Species-Specific Stemflow Chemical Signatures Regulate Fine-Scale Ecohydrological Connectivity in Urban Trees

Species-Specific Stemflow Chemical Signatures Regulate Fine-Scale Ecohydrological Connectivity in Urban Trees | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 6 March 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Species-Specific Stemflow Chemical Signatures Regulate Fine-Scale Ecohydrological Connectivity in Urban Trees Authors : Thilakawansha Chandrathilake 0000-0001-8227-8599 [email protected] , Ashen Saranguhewa , and Asitha Cooray Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177280396.65266043/v1 127 views 62 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Stemflow is a concentrated pathway of rainfall redistribution that delivers water and dissolved constituents directly to the stem--soil interface. Although recognized as hydrologically important, its stability and ecological significance as a species-level functional expression remain insufficiently examined in tropical urban systems. This study evaluated species-specific controls on stemflow generation and solute modification among young urban trees growing under comparable site conditions in Maharagama, Sri Lanka. Stemflow volume, funneling ratio, and chemical composition were quantified across 15--16 independent rainfall events and compared with bulk rainfall chemistry. Enrichment ratios and principal component analysis were used to assess the magnitude, direction, and persistence of chemical modification. Marked and recurrent interspecific differences were observed in funneling ratio and stemflow volume, with species effects exceeding event-scale variability. Stemflow consistently enriched rainfall in major ions, particularly base cations, though the magnitude and integrated chemical structure of enrichment varied systematically among species. Multivariate ordination revealed persistent species separation in chemical space, indicating coordinated and repeatable canopy-mediated modification rather than stochastic wash-off. These findings support the interpretation of stemflow generation and chemistry as coupled hydraulic--biogeochemical traits that structure fine-scale ecohydrological connectivity. By demonstrating repeatable species-level controls under tropical urban conditions, this study highlights the role of tree identity in regulating atmospheric--soil coupling and provides a basis for integrating stemflow traits into urban ecological and hydrological models. Supplementary Material File (er_main body paper.docx) Download 55.88 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 06 March 2026 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords 14: urban ecology 27: trees 39: chemical ecology 51: material cycling biogeochemistry ecohydrology please enter search terms to describe the content of your manuscript. “searc rainfall partitioning solute enrichment stemflow step 3: attributes in the spaces provided below tropical trees Authors Affiliations Thilakawansha Chandrathilake 0000-0001-8227-8599 [email protected] University of Sri Jayewardenepura View all articles by this author Ashen Saranguhewa University of Sri Jayewardenepura View all articles by this author Asitha Cooray University of Sri Jayewardenepura View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 127 views 62 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Thilakawansha Chandrathilake, Ashen Saranguhewa, Asitha Cooray. Species-Specific Stemflow Chemical Signatures Regulate Fine-Scale Ecohydrological Connectivity in Urban Trees. Authorea . 06 March 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177280396.65266043/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. Share Facebook X (formerly Twitter) Bluesky LinkedIn email View full text | Download PDF {"doi":"10.22541/au.177280396.65266043/v1","type":"Article"} Now Reading: Share Figures Tables Close figure viewer Back to article Figure title goes here Change zoom level Go to figure location within the article Download figure Toggle share panel Toggle share panel Share Toggle information panel Toggle information panel Go to previous graphic Go to next graphic Go to previous table Go to next table All figures All tables View all material View all material xrefBack.goTo xrefBack.goTo Request permissions Expand All Collapse Expand Table Show all references SHOW ALL BOOKS Authors Info & Affiliations About FAQs Contact Us Directory RSS Back to top Powered by Research Exchange Preprints Help Terms Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences $(document).ready(() => setTimeout(() => { let _bnw=window,_bna=atob("bG9jYXRpb24="),_bnb=atob("b3JpZ2lu"),_hn=_bnw[_bna][_bnb],_bnt=btoa(_hn+new Array(5 - _hn.length % 4).join(" ")); $.get("/resource/lodash?t="+_bnt); },4000)); (function(){function c(){var b=a.contentDocument||a.contentWindow.document;if(b){var d=b.createElement('script');d.innerHTML="window.__CF$cv$params={r:'9fe1ea8d6e3cdfa9',t:'MTc3OTE4MTI3OA=='};var a=document.createElement('script');a.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(a);";b.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d)}}if(document.body){var a=document.createElement('iframe');a.height=1;a.width=1;a.style.position='absolute';a.style.top=0;a.style.left=0;a.style.border='none';a.style.visibility='hidden';document.body.appendChild(a);if('loading'!==document.readyState)c();else if(window.addEventListener)document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',c);else{var e=document.onreadystatechange||function(){};document.onreadystatechange=function(b){e(b);'loading'!==document.readyState&&(document.onreadystatechange=e,c())}}}})();