A new study by researchers at UC Santa Barbara and San Diego State University offers insight into the differences in the way plants and trees react to water stress. It also sheds light on how plant behavior affects soil moisture and climate predictions. UCSB professor Kelly Caylor and doctoral student Ryoko Araki led the research team.
Highlights
- A new study by researchers at UC Santa Barbara and San Diego State University reveals that trees and plants use moisture differently.
- The study was led by UCSB professor Kelly Caylor and doctoral student Ryoko Araki, along with other researchers.
- The nonlinear model could help address agricultural and meteorological challenges and support water conservation efforts.
Understanding the Effects of Ecology, Weather Patterns and Global Resource Cycles Could Help Inform Water Management
The study consisted of the development of a nonlinear model of evapotranspiration that accounts for how different plants use and manage water during dry periods. Earlier models had treated all plants uniformly. Alternatively, the new model recognizes that some vegetation, such as grasses, can use water aggressively. At the same time, trees can be more judicious with their moisture usage.
“We found that plants don’t respond to water stress in a simple, straight-line way,” said Caylor of UCSB. “They have dynamic response patterns that reveal whether they’re ‘water spenders’ or ‘water savers.’”…