FCE LTER Journal Articles
Title
Hydrologic processes on tree islands in the Everglades (Florida, USA): tracking the effects of tree establishment and growth
Abstract
The hydrodynamics of tree islands during the growth of newly planted trees has been found to be influenced by both vegetation biomass and geologic conditions. From July 2007 through June 2009, groundwater and surface-water levels were monitored on eight recently planted tree islands at the Loxahatchee Impoundment Landscape Assessment (LILA) facility in Boynton Beach, Florida, USA. Over the 2-year study, stand development coincided with the development of a water-table depression in the center of each of the islands that was bounded by a hydraulic divide along the edges. The water-table depression was greater in islands composed of limestone as compared to those composed of peat. The findings of this study suggest that groundwater evapotranspiration by trees on tree islands creates complex hydrologic interactions between the shallow groundwater in tree islands and the surrounding surface water and groundwater bodies.
Recommended Citation
Sullivan, P., R.M. Price, M.S. Ross, L.J. Scinto, S. Stoffella, E. Cline, T.W. Dreschel, F.H. Sklar. 2011. Hydrologic processes on tree islands in the Everglades (Florida, USA): tracking the effects of tree establishment and growth. Hydrogeology Journal 19(2): 367-378.
Comments
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation through the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research program under Cooperative Agreements #DBI-0620409 and #DEB-9910514. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.