落漏斗比由泥岩组成的树岛的水面降落漏斗更大. 本研究结果表明树岛树木的地下水蒸发造成了在树岛浅层地下水, 周围地表水及地下水体之间的复杂的水文相互作用.

Resumo

Verificou-se que a hidrodinâmica de ilhas arborizadas durante o crescimento de árvores plantadas de novo é influenciada pela biomassa da vegetação e pelas condições geológicas. De Julho de 2007 até Junho de 2009 os níveis das águas subterrâneas e das águas superficiais foram monitorizados em oito ilhas com árvores recentemente plantadas na instalação de Loxahatchee Impoundment Landscape Assessment (LILA), em Boynton Beach, Flórida, EUA. Ao longo do estudo de dois anos, o desenvolvimento da cultura coincidiu com o desenvolvimento de uma depressão do nível freático no centro de cada ilha que era delimitada por uma divisória hidráulica ao longo das orlas. A depressão do nível freático era maior em ilhas compostas por calcário quando comparada com ilhas compostas por turfa. Os resultados deste estudo sugerem que a evapotranspiração de águas subterrâneas pelas árvores em ilhas arborizadas cria interacções hidrológicas complexas entre a água subterrânea subsuperficial nessas ilhas e as massas de água superficiais e subterrâneas envolventes.

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Acknowledgements

This project was funded through the South Florida Water Management District with additional support from the Southeast Environmental Research Center (SERC) at Florida International University and the Everglades Foundation. A portion of Dr. Price’s time was supported by the National Science Foundation’s Grant No. DBI-0620409 and the NASA WaterSCAPES project. We thank the following individuals for their help in the field: R. Desliu, J. Stalker, X. Zapata, E. Sandoval, and D. Lagomasino. This is SERC contribution no. 496.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and the Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Pamela L. Sullivan, René M. Price, Michael S. Ross & Leonard J. Scinto

  2. Southeastern Environmental Research Center, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    René M. Price, Michael S. Ross, Leonard J. Scinto & Susana L. Stoffella

  3. South Florida Water Management District, Everglades Division, West Palm Beach, FL, 33406, USA

    Eric Cline, Thomas W. Dreschel & Fred H. Sklar

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  1. Pamela L. Sullivan
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  2. René M. Price
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  3. Michael S. Ross
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  4. Leonard J. Scinto
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Correspondence to Pamela L. Sullivan.

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Sullivan, P.L., Price, R.M., Ross, M.S. et al. Hydrologic processes on tree islands in the Everglades (Florida, USA): tracking the effects of tree establishment and growth. Hydrogeol J 19, 367–378 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-010-0691-0

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