Ecohydrology
Understanding patterns and processes in dryland landscapes, from leaf-level processes to ecosystem-wide water cycles
Dryland Ecohydrology Research
Our ecohydrology research examines the complex interactions between water, vegetation, and climate in dryland ecosystems. We investigate how plants access, use, and respond to water across multiple scales, from individual leaves to entire landscapes, and how these processes are affected by environmental change.
Research Focus
Dryland ecosystems cover over 40% of Earth's land surface and support more than 2 billion people. These systems are characterized by water limitation and high climate variability, making them particularly vulnerable to environmental change.
Our research helps understand how these critical ecosystems function and respond to changing environmental conditions, informing conservation and management strategies.
Methodological Approach
We integrate field observations, remote sensing data, and mathematical modeling to understand ecohydrological processes across scales. Our work combines detailed physiological measurements with landscape-scale analysis.
Field sites span from the Kalahari Desert to East African savannas, providing insights into how dryland ecosystems function across different climatic and ecological contexts.
Key Research Areas
Our ecohydrology research spans multiple interconnected areas of investigation
Water Stress Dynamics
Plant physiological responses to water limitation, including stomatal regulation, osmotic adjustment, and hydraulic failure mechanisms in dryland species.
Vegetation Patterns
Spatial organization of vegetation in response to water availability, including self-organized patterns, patch dynamics, and landscape-scale heterogeneity.
Tree-Grass Dynamics
Competitive and facilitative interactions between woody and herbaceous vegetation, including savanna stability, encroachment processes, and coexistence mechanisms.
Climate Variability
Ecosystem responses to rainfall variability, drought events, and long-term climate change, including thresholds, resilience, and adaptation mechanisms.
Soil-Plant Interactions
Feedbacks between vegetation and soil properties, including nutrient cycling, soil moisture dynamics, and rhizosphere processes in water-limited environments.
Ecosystem Services
Quantification of ecosystem services provided by dryland systems, including carbon sequestration, biodiversity support, and hydrological regulation.
Recent Ecohydrology Publications
Latest research findings in dryland ecohydrology
Explore Our Research
Learn more about our other research themes and discover how ecohydrology connects with human systems and environmental sensing.