Tamarix transpiration along a semiarid river has negligible impact on water resources

摘要: The proliferation of saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) along regulated rivers in the western United States has transformed riparian plant communities. It is commonly assumed that transpiration by these alien plants led to large losses water would otherwise contribute streamflow. Control saltcedar, therefore, been considered a viable strategy for conserving and increasing streamflow regions. In an effort better understand linkage between streamflow, we monitored transpiration, stream stage, groundwater elevations within stand Pecos River during June 2004. Transpiration, as determined sap flow measurements, exhibited strong diel pattern; stage did not. Diel fluctuations levels were observed, but only one well, which was located center stand. correlation maximal minimal elevation weak (R2 = 0.16). No effects detected other wells stand, nor stage. primary reason, believe, this reach relatively low sapwood area limited spatial extent resulting very compared with discharge. Our results are important because they provide mechanistic explanation lack increase following large-scale control invasive trees semiarid rivers.