Grantee Research Project Results
Hydrologic Thresholds for Biodiversity in Semiarid Riparian Ecosystems: Importance of Climate Change and Variability
EPA Grant Number: R833025Title: Hydrologic Thresholds for Biodiversity in Semiarid Riparian Ecosystems: Importance of Climate Change and Variability
Investigators: Meixner, Thomas , Dixon, Mark A. , Hogan, James F. , Lite, S. Joy , Stromberg, Julie , Baird, Kate
Institution: University of Arizona
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: March 1, 2008 through February 28, 2011
Project Amount: $841,881
RFA: Nonlinear Responses to Global Change in Linked Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems and Effects of Multiple Factors on Terrestrial Ecosystems: A Joint Research Solicitation- EPA, DOE (2005) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Aquatic Ecosystems , Climate Change
Description:
Riparian ecosystems of the arid and semiarid Southwest are linear corridors of high productivity and diversity. These ecosystems are sensitive to even small changes in the riparian water balance, with sharp changes in vegetation as streams become intermittent and as groundwater declines below survivorship thresholds. As a result, riparian vegetation has declined on many rivers due to water abstraction or has been altered due to the hydrologic impacts of climate variability. Despite much disciplinary work on individual rivers, a regionally comprehensive and integrated understanding of how aquatic-terrestrial ecotones respond to hydrologic change, including those imposed by climate change, awaits development.
Objective:
We will determine region-wide sensitivity of riparian vegetation to climate change. Our hypotheses: i) Decadal scale climate change and variability alter riparian aquifer recharge through mechanisms that depend on the magnitude, frequency and seasonality of flooding, and exert the greatest change in reaches that receive minimal groundwater inflow from the regional aquifer. ii) Riparian vegetation structure responds non-linearly as riparian aquifers are dewatered and as key hydrologic thresholds for survivorship of plant species are exceeded. iii) Decadal scale climate variability and change alters riparian ecosystem water budgets that in turn changes vegetation structure and function and the ecosystem services provided to society.
Approach:
For hypothesis 1 we will: isotopically quantify riparian aquifer recharge along a regional precipitation gradient. On one river, the San Pedro, we will develop a model that links storm flow and aquifer recharge, calibrated with isotopic data, to estimate steam base flows and seasonal aquifer conditions. For hypothesis 2 we will: further evaluate established connections between vegetation condition and hydrologic conditions of flood flows, groundwater depth, and stream flow permanence. For hypothesis 3 we will: develop five alternative scenarios of climate change and use a scenario driven model to estimate the climate impacts on vegetation along the San Pedro River. For the other rivers, climate scenarios and hydrologic and vegetation data will be used to develop a climate change sensitivity matrix. Biodiversity and water quality ecosystem services of riparian systems will be quantified for each scenario.
Expected Results:
This research will produce three useful products for resource managers in the Southwest. First, we will improve understanding of the linkages among climate (precipitation timing and amount), hydrologic variability (stream flow and aquifer conditions), vegetation structure, and ecosystem services in riparian ecosystems, and of the regional variability in these relationships. Second, we will produce a transferable coupled model of hydrologic-vegetation processes in riparian ecosystems that will allow for modeling of non-linear responses to hydrologic change resulting from climate change or other causes. Third, the climate sensitivity matrix we develop will be useful for projecting regional impacts of climate change and anthropogenic impacts on riparian water budgets and ecosystem change.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 51 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 15 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Riparian ecosystems, groundwater hydrology, isotope hydrology, riparian vegetation, invasive species, water quality,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Ecological Risk Assessment, Atmosphere, Regional/Scaling, Monitoring/Modeling, Air Pollution Effects, Hydrology, climate change, Environmental Monitoring, water quality, biodiversity, Global Climate Change, ecosystem assessment, climate model, coastal ecosystem, global change, atmospheric chemistry, ecological models, coastal ecosystems, climate models, environmental measurement, climate variability, habitat preservation, environmental stress, habitat diversity, anthropogenic, land use, regional anthropogenic stresses, riparian vegitation, greenhouse gasesRelevant Websites:
Progress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.