Accumulator, Transporter, Substrate, and Reactor: Multidimensional Perspectives and Approaches to the Study of Bark

Woody ecosystems have a relatively thin but aerially extensive and dynamic layer of bark that, like leaves, regulates material exchange at the interface air, water, biota. Through interception, retention, leaching materials interactions with epiphytic communities, alters chemistry composition water draining over its surface during precipitation. This mini-review explores different perspectives approaches to study what they reveal about myriad ways surfaces influence quality sub-canopy Observational studies conducted past five decades in fields environmental science, ecohydrology, epiphyte ecology, microbiology demonstrate that is an accumulator, transporter, substrate, reactor. Bark passively accumulates from atmosphere, canopies, also serves as active transport surface, exchanging laterally longitudinally. In addition, substrates diversity, composition, distribution, which, turn, affect cycling. are time, changing response disturbances (e.g., insect outbreaks, aging, tree death)—how such changes chemical elemental throughfall stemflow merits further study. Moving forward, integration diverse needed elucidate on solute particulate cycling within woody ecosystems.