Throughfall in balsam fir: Some landscape-scale implications in western Newfoundland

Abstract

Throughfall, the process of rainfall passage through a tree canopy to the forest floor, is a critical hydrological cycle component affecting in situ soil to watershed-scale processes. The process has been widely studied at plot scales, but integrative forest stand and landscape studies are rare. A landscape-scale study was undertaken to investigate balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) forest cover, slope aspect, and interaction of these factors on throughfall receipt in western Newfoundland. ANOVA analyses found balsam fir forest cover to be the predominant variable influencing throughfall over the summer-to-autumn season. Slope aspect and interactions of forest cover and aspect were not significant. Some landscape-scale implications are discussed. Key words: balsam fir, forest hydrology, landscape scale, slope aspect, throughfall