@article{fdi:010044349,
  title = {{S}ources of water used by natural mesquite vegetation in a semi-arid region of northern {M}exico},
  author = {{B}runel, {J}ean-{P}ierre},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{V}egetation structure in semi-arid regions of northern {M}exico and the southwestern {USA} has changed dramatically over the last century; shrubs such as mesquite ({P}rosopis sp.) have expanded into, and have become dominant in, ecosystems that once supported semi-arid grassland. {T}he upper {S}an {P}edro {R}iver watershed, which extends from northern {S}onora ({M}exico) to southeastern {A}rizona ({USA}), highlights these changes. {B}etween 1973 and 1992, grasslands decreased by 18% and the total area dominated by mesquite increased during the same period by 412%. {I}n the areas where the density of mesquite shrub is medium to high, grass has completely disappeared under the shrub canopy and has been replaced by bare soil. {U}ndoubtedly these cover changes have affected surface-atmosphere interactions by introducing a different partitioning of net available energy into sensible and latent heat flux. {A}t the same time, different root system and root density and plant physiology have introduced a change to the surface water balance, reducing inflitration and increasing runoff. {O}ur study addressed the sources of water used by mesquite ({P}rosopis velutina) along a natural gradient from an area of high mesquite cover with no herbaceous grass cover, to open savanna with high grass cover and widely spaced mesquite. {T}he presented results from the {SALSA} 1997 monsoon-season campaign ({J}uly-{O}ctober) show that mesquite shrubs that have access to both groundwater and surface water use surface water when available, potentially competing with grass for surface water and out-competing grass during successive periods of drought when only groundwater is available.},
  keywords = {oxygen-18 ; mesquite ; {P}rosopis velutina ; water use ; {S}onora ; {M}exico ; {A}rizona, {USA} ; semi-desert grassland},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{H}ydrological {S}ciences {J}ournal - {J}ournal des {S}ciences {H}ydrologiques},
  volume = {54},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {375--381},
  ISSN = {0262-6667},
  year = {2009},
  DOI = {10.1623/hysj.54.2.375},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010044349},
}