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Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology ›› 2024, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (6): 1543-1552.doi: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.202406.020

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Global quantification of the spatial variability and temporal stability of throughfall

WANG Qian1, YUAN Chuan2,3*, ZHANG Yafeng4, HU Yanting5, WANG Yi6, GUO Li7, LIU Qin8, CAI Zhongyin9   

  1. 1College of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A& F University, Hangzhou 311300, China;
    2Chongqing Jinfo Mountain Karst Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Geographical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China;
    3Shaanxi Yan’an Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, Beijing 100085, China;
    4Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China;
    5Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China;
    6Institute of Resources and Environment, International Centre for Bamboo and Rattan, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration/Beijing for Bamboo & Rattan Science and Technology, Beijing 100102, China;
    7State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, College of Water Resource and Hydropower, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China;
    8School of Geographic Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China;
    9Institute of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China
  • Received:2023-12-25 Accepted:2024-04-08 Online:2024-06-18 Published:2024-12-18

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Abstract: Spatial variability of throughfall (i.e. the non-uniform characteristics of throughfall at different canopy positions) and its temporal persistence (i.e. time stability) are related to the quantity and efficiency of soil moisture replenishment, and affect plant competition and community succession dynamics by affecting resource availability. We carried out a meta-analysis with 554 papers (from 2000 to 2022) retrieved from Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) based on keyword search, quantified and compared the amount, spatial heterogeneity, and temporal stability characteristics of penetrating rain in different climate zones and plant functional types. Our results that throughfall proportion was lower in arid regions (72.0%±13.6%) than humid (75.1%±9.3%) and semi-humid areas (79.9%±10.4%). Cold climates had lower values (74.1%±14.6%) than temperate (74.2%±7.5%) and tropical climates (80.9%±14.6%). Shrubs (68.9%±14.9%) generally had lower throughfall proportion than trees (76.7%±9.1%). Broad-leaved trees (75.2%±11.1%) and conifers (75.1%±9.9%) showed similar throughfall proportions, as did evergreen (76.7%±10.0%) and deciduous species (74.7%±11.9%). Additionally, spatial variability (coefficient of variation) did not significantly differ across rainfall zones, temperature zones, or vegetation types. The spatial distribution of throughfall was relatively stable. Canopy structure was the dominant factor affecting temporal stability of throughfall. However, there was a lack of comparison between typical geographic units (i.e. spatial units with basically consistent geographical environmental conditions) at various temporal scales. Future research should expand upwards to the summary of global spatial scale rules and downwards to the analysis of process based temporal scale mechanisms, to depict the dynamic distribution of penetrating rain and unify observation standards to enhance comparability of different studies, in order to efficiently promote research on canopy penetrating rain and provide ecological and hydrological basis for protecting nature, managing artificial activities, and restoring degraded ecosystems.

Key words: throughfall, spatial distribution, temporal stability, climate zone, plant functional trait