Bark Effects on Stemflow Chemistry in a Japanese Temperate Forest I. The Role of Bark Surface Morphology

Stemflow can be an important pathway for the drainage of precipitation and related solutes through tree canopies to forest soils. As stemflow must drain along bark surfaces, effects structure on chemical composition is merited. This study examines relationship between chemistry surface six species varying morphology (four deciduous broadleaf trees two evergreen coniferous trees) at a montane urban site in Japan. from smooth-barked contained greater concentrations that appear rinsed stem (i.e., sea salt aerosols); while, rougher-barked or less leached (e.g., Ca 2+ ) taken-up inorganic N) by bark, respectively. Site-specific atmospheric environments also influenced thee bark-stemflow relationships—where elemental deposition plot generally resulted than observed lower-deposition plot. Our results therefore suggest dynamics dry wash-off stemflow, exchange dissolved surface, are site’s environment. Therefore, interactions its surrounding environment factors stemflow-related cycling precipitation.