Ecosystem Water Use: Influence of Vegetation Type and Topography, South East Queensland Peri-Urban Supersite, Samford, 2011-2013

Brief description

Since January 2011, soil water use from each vegetation community has been monitored using a combination of high temporal resolution automatic and manually sampled soil moisture probes. Using the high definition LIDAR derived digital elevation model, a number of permanent transects within each community of the SERF property were identified. These transects were orientated towards the slope aspect, allowing flows to be traced down the sub-catchment slopes and into the riparian zones and the creek system. Transects were located to ensure the maximum coverage of the different vegetation community types. Each transect encompassed only a single vegetation community, with the exception of the riparian vegetation which included the lowest monitoring point on several transects to link with stream water data. Each transect contained at least 3 soil water monitoring sites, encompassing the upslope, mid-slope and lower slope areas. High resolution soil moisture data is measured using 19 FDR probes (Sentek Solo, Odyssey GLRL) logged at 30 minute intervals. Each probe contains 4-5 sensors, allowing specified depths/horizons of the soil profile to be continuously monitored. At least one transect per land use consists solely of automated sensors allowing soil water movement down the slope profile to be monitored. The high resolution data is replicated on the remaining transects with soil profiles measured manually on a weekly basis using a portable soil water profiler (Diviner 2000, Sentek).