The FLAME project addresses a critical gap in understanding the dynamics of subsurface water storage and its role in forest ecosystems under changing environmental conditions. The central question is how the seasonal origins, turnover times of water used by plants, and water uptake depths will shift in response to climate change. This is essential for predicting vegetation resilience, particularly under drought stress. The interdisciplinary nature of FLAME bridges hydrology and ecology to provide an integrated view of vegetation response to drought, with a focus on European temperate forests.
The project employs newly developed high-frequency, in-situ measurements of stable water isotopes (δ¹⁸O and δ²H) in soil and tree xylem to trace the origins of water used by plants. This data, combined with mechanistic modeling, will improve our understanding of how forest ecosystems will function under future climate scenarios.
This study presents in-situ observations of water isotopes (δ¹⁸O and δ²H) in tree xylem, soil, and atmosphere providing insights into the sources of water that trees utilize throughout seasonal cycles. By comparing isotopic signatures in different soil layers and within tree xylem, we aim to elucidate how trees modulate their water uptake in response to varying soil moisture availability. Our results offer valuable information on the adaptability of trees to climate variability and their resilience in a changing climate and help understanding the tree hydraulic strategies and their potential responses to ongoing environmental shifts. The specific objectives are FLAMES include:
1. Identify the seasonal origins and turnover time of water used by plants — Track water uptake depths and sources, and how these are altered over time and in response to environmental changes.
2. Determine precipitation partitioning and soil water storage variation over time and their effects on vegetation water uptake patterns.
3. Assess the dynamic response and eco-hydrological connectivity of vegetation— Test the resilience of forests under different environmental scenarios.
