Research resource review: Revisiting Experimental Catchment Studies in Forest Hydrology: Proceedings of a Workshop Held During the XXV IUGG General Assembly in Melbourne, Australia, June−July 2011

Campo García, ADD. (2013). Research resource review: Revisiting Experimental Catchment Studies in Forest Hydrology: Proceedings of a Workshop Held During the XXV IUGG General Assembly in Melbourne, Australia, June−July 2011. Progress in Physical Geography. 37(1):147-149. doi:10.1177/0309133312465252S14714937

The effects of experimental thinning on throughfall and stemflow: A contribution towards hydrology-oriented silviculture in Aleppo pine plantations

Rainfall interception by the forest cover causes an important reduction in bulk rainfall in semiarid cli- mates, such as the Mediterranean. Unmanaged, dense pine stands in this area are expected to have an important impact on water resources. This paper studies the effect of forest management on the parti- tioning of rainfall into throughfall and stemflow in an Aleppo pine plantation in eastern Spain. Three thin- ning-intensity treatments were compared with unmanaged stands that served as the control. The results revealed a very low throughfall in the control treatments during the study period of 55.9%, whereas throughfall increased significantly after thinning to 83.8%, 67.7% and 61.3% of the bulk rainfall for high-, moderate- and low-intensity treatments, respectively. Total throughfall was negatively and line- arly related to the tree density, forest cover, basal area and leaf area index. In contrast, weekly throughfall was modelled by considering these variables together with bulk rainfall in a multiple exponential expres- sion; the weekly throughfall R2 values (corrected Pearson coefficient) were above 0.9. These models would facilitate the implementation of hydrology-oriented silviculture via a more accurate prediction of the impacts of thinning on throughfall in this type of forest.This study is a part of two projects: "Determination of hydrologic and forest recovery factors in Mediterranean forests and their social perception" and "CGL2011-28776-C02-02: Hydrological characterisation of forest structures at plot scale for an adaptive management (HYDROSIL)". The first project is led by Dr. Eduardo Rojas and granted by the Ministry of Environment, Rural and Marine affairs (Spanish Government). The subproject in which this study has been developed is titled "Optimization of forest management techniques in terms of their hydrologic and soil conservation effects, criteria development for a hydrological silviculture". The second project is funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. The authors are grateful to the Valencia Regional Government (CMAAUV, Generalitat Valenciana) and VAERSA staff for their support in allowing the use of the experimental forest of La Hunde and their assistance in carrying out the fieldwork. The authors also acknowledge the comments of the editor, the two reviewers, R. Herrera and P. Llorens which substantially improved the manuscript.Molina, AJ.; Campo García, ADD. (2012). The effects of experimental thinning on throughfall and stemflow: A contribution towards hydrology-oriented silviculture in Aleppo pine plantations. Forest Ecology and Management. 269:206-213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2011.12.037S20621326

Hydrology-oriented (adaptive) silviculture in a semiarid pine plantation: How much can be modified the water cycle through forest management?

[EN] Hydrology-oriented silviculture might adapt Mediterranean forests to climatic changes, although its implementation demands a better understanding and quantification on the water fluxes. The influence of thinning intensity (high, medium, low and a control) and its effect on the mid-term (thinned plots in 1998 and 2008) on the water cycle (transpiration, soil water and interception) and growth [basal area increment (BAI)] were investigated in 55-year-old Aleppo pine trees. Thinning enhanced a lower dependence of growth on climate fluctuations. The high-intensity treatment showed significant increases in the mean annual BAI (from 4.1 to 17.3 cm(2)) that was maintained in the mid-term. Thinning intensity progressively increased the sap flow velocity (v (s)) in all cases with respect to the control. In the mid-term, an increased functionality of the inner sapwood was also observed. Mean daily tree water use ranged from 5 (control) to 18 (high intensity) l tree(-1). However, when expressed on an area basis, daily transpiration ranged from 0.18 (medium) to 0.30 mm (control), meaning that in spite of the higher transpiration rates in the remaining trees, stand transpiration was reduced with thinning. Deep infiltration of water was also enhanced with thinning (about 30 % of rainfall) and did not compete with transpiration, as both presented opposite seasonal patterns. The changes in the stand water relationships after 10 years were well explained by the forest cover metric. The blue to green water ratio changed from 0.15 in the control to 0.72 in the high-intensity treatment, with the remaining treatments in the 0.34-0.48 range.This study is a component of two research projects: ‘‘CGL2011-28776-C02-02, Hydrological characterisation of forest structures at plot scale for an adaptive management, HYDROSIL’’, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and FEDER funds, and ‘‘Determination of hydrological and forest recovery factors in Mediterranean forests and their social perception’’, led by Dr. E. Rojas and supported by the Ministry of Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs. The authors are grateful to the Valencia Regional Government (CMAAUV, Generalitat Valenciana) and the VAERSA staff for their support in allowing the use of the La Hunde experimental forest and for their assistance in carrying out the fieldwork. The second author thanks the Mundus 17 Program, coordinated by the University of Porto—Portugal.Campo García, ADD.; Gualberto Fernandes, TJ.; Molina Herrera, A. (2014). Hydrology-oriented (adaptive) silviculture in a semiarid pine plantation: How much can be modified the water cycle through forest management?. European Journal of Forest Research. 133(55):879-894. https://doi.org/10.1007//s10342-014-0805-7S8798941335

Evaluación de la recarga producida mediante manejo de una masa de Pinus halepensis con técnicas de silvicultura hidrológica

[ES] El balance hídrico, y especialmente la recarga por percolación profunda de un suelo, puede ser modificado a nivel de parcela mediante el manejo de la masa. Extendido a nivel de cuenca debemos esperar que dicha modificación afecte al conjunto del ciclo hidrológico. Sin embargo, el primer paso es la cuantificación del efecto que produce sobre el balance de agua el manejo silvícola de la masa con fines hidrológicos a nivel de parcela. Para ello se diseñó un experimento en una parcela de Pinus halepensis en la que se realizaron aclareos de distinta intensidad. El ciclo del agua se monitorizó midiendo la temperatura, humedad relativa, pluviometría dentro y fuera de la masa, el contenido de agua del suelo y la transpiración. Para cuantificar el volumen de agua que atraviesa la zona de raíces se calibró y validó el modelo HYDRUS-1D, el cual resuelve las ecuaciones de flujo en medios porosos saturados y no saturados. Los resultados demuestran que la recarga conseguida mediante el manejo de la masa puede ser modificada, consiguiendo valores de recarga netamente superiores en las parcelas tratadas. Sin embargo reducciones por debajo del 50% la fracción de cabida cubierta (FCC) no producen mejora en la recarga. Se comprueba que el régimen de precipitaciones tiene un efecto importante en el valor de la recarga. Dado que se trata de parcelas llanas en las que no se evidenció escorrentía, el estudio debe ser ampliado a laderas en donde este componente del ciclo presente una mayor importancia.García Prats, A.; Campo García, ADD.; Molina Herrera, A. (2015). Evaluación de la recarga producida mediante manejo de una masa de Pinus halepensis con técnicas de silvicultura hidrológica. Cuadernos de la Sociedad Española de Ciencias Forestales. (41):195-210. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/65572S1952104

A hydroeconomic modeling framework for optimal integrated management of forest and water

[EN] Forests play a determinant role in the hydrologic cycle, with water being the most important ecosystem service they provide in semiarid regions. However, this contribution is usually neither quantified nor explicitly valued. The aim of this study is to develop a novel hydroeconomic modeling framework for assessing and designing the optimal integrated forest and water management for forested catchments. The optimization model explicitly integrates changes in water yield in the stands (increase in groundwater recharge) induced by forest management and the value of the additional water provided to the system. The model determines the optimal schedule of silvicultural interventions in the stands of the catchment in order to maximize the total net benefit in the system. Canopy cover and biomass evolution over time were simulated using growth and yield allometric equations specific for the species in Mediterranean conditions. Silvicultural operation costs according to stand density and canopy cover were modeled using local cost databases. Groundwater recharge was simulated using HYDRUS, calibrated and validated with data from the experimental plots. In order to illustrate the presented modeling framework, a case study was carried out in a planted pine forest (Pinus halepensis Mill.) located in south-western Valencia province (Spain). The optimized scenario increased groundwater recharge. This novel modeling framework can be used in the design of a payment for environmental services scheme in which water beneficiaries could contribute to fund and promote efficient forest management operations.This study is a component of four research projects: "CGL2011-28776-C02-02, HYDROSIL'', ''CGL2013-48424-C2-1-R, IMPADAPT'' and CGL2014-58127-C3-2, SILWAMED, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and FEDER funds, and Determination of hydrologic and forest recovery factors in Mediterranean forests and their social perception, supported by the Ministry of Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs. The authors are grateful to the Valencia Regional Government (CMAAUV, Generalitat Valenciana) and the VAERSA staff for their support in allowing the use of the La Hunde experimental forest and for their assistance in carrying out the fieldwork. Experimental data belong to Reforest research group. For any question about the data, contact Antonio D. del Campo ([email protected]).Garcia-Prats, A.; Campo García, ADD.; Pulido-Velazquez, M. (2016). A hydroeconomic modeling framework for optimal integrated management of forest and water. Water Resources Research. 52(10):8277-8294. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015WR018273S827782945210Andréassian, V. (2004). Waters and forests: from historical controversy to scientific debate. Journal of Hydrology, 291(1-2), 1-27. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2003.12.015Bargués Tobella, A., Reese, H., Almaw, A., Bayala, J., Malmer, A., Laudon, H., & Ilstedt, U. (2014). The effect of trees on preferential flow and soil infiltrability in an agroforestry parkland in semiarid Burkina Faso. Water Resources Research, 50(4), 3342-3354. doi:10.1002/2013wr015197Barron, O. V., Crosbie, R. S., Dawes, W. R., Charles, S. P., Pickett, T., & Donn, M. J. (2012). Climatic controls on diffuse groundwater recharge across Australia. 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Early establishment response of different Pinus nigra ssp. salzmanii seed sources on contrasting environments: Implications for future reforestation programs and assisted population migration

[EN] Forest restoration constitutes an important issue within adaptive environmental management for climate change at global scale. However, effective implementation of these programs can only be achieved by revising current seed transfer guidelines, as they lack inherent spatial and temporal dynamics associated with climate change. In this sense, provenance trials may provide key information on the relative performance of different populations and/or genotypes under changing ecological conditions. This study addresses a methodological approach to evaluate early plantation performance and the consequent phenotypic plasticity and the pattern of the adaptation of different seed sources in contrasting environments. To this end, six seed sources of Salzmann pine were tested at three contrasting trial sites testing a hypothetical assisted population migration. Adaptation at each site was assessed through Joint Regression and Additive Main effect and Multiplication Interaction (AMMI) models. Most of the observed variation was attributed to the environment (above 90% for all traits), even so genotype and genotype by environment interaction (GxE) were significant. Seedlings out-planted under better site conditions did not differ in survival but in height growth. However, on sites with higher constraints, survival differed among seed sources and diameter growth was high. The adaptation analyses (AMMI) indicated that the cold-continental seed source Soria performed as a generalist seed source, whereas Cordilleras Beticas , the southernmost seed source, was more adapted to harsh environments (frost and drought) in terms of survival. The results supported partially the hypothesis that assisted migration of seed sources makes sense within limited transfer distances, and this was reinforced by the GxE results. The present study could be valuable to address adaptive transfer of seedings in ecological restoration and to determine the suitable seed sources for reforestation programs and assisted population migration under climatic changes. The reported results are based on 3 years' data and need to be considered in this context.This study is a part of the research project: "Application of molecular biology techniques in forest restoration in Mediterranean environments, PAID-05-11" funded by the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (UPV), program for supporting R&D of new multidisciplinary research lines. The authors are grateful to MeteoCat and Emilio Olid (Meteoclimatic) for the meteorological data and to Jaime Flors and Tragsa for field work and to Dr. Paulo Canas Rodrigues from the Research Center for Mathematics and Applications, Nova University of Lisbon, Portugal, for the deliverance and the guidance of some R codes. The authors also thank the anonymous referees for reviewing the manuscript.Taïbi, K.; Campo García, ADD.; Aguado, A.; Mulet Salort, JM. (2016). Early establishment response of different Pinus nigra ssp. salzmanii seed sources on contrasting environments: Implications for future reforestation programs and assisted population migration. Journal of Environmental Management. 171:184-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.02.014S18419417

The effect of genotype by environment interaction, phenotypic plasticity and adaptation on Pinus halepensis reforestation establishment under expected climate drifts

[EN] Genotype by environment interaction (GEI) is becoming an important issue within the proactive adaptive silviculture oriented to global changes. However, there is a considerable lack of information on how GEI and phenotypic plasticity may affect early establishment (survival and early growth) performance in many non-commercial forest species, such as Aleppo pine, a key species in semiarid forest restoration programs. The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the phenotypic plasticity and adaptation in the broad context of GEI of eleven Aleppo pine seed sources regarding survival, height and diameter growth after outplanting in contrasting core and marginal habitats representing core-to-dry and cold-to-core drifts and to (2) compare the efficiency of joint regression and Additive Main effect and Multiplication Interaction (AMMI) models in elucidating the pattern of the adaptation of the eleven seed sources regarding these traits. Even though phenotypic plasticity was low, more plasticity was observed in the core drift than the dry drift. Specific adaptation to extreme environments was coupled with lower phenotypic plasticity. Among traits, plasticity was lower for survival and height than for diameter in the dry drift and the opposite for the core drift. There were also significant environment, genotype and GEI effects. AMMI models revealed higher capabilities than joint regression in determining seed sources adaptation across environments. Specifically, seed sources with higher plasticity performed better on the core habitat conditions. Southern seed sources of Bética Septentrional and La Mancha suited more to the dry environment. However, Maestrazgo Los Serranos seed source grew better under the cooler local conditions. Levante Interior seed source performed as a generalist genotype adapted to both drifts. These results make a significant contribution towards reforestation programs with practical implications for abiotic stress tolerance and assisted population migration in response to climate change.This work was supported by two research projects: "Application of molecular biology techniques in forest restoration in Mediterranean environments, PAID-05-11" funded by the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (UPV), program for supporting RandD of new multidisciplinary research lines; and the contract subscribed between the UPV and the Ministry of Environment, Rural and Marine affairs (Centro Nacional de Recursos Geneticos Forestales de Alaquas) through its public partnership TRAGSA titled: "Study of seedling quality and field performance of 12 seed sources of Pinus halepensis Mill.".Taibi, K.; Campo García, ADD.; Aguado, A.; Mulet Salort, JM. (2015). The effect of genotype by environment interaction, phenotypic plasticity and adaptation on Pinus halepensis reforestation establishment under expected climate drifts. Ecological Engineering. 84:218-228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.09.005S2182288

Can a parsimonious model implemented with satellite data be used for modelling the vegetation dynamics and water cycle in water-controlled environments?

[EN] Vegetation plays a key role in catchment's water balance, particularly in semi-arid regions that are generally water-controlled ecosystems. Nowadays, many of the available dynamic vegetation models are quite complex and they have high parametrical requirements. However, in operational applications the available information is quite limited. Therefore parsimonious models together with available satellite information can be valuable tools to predict vegetation dynamics. In this work, we focus on a parsimonious model aimed to simulate vegetation and hydrological dynamics, using both field measurements and satellite information to implement it. The results suggest that the model is able to adequately reproduce the dynamics of vegetation as well as the soil moisture variations. In other words, it has been shown that a parsimonious model with simple equations can achieve good results in general terms and it is possible to assimilate satellite and field observations for the model implementation. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.The research leading to these results has received funding from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and FEDER funds, through the research projects INTEGRA (CGL2011-28776-C02) and E-HIDROMED (CGL2014-58127-C3). The MODIS data were obtained through the online Data Pool at the NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC), USGS/Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota (https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/get_data). The meteorological data were provided by the Spanish National Weather Agency (AEMET).Ruiz Pérez, G.; González-Sanchis, MDC.; Campo García, ADD.; Francés, F. (2016). Can a parsimonious model implemented with satellite data be used for modelling the vegetation dynamics and water cycle in water-controlled environments?. Ecological Modelling. 324:45-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2016.01.002S455332

Hydrology-oriented forest management trade-offs. A modeling framework coupling field data, simulation results and Bayesian Networks

[EN] Hydrology-oriented forest management sets water as key factor of the forest management for adaptation due to water is the most limiting factor in the Mediterranean forest ecosystems. The aim of this study was to apply Bayesian Network modeling to assess potential indirect effects and trade-offs when hydrology-oriented forest management is applied to a real Mediterranean forest ecosystem. Water, carbon and nitrogen cycles, and forest fire risk were included in the modeling framework. Field data from experimental plots were employed to calibrate and validate the mechanistic Biome-BGCMuSo model that simulates the storage and flux of water, carbon, and nitrogen between the ecosystem and the atmosphere. Many other 50-year long scenarios with different conditions to the ones measured in the field experiment were simulated and the outcomes employed to build the Bayesian Network in a linked chain of models. Hydrology-oriented forest management was very positive insofar as more water was made available to the stand because of an interception reduction. This resource was made available to the stand, which increased the evapotranspiration and its components, the soil water content and a slightly increase of deep percolation. Conversely, Stemflow was drastically reduced. No effect was observed on Runof due to the thinning treatment. The soil organic carbon content was also increased which in turn caused a greater respiration. The long-term effect of the thinning treatment on the LAI was very positive. This was undoubtedly due to the increased vigor generated by the greater availability of water and nutrients for the stand and the reduction of competence between trees. This greater activity resulted in an increase in GPP and vegetation carbon, and therefore, we would expect a higher carbon sequestration. It is worth emphasizing that this extra amount of water and nutrients was taken up by the stand and did not entail any loss of nutrients.This study is a component of research projects: HYDROSIL (CGL2011-28776-C02-02), SILWAMED (CGL2014-58127-C3-2) and CEHYRFO-MED (CGL2017-86839-C3-2-R) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and FEDER funds. The authors are grateful to the Valencia Regional Government (CMAAUV, Generalitat Valenciana), ACCIONA for their support in allowing the use of the experimental forest and for their assistance in carrying out the fieldwork.Garcia-Prats, A.; González Sanchis, MDC.; Campo García, ADD.; Lull, C. (2018). Hydrology-oriented forest management trade-offs. A modeling framework coupling field data, simulation results and Bayesian Networks. The Science of The Total Environment. 639:725-741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.134S72574163

Simultaneous assessment, through sap flow and stable isotopes, of water use efficiency (WUE) in thinned pines shows improvement in growth, tree-climate sensitivity and WUE, but not in WUEi

[EN] In water-limited regions, adaptive management of forest and water relationships has been put forward, to implement hydrology-oriented silviculture to reduce stand evapotranspiration and, at the tree level, to improve growth and water use efficiency (WUE). The main goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of thinning in the short and medium term on tree growth, climate (drought) sensitivity, WUE performed using growth and sap flow measurements and WUEi performed using delta C-13 and delta O-18 isotopes, in a typical semiarid forest. This approach also evaluated the reliability of isotopes as indicators of the effects of adaptive forest management. A stagnated Aleppo pine plantation was experimentally thinned at high intensity (H98) in 1998 and at High (H), Medium (M) and Low (L) intensities in 2008, along with a control (C). Substantial limitation of tree growth was observed in C. Thinning not only increased growth, but also changed the.tree growth-precipitation relationships, with C trees depending more on precipitation than thinned trees did. WUEi after thinning was significantly affected only in the medium term, with C trees being more efficient (94.4 mu molCO(2)/molH(2)O) than H98 trees (88.7), especially in dry spells (100.7). WUEi was found to increase when precipitation decreased, regardless of the treatment. However, WUE increased sharply from C (1.26 g biomass/L H2O) to H (3.20 WO, showing a clear difference with WUEi observed in the same years. Thinning caused an increase in 8180 in the short term, but no relationship was found between 8180 and tree water use. It can be concluded that forest management improved WUE in spite of higher tree transpiration, but WUEi remained unchanged, probably due to an underestimate of photosynthetic capacity. The dual isotope (delta C-13 and delta O-18) conceptual model was not consistent with our experimental data. Thus, the question of whether stable isotopes can be used as a tool for addressing the ecophysiological impacts of thinning remains open. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.This study is part of the research projects "CGL2011-28776-C02-02, HYDROSIL", "CGL2014-58127-C3-2, SILWAMED," funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and FEDER funds, and "Determination of hydrologic and forest recovery factors in Mediterranean forests and their social perception," supported by the Ministry of Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs. The authors are grateful to the Valencia Regional Government (CMAAUV, Generalitat Valenciana) and the VAERSA staff for their support in allowing the use of the La Hunde experimental forest and for their assistance in carrying out the fieldwork. We express our gratitude to Professor R. Montes for constructive criticism and suggestions on an earlier version of the paper. The first author thanks the Mundus 17 Programme, coordinated by the University of Porto (Portugal).The authors are grateful to the Valencia Regional Government (CMAAUV, Generalitat Valenciana) and the VAERSA staff for their support in allowing the use of the La Hunde experimental forest and for their assistance in carrying out the fieldwork. We express our gratitude to Professor R. Montes for constructive criticism and suggestions on an earlier version of the paper. The first author thanks the Mundus 17 Programme, coordinated by the University of Porto (Portugal).Gualberto-Fernandes, TJ.; Campo García, ADD.; Herrera Fernandez, R.; Molina Herrera, A. (2016). Simultaneous assessment, through sap flow and stable isotopes, of water use efficiency (WUE) in thinned pines shows improvement in growth, tree-climate sensitivity and WUE, but not in WUEi. Forest Ecology and Management. 361:298-308. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2015.11.029S29830836