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Use of 2 H and 18 O stable isotopes to investigate water sources for different ages of Populus euphratica along the lower Heihe River
Author(s) -
Liu Shubao,
Chen Yaning,
Chen Yapeng,
Friedman Jonathan M.,
Hati Jarre Heng A.,
Fang Gonghuan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
ecological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1440-1703
pISSN - 0912-3814
DOI - 10.1007/s11284-015-1270-6
Subject(s) - populus euphratica , groundwater , riparian zone , stable isotope ratio , hydrology (agriculture) , xylem , riparian forest , environmental science , ecology , geology , botany , biology , habitat , physics , geotechnical engineering , quantum mechanics
Investigation of the water sources used by trees of different ages is essential to formulate a conservation strategy for the riparian tree, P . euphratica . This study addressed the contributions of different potential water sources to P . euphratica based on levels of stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopes (δ 18 O, δ 2 H) in the xylem of different aged P . euphratica , as well as in soil water and groundwater along the lower Heihe River. We found significant differences in δ 18 O values in the xylem of different aged P . euphratica . Specifically, the δ 18 O values of young, mature and over‐mature forests were −5.368(±0.252) ‰, −6.033(± 0.185) ‰ and −6.924 (± 0.166) ‰, respectively, reflecting the reliance of older trees on deeper sources of water with a δ 18 O value closer to that of groundwater. Different aged P . euphratica used different water sources, with young forests rarely using groundwater (mean <15 %) and instead primarily relying on soil water from a depth of 0–50 cm (mean >45 %), and mature and over‐mature forests using water from deeper than 100 cm derived primarily from groundwater.