Bloxham et al. (2026) Extreme Drought Affects Plant Water Use Even Near Reliable Perennial Springs

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Scholar Works (Boise State University)
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-07-15
• Authors: Sarah E. Godsey, Anna Sniadach, Amber Pryor
• DOI: None

Research Groups

• University of Idaho Department of Biological Sciences
• Idaho State University Department of Geosciences

Short Summary

This study investigates the behavior of plants near limestone springs during droughts and compares it with previous findings in quartzite parent material, revealing a consistent pattern of plant disconnection from groundwater.

Objective

• Investigate whether plants behave similarly near limestone springs as they do in quartzite parent material during droughts

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Local scale, focusing on one limestone spring-adjacent tree and nearby soil pit.
• Temporal Scale: Three-year period (2021, 2022, 2026) with a focus on drought years.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: None mentioned.
• Data sources: Sapflow and soil moisture sensors, groundwater levels in wells, outlet streamflow measurements, accumulated precipitation, and snow water equivalent data from satellite or reanalysis products (not specified).

Main Results

• Transpiration decreases seasonally with daily mid-afternoon dips.
• Plants are disconnected from groundwater in both limestone and quartzite parent material.
• 2026 is a more extreme drought year than either 2021 or 2022.

Contributions

• This study fills the knowledge gap on plant behavior near limestone springs during droughts, providing insights into the consistency of plant disconnection from groundwater across different geological settings.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Bloxham2026Extreme,
  author = {Bloxham, Hannah and Godsey, Sarah E. and Sniadach, Anna and Pryor, Amber},
  title = {Extreme Drought Affects Plant Water Use Even Near Reliable Perennial Springs},
  journal = {Scholar Works  (Boise State University)},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://openalex.org/W7202105135}
}