Ecohydrology in forest ecosystems: the bark as a key-factor in the stemflow

• Grant number: 22/07550-5
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: December 01, 2022
• End date: February 28, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Kelly Cristina Tonello
• Grantee: Kelly Cristina Tonello
• Visiting researcher: Anna Ilek
• Visiting researcher institution: Poznań University of Life Sciences (PULS), Poland
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias para a Sustentabilidade (CCTS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

A poorly researched, but relevant part of the forest water balance is the partitioning of rain by tree canopies. When rain comes in contact with the treetops, some returns to the atmosphere, some drips through crevices or drains down the tree trunk through the stemflow process. This, in turn, is especially poorly researched, despite its potential to concentrate rainfall inputs into the soil and contribute to groundwater recharge. In cloud forests, in addition to rain, hidden precipitation is a common hydrological variable, and despite its frequent occurrence and the fact that it is undoubtedly an input of water into the system, it is unknown and unaccounted for. In view of this, the stemflow in these places can be particularly voluminous, contributing even more to the annual precipitation. On the other hand, research indicates that the bark structure is a master variable, since it acts as a "deposit" for hidden precipitation and its characteristics determine the volume (greater or lesser) of water drained through the trunk. Thus, this research activity plan seeks to investigate and associate the occurrence of stemflow with factors such as texture and wettability of tree bark in the cloud forests of Pq. State of Serra do Mar (PESM-Cunha), as part of the current FAPESP proposal (2021/11697-9). This proposal is a worldwide pioneer, associating unique environments and the application of techniques hitherto never applied in Forest Hydrology. In addition, the activity plan includes visits to other areas where the Hidrolef research group has developed its activities, visits to partner institutions and participation of the visiting researcher in postgraduate courses. (AU)