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A δ18O and δ2H stable water isotope analysis of subalpine forest water sources under seasonal and hydrological stress in the Canadian Rocky Mountains
  • Lindsey Langs,
  • Richard Petrone,
  • John Pomeroy
Lindsey Langs
University of Saskatchewan

Corresponding Author:lindsey.langs@usask.ca

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Richard Petrone
University of Waterloo
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John Pomeroy
University of Saskatchewan
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Abstract

Subalpine forests are hydrologically important to the function and health of mountain basins. Identifying the specific water sources and the proportions used by subalpine forests is necessary to understand potential impacts to these forests under a changing climate. The recent ‘Two Water Worlds’ hypothesis suggests that trees can favour tightly bound soil water instead of readily available free-flowing soil water. Little is known about the specific sources of water used by subalpine trees Abies lasiocarpa (Subalpine fir) and Picea engelmannii (Engelmann spruce) in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. In this study, stable water isotope (δ18O and δ2H) samples were obtained from Subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce trees at three points of the growing season in combination with water sources available at time of sampling (snow, bound soil water, saturated soil water, precipitation). Using the Bayesian Mixing Model, MixSIAR, relative source water proportions were calculated. In the drought summer examined, there was a net loss of water via evapotranspiration from the system. Results highlighted the importance of tightly bound soil water to subalpine forests, providing insights of future health under sustained years of drought and net loss in summer growing seasons. This work builds upon concepts from the ‘Two Water Worlds’ hypothesis, showing that subalpine trees can draw from different water sources depending on season and availability. In our case, water use was largely driven by a tension gradient within the soil allowing trees to utilize tightly bound soil water and saturated soil water at differing points of the growing season.
17 Aug 2020Submitted to Hydrological Processes
19 Aug 2020Submission Checks Completed
19 Aug 2020Assigned to Editor
19 Aug 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
24 Sep 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
27 Sep 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Major
16 Nov 20201st Revision Received
17 Nov 2020Submission Checks Completed
17 Nov 2020Assigned to Editor
17 Nov 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
17 Nov 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
17 Nov 2020Editorial Decision: Accept