Abstract
The water relations of riparian trees are often closely tied to stream hydrology and channel morphology, which can be altered by urban development. In regions with limited precipitation, urban water use can generate or augment dry-season stream flows, potentially providing a water subsidy to riparian trees. However, urbanization is also associated with high storm flows that cause stream channel incision, or downcutting, which could limit the effect of flow subsidies by lowering riparian water tables. We investigated the effects of urban dry-season flow subsidies and stream channel incision on the water status of streamside trees in Sacramento, California, which has a Mediterranean climate with a distinct and lengthy dry season. For two common facultative riparian species, Quercus lobata (valley oak) and Fraxinus latifolia (Oregon ash), we analyzed both midday stem water potential (Ψstem) measurements and leaf carbon isotope signatures (∂13C) to determine whether channel incision and dry-season flow had interacting effects on seasonal midday water stress and longer-term water use efficiency. We found that stream flow could substantially reduce dry-season water stress in both tree species, but only at low levels of channel incision. Leaf ∂13C signatures for Q. lobata suggested increased water use efficiency in trees growing along incised streams and those lacking dry-season flow. Urban management decisions that affect both dry-season base flows and channel incision can thus influence the growth and health of riparian trees, potentially leading to broader changes in riparian ecosystems.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank Matthew Gilbert and Kenneth Shackel for providing logistical and conceptual assistance with this project, as well as Valerie Eviner, Emilio Laca, and members of the Cadenasso Lab for comments on earlier drafts. We also appreciate field and lab help from Dennise Alatorre, Jennifer Boyer, Seth and Lilah Castleman, Joe Fiorello, Grant Halstrom, Amber Kimpel, Kristina Louie, Indya Messier, Bryn Montgomery, Jessica Rudnick, Taran Sahota, Heather Smith, Nikita Sinha, Alex Webster, and Felicia Wong. JPS was partially supported by a Garden Club of America Zone VI Fellowship in Urban Forestry, with additional funding from the Jastro Shields Graduate Research Scholarship. MLC was partially supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Hatch project 1013395.
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Solins, J.P., Cadenasso, M.L. Urban channel incision and stream flow subsidies have contrasting effects on the water status of riparian trees. Urban Ecosyst 23, 419–430 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-020-00926-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-020-00926-2