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Estimation of source water to cedar elm in a central Texas riparian ecosystem
Author(s) -
Muttiah Ranjan S.,
White Joseph D.,
Duke Jacquelyn R.,
Allen Peter M.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
hydrological processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.222
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1099-1085
pISSN - 0885-6087
DOI - 10.1002/hyp.5545
Subject(s) - riparian zone , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , water content , riparian forest , stable isotope ratio , geology , ecology , habitat , physics , geotechnical engineering , quantum mechanics , biology
A riparian ecosystem downstream of a small dam in central Texas was instrumented for sap flow, soil moisture content, and stream level from 2001. Stable isotopes in water (D and 18 O) were analysed from rainfall, stream, lake, and cored sapwood cellulose from cedar elm ( Ulmus crassifolia ). The isotope signature of water source to cedar elm was identified by back calculation starting with the water isotopes in cellulose, and accounting for leaf‐water evaporation and biological fractionation during cellulose synthesis. The estimated mean isotope of the source water to cedar elm was enriched above rainfall in similarity to stream water during 2002. Flow paths that may have contributed to estimated variability from regional base flow and recharge water were identified using the variably saturated HYDRUS‐2D model. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.