Groundwater use by riparian vegetation in the wet-dry tropics of northern Australia

A. O'Grady, D. Eamus, P. Cook and S. Lamontagne
Australian Journal of Botany, 54, 2, 145-154,
A study assessing groundwater use by riparian vegetation along the Daly River NT. The riparian forest exhibited considerable structural and floristic complexity. More than 40 tree species were recorded and these exhibited a range of leaf phenologies, implying complex patterns of water resource partitioning. Water use was a function of species and season, and stand water use varied between 1.8 and 4.1mm/day. In general, water use tended to be higher in the wet season than during the dry season, reflecting the contribution to stand water use by dry season deciduous tree species. There was a strong relationship between stand basal area and stand water use in the wet season, but the strength of this relationship was lower in the dry season. The amount of groundwater use was principally a function of position in the landscape.