Riparian plant water relations along the north fork of the Kings River, California

Authors

J. L. Nachlinger
S. D. Smith, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
R. J. Risser

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1989

Publication Title

Proceedings of the California Riparian Systems Conference

Publisher

US Forest Service

First page number:

366

Last page number:

369

Abstract

Plant water relations of five obligate ripar-ian species were studied along California's North Fork Kings River. Diurnal stomatal conductance, transpi-ration, and xylem pressure potentials were measured throughout the 1986 growing season and in mid-season in 1987. Patterns were similar for all species although absolute values varied considerably. Maximum stomatal conductance occurred early in the day and season during favorable environmental conditions and decreased as air temperature and the vapor pressure difference between the leaf and air increased. Maximum transpiration rates occurred in mid-morning and mid-summer resulting in estimated daily water losses per unit sunlit leaf area of 163-328 mol H2O m-2. Predawn xylem pressure poten-tials remained high in 1986 when streamflows averaged 1.41 m3/s (50 cfs), however they were notably lower in 1987 at 0.7 m3/s (25 cfs).

Keywords

Biological diversity; North fork King's River; Range management; Revegetation; Riparian habitat; Riparian systems; Stomatal conductance; Stream diversion; Stream flows; Threatened and endangered species; Trees; Xylem pressure potentials

Disciplines

Desert Ecology | Environmental Health and Protection | Environmental Monitoring | Fresh Water Studies | Plant Biology | Systems Biology | Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology

Language

English

Repository Citation

Nachlinger, J. L., Smith, S. D., Risser, R. J. (1989). Riparian plant water relations along the north fork of the Kings River, California. Proceedings of the California Riparian Systems Conference 366-369. US Forest Service.
https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/sls_fac_articles/67