Multicriteria assessment of water dynamics reveals subcatchment variability in a seemingly homogeneous tropical cloud forest catchment

Abstract

To improve the current knowledge of the rainfall–runoff phenomena of tropical montane catchments, we explored the usefulness of several hydrological indicators on a nested cloud forest catchment (76.9 km2). The used metrics belong to 5 categories: baseflow mean transit time, physicochemical properties of stream water, land cover, topographic, and hydrometric parameters. We applied diverse statistical techniques for data analysis and to contrast findings. Multiple regression analysis showed that mean transit times of base flow could be efficiently predicted by sodium concentrations (higher during baseflows) and temperatures of stream water, indicating a major influence of geomorphology rather than topographic or land cover characteristics. Principal component analysis revealed that no specific subset of catchment indicators could be identified as prevailing descriptors for all catchments. The agglomerative hierarchical clustering analysis provided concomitant results, implying larger levels of dissimilarity between smaller subcatchments than between larger ones. Overall, results point out an intricate interdependence of diverse processes at surface and subsurface level indicating a high level of heterogeneity. Disregarding heterogeneity of nested or paired catchments could lead to incomplete or misleading conclusions, especially in tropical mountain regions where pronounced spatial and temporal gradients are present.

Forest cover lessens the impact of drought on streamflow in Puerto Rico

“…Our study controlled for the potential effects of forest damage and regrowth on streamflow, as the last severe storm to make a direct landfall in Puerto Rico before our study period was Hurricane Georges in 1998. Although there is evidence that afforestation decreases streamflow (Bosch & Hewlett, 1982; Brown et al, 2013; Farley et al, 2005; Timbe et al, 2017) for up to five decades after forest establishment (Bentley & Coomes, 2020), mature forests tend to display more conservative water use strategies than regenerating forests (Giambelluca, 2002). Although Beck et al (2013) did not find a consistent relationship between forest cover and total annual flows across all watersheds, 8 of the 12 watersheds in their study displayed decreases in low streamflow after forest regeneration.…”

“…These complex and contrasting outcomes led to the “infiltration‐evapotranspiration trade‐off” hypothesis, which posits that the direction and magnitude of the effect of forest cover on streamflow relative to other land covers are the net result of heightened demand from transpiration, decreased inputs from canopy interception, and increases in water supply through greater infiltration and soil water storage (Bruijnzeel, 1989). Transpiration rates in forests tend to be higher than in other land cover classes, leading to lower streamflow in forested watersheds (Bosch & Hewlett, 1982; Brown et al, 2013; Calder, 2002; Farley et al, 2005; Timbe et al, 2017), although forest clearing may increase surface temperatures and lead to higher soil evaporation rates (Hashimoto et al, 2004). Tree roots and litter inputs also develop soil structure that in turn, decreases overland flow and increases soil water storage, infiltration capacity, and groundwater recharge (Bargués Tobella et al, 2014; Bonell et al, 2010; Bruijnzeel, 2004; Ilstedt et al, 2007).…”

Study on Optimization Method of Spatial Structure Characteristics of Peak Forest Landform in Wulingyuan Scenic Area

“…The peak forest landform evolved from the Devonian platform and experienced the platform. Local mountains, valleys, peaks and bushes, peak forests and other stages of development and evolution, will continue to develop in the future (Timbe et al, 2017).…”

Comportamiento hidrológico de una mesocuenca de montaña en el centro oriente de México

“…Se ha reportado que los coeficientes de escurrimiento anuales (Q/P; siendo Q el caudal y P la precipitación) oscilan entre el 35 y 49 % en microcuencas (Brasil: Mello et al 2019, México: Muñoz-Villers et al 2012, Ecuador: Timbe et al 2017. En cambio, en cuencas de mayor tamaño (1-12 km 2 ) se han reportado Q/P más variables (52-107 %, Ecuador: Crespo et al 2011, Timbe et al 2017Colombia: Ramírez et al 2017). Asimismo, se han observado flujos estables a lo largo del año en cuencas que drenan en suelos de origen volcánico, particularmente en las regiones de Mantiqueira, Brasil (Campos-Pinto et al 2016), Monteverde, Costa Rica (Guswa et al 2007), Filandia, Colombia (Roa-García et al 2011) y en el centro de Veracruz, México (Muñoz-Villers et al 2015), debido a la alta capacidad de infiltración de estos suelos y recarga de agua subterránea.…”