WATER SOURCES AND ECOPHYSIOLOGY OF SELECTED RIPARIAN SPECIES OF THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS, USA

Abstract

The following research examined water source utilization of two native riparian species along a perennial river in the southern Appalachian foothills, USA (Chapter II), including water source patterns over an entire year (III), and how these patterns changed according to differing hydrologic regimes (VI). Additionally, these source usage patterns were examined for dominant shrubs exhibiting strong spatial segregation along an elevational gradient (V). Finally, the hydraulic properties of these shrubs were examined in regards to adaptive leaf orientation during periods of light and water stress (VI).