Localized Augmentation of Net Precipitation to Shrubs: A Case Study of Stemflow Funneling to Hummocks in a Salinity-Intruded Swamp

The interception of precipitation by plant canopies can alter the amount and spatial distribution water inputs to ecosystems. We asked whether canopy could locally augment shrubs their crowns funneling (freshwater) as stemflow bases, in a wetland where relict overstory trees are dying persisting only grow on small hummocks that sit above mesohaline floodwaters. Precipitation, throughfall, were measured across 69 events over 15-months period salinity-degraded freshwater swamp coastal South Carolina, United States. Evaporation intercepted from shrub reduced net (stemflow plus throughfall) site 91% gross (open) amounts. However, layer resulted increased routing down stems – this yielded depths 14 times larger than an area equal stem cross-sectional areas. Through dimensional analysis, we inferred local augmentation precipitation, with effective equaling 100–135% precipitation. Given these (wax myrtle, Morella cerifera ) sensitive salinities, our novel findings prompt hypothesis is ecophysiologically important mechanism increases availability facilitates persistence otherwise stressful environment.