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Title:Water regulation ecosystem services following gap formation in Fir-beech forests in the Dinaric Karst
Authors:ID Vilhar, Urša (Author)
Files:.pdf PDF - Presentation file, download (1,38 MB)
MD5: C8354A351A5EE6E589D9FB6011BEC460
 
URL URL - Source URL, visit https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/2/224
 
Language:English
Typology:1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:Logo SciVie - Slovenian Forestry Institute
Abstract:This paper investigates how variation in forest structural characteristics affects the water retention capacity of gaps and forests in fir-beech forests in the Dinaric Karst. Forests are identified as a key element of the landscape for provision of pristine water resources, particularly in highly vulnerable karst aquifers characterized by rapid infiltration of recharge water, high subsurface permeability, and heterogeneous underground flow. Indicators of hydrologic fluxes (drainage flux, canopy interception, transpiration, and soil evaporation) in a large experimental gap (approximately 0.2 ha in size) and those in a nearby old-growth gap were compared over a 13-year period using the Brook90 hydrological model and their structural characteristics were analyzed. In addition, the hydrologic fluxes were also simulated for a managed forest and an old-growth forest for reference. Water regulation capacity was lowest in the experimental gap, where drainage flux accounted for 81% of precipitation and the sum of canopy interception, transpiration, and soil evaporation (evapotranspiration) accounted for 18%. This was followed by the old-growth gap, where drainage flux accounted for 78% of precipitation and evapotranspiration for 23%. Water retention capacity was highest and generally similar for both forests, where 71%72% of annual precipitation drained to the subsurface. The results of this study suggest that the creation of large canopy gaps in fir-beech forests in the Dinaric Karst results in significant and long-lasting reduction in soil and vegetation water retention capacity due to unfavorable conditions for successful natural tree regeneration. For optimal provision of water regulation ecosystem services of forests in the Dinaric Karst, small, irregularly shaped canopy gaps no larger than tree height should be created, mimicking the structural characteristics of naturally occurring gaps in old-growth forests.
Keywords:water retention capacity, drainage flux, evapotranspiration, Brook90 hydrological model, experimental canopy gap, old-growth forest
Publication status:Published
Publication version:Version of Record
Year of publishing:2021
Number of pages:17 str.
Numbering:article 224, iss. 2
PID:20.500.12556/DiRROS-13720 New window
UDC:630*116
ISSN on article:1999-4907
DOI:10.3390/f12020224 New window
COBISS.SI-ID:53555203 New window
Note:Nasl. z nasl. zaslona; Opis vira z dne 2. 3. 2021;
Publication date in DiRROS:05.03.2021
Views:961
Downloads:806
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Record is a part of a journal

Title:Forests
Shortened title:Forests
Publisher:MDPI
ISSN:1999-4907
COBISS.SI-ID:3872166 New window

Document is financed by a project

Funder:ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
Project number:P4-0107
Name:Gozdna biologija, ekologija in tehnologija

Funder:ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
Project number:J2-1743
Name:Procesi infiltracije v gozdnatih kraških vodonosnikih ob spremenljivih okoljskih pogojih

Licences

License:CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Link:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Description:This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
Licensing start date:16.02.2021
Applies to:Published ver.

Secondary language

Language:Undetermined
Keywords:sposobnost zadrževanja vode, odtok v podtalje, evapotranspiracija, hidrološki model Brook90, eksperimentalna vrzel, pragozdovi


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