The global-scale impacts of climate change on water resources and flooding under new climate and socio-economic scenarios

This paper presents a preliminary assessment of the relative effects of rate of climate change (four Representative Concentration Pathways - RCPs), assumed future population (five Shared Socio-economic Pathways - SSPs), and pattern of climate change (19 CMIP5 climate models) on regional and global exposure to water resources stress and river flooding. Uncertainty in projected future impacts of climate change on exposure to water stress and river flooding is dominated by uncertainty in the projected spatial and seasonal pattern of change in climate. There is little clear difference in impact between RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP6.0 in 2050, and between RCP4.5 and RCP6.0 in 2080. Impacts under RCP8.5 are greater than under the other RCPs in 2050 and 2080. For a given RCP, there is a difference in the absolute numbers of people exposed to increased water resources stress or increased river flood frequency between the five SSPs. With the ‘middle-of-the-road’ SSP2, climate change by 2050 would increase exposure to water resources stress for between approximately 920 and 3400 million people under the highest RCP, and increase exposure to river flood risk for between 100 and 580 million people. Under RCP2.6, exposure to increased water scarcity would be reduced in 2050 by 22-24%, compared to impacts under the RCP8.5, and exposure to increased flood frequency would be reduced by around 16%. The implications of climate change for actual future losses and adaptation depend not only on the numbers of people exposed to changes in risk, but also on the qualitative characteristics of future worlds as described in the different SSPs. The difference in ‘actual’ impact between SSPs will therefore be greater than the differences in numbers of people exposed to impact.

Modeling plant transpiration under limited soil water: comparison of different plant and soil hydraulic parameterizations and preliminary implications for their use in land surface models

Accurate estimates of how soil water stress affects plant transpiration are crucial for reliable land surface model (LSM) predictions. Current LSMs generally use a water stress factor, β, dependent on soil moisture content, θ, that ranges linearly between β = 1 for unstressed vegetation and β = 0 when wilting point is reached. This paper explores the feasibility of replacing the current approach with equations that use soil water potential as their independent variable, or with a set of equations that involve hydraulic and chemical signaling, thereby ensuring feedbacks between the entire soil–root–xylem–leaf system. A comparison with the original linear θ-based water stress parameterization, and with its improved curvi-linear version, was conducted. Assessment of model suitability was focused on their ability to simulate the correct (as derived from experimental data) curve shape of relative transpiration versus fraction of transpirable soil water. We used model sensitivity analyses under progressive soil drying conditions, employing two commonly used approaches to calculate water retention and hydraulic conductivity curves. Furthermore, for each of these hydraulic parameterizations we used two different parameter sets, for 3 soil texture types; a total of 12 soil hydraulic permutations. Results showed that the resulting transpiration reduction functions (TRFs) varied considerably among the models. The fact that soil hydraulic conductivity played a major role in the model that involved hydraulic and chemical signaling led to unrealistic values of β, and hence TRF, for many soil hydraulic parameter sets. However, this model is much better equipped to simulate the behavior of different plant species. Based on these findings, we only recommend implementation of this approach into LSMs if great care with choice of soil hydraulic parameters is taken

Colony dehydration and water collection by specialized caste in the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa

Social organization enables leaf-cutting ants to keep appropriate micro-ecological nest conditions for the fungus garden (their main food), eggs, larvae and adults. To maintain stability while facing changing conditions, individual ants must perceive destabilising factors and produce a proper behavioral response. We investigated behavioral responses to experimental dehydration in leaf-cutting ants to verify if task specialization exists, and to quantify the ability of ant sub-colonies for water management. Our setup consisted of fourteen sub-colonies, ten of which were randomly assigned to different levels of experimental dehydration with silica gel, whereas the remaining four were controls. The ten experimental sub-colonies were split into two groups, so that five of them had access to water. Diverse ant morphs searched for water in dehydrated colonies, but mainly a caste of small ants collected water after sources had been discovered. Size specialization for water collection was replicable in shorter experiments with three additional colonies. Ants of dehydrated colonies accumulated leaf-fragments on the nest entrance, and covering the fungus garden. Behaviors that may enhance humidity within the nests were common to all dehydration treatments. Water availability increased the life span of dehydrated colonies.

Biochemical and physiological responses of sugarcane cultivars to soil water deficiencies

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effects of Silicon and Drought Stress on Tuber Yield and Leaf Biochemical Characteristics in Potato

Silicon has beneficial effects on many crops, mainly under biotic and abiotic stresses. Silicon can affect biochemical, physiological, and photosynthetic processes and, consequently, alleviates drought stress. However, the effects of Si on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants under drought stress are still unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Si supply on some biochemical characteristics and yield of potato tubers, either exposed or not exposed to drought stress. The experiment was conducted in pots containing 50 dm(3) of a Typic Acrortox soil (33% clay, 4% silt, and 63% sand). The treatments consisted of the absence or presence of Si application (0 and 284.4 mg dm(-3)), through soil amelioration with dolomitic lime and Ca and Mg silicate, and in the absence or presence of water deficit (-0.020 MPa and -0.050 MPa soil water potential, respectively), with eight replications. Silicon application and water deficit resulted in the greatest Si concentration in potato leaves. Proline concentrations increased under lower water availability and higher Si availability in the soil, which indicates that Si may be associated with plant osmotic adjustment. Water deficit and Si application decreased total sugars and soluble proteins concentrations in the leaves. Silicon application reduced stalk lodging and increased mean tuber weight and, consequently, tuber yield, especially in the absence of water stress.

PCJ River Basins' Water Availability Caused by Water Diversion Scenarios to Supply Metropolitan Areas of So Paulo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influência do estresse hídrico e salino na germinação de urochloa decumbens e urochloa ruziziensis

Studies of the germination response of seeds subjected to artificial stresses are provided tools for better understanding of the survivability and adaptation of these species in natural stress conditions such as drought or saline soils, common in agricultural and forest regions, contributing significantly to the development of management strategies. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible effects of water and salt stress on germination of Urochloa decumbens and Urochloa ruziziensis. The test was conducted at the Faculty of Technology of São Paulo, campus of Capon Bonito. The seeds were sown with four replicates of 50 seeds in paper soaked in solutions with the potentials of 0.0, -0.2, -0.4 and -0.8 MPa, induced with polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) and NaCl. The germination test was conducted at 25 degrees C in the presence of light, evaluating the first test score at seven days after sowing, and weekly germination (normal seedlings) until 35 days. We calculated the index of germination rate. The results allowed the conclusion that water stress causes a greater reduction in force, speed of germination and cumulative germination of seeds of U. decumbens and U. ruziziensis than salt stress. The species U. decumbens showed higher tolerance to water and salt stresses.

Alterações morfológicas foliares em cultivares de cana-de-açúcar em resposta à deficiência hídrica

The aim of this study was to determine the response of morphological traits of four tolerant and susceptible sugarcane cultivars (SP81-3250, SP83-2847, RB855453 and RB72454) related to two water regimes. At 84 days after emergence the plants were submitted to water availability treatments (no water deficiency and water deficiency), and evaluated in three periods: zero, 28 and 56 days, after implantation of these treatments (DAT). The cultivars SP81-3250 and SP83-2847, when subjected to water stress for prolonged periods in early development, present higher leaf width, less damage to the green leaf number and leaf area, an increase in stomatal density in adaxial and abaxial leaf surface, and higher production of dry matter, and therefore were considered tolerant. The leaf +3 length not allowed to characterize the varieties to drought tolerance.

Suplementação de cloreto de potássio para frangos de corte submetidos a estresse calórico

O experimento foi realizado com objetivo de avaliar os efeitos do estresse calórico e da suplementação de cloreto de potássio (KCl) sobre o desempenho e algumas características fisiológicas de frangos de corte. Quarenta aves, no período de 42 a 49 dias, foram submetidas ao estresse calórico (16 horas a 25 ± 1ºC; duas horas com temperatura crescente; quatro horas a 35 ± 1ºC; e duas horas com temperatura decrescente até a termoneutralidade e com umidade relativa de 63,5 ± 5%), recebendo os seguintes tratamentos: 0,50 e 1,00% KCl na ração; 0,25 e 0,50% KCl na água de bebida. A ração à base de milho e farelo de soja, com 20% de proteína bruta e 3200 kcal EM/kg, foi fornecida ad libitum. A suplementação de KCl na ração ou na água de beber não influiu no ganho de peso, nos consumos de ração e água, na conversão alimentar, na mortalidade, na relação água/ração, no teor de matéria seca das excretas e nas características hematológicas. O estresse calórico aumentou a temperatura retal, o hematócrito, a hemoglobina, o heterófilo e a relação heterófilo/linfócito e reduziu as hemácias, o linfócito, o sódio e o potássio sérico. A suplementação de KCl na água regulou o número de eritrócitos e a hemoglobina em frangos estressados pelo calor. A relação heterófilo:linfócito e a temperatura retal podem ser usadas como índices de estresse.

Physiological parameters in sugarcane cultivars submitted to water deficit

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Water quality monitoring by nanostructured films in a sensing unit system

Presented here is a study about the capability of a sensing unit to detect changes in river water quality. In order to determine its accuracy, water quality was monitored at 11 points along the Veado River in Presidente Prudente, Brazil. To have a basis for comparison, a water quality index (WQI) was developed following methods previously applied in different watersheds. Results showed an accurate relationship between WQI and electric impedance readings detected by the sensing unit. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to derive results in a form that can be correlated with WQI calculated for each sample point, which showed the potential application of this device.

Photosynthetic responses and proline content of mature and young leaves of sunflower plants under water deficit

In mature and young leaves of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Catissol-01) plants grown in the greenhouse, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate declined during water stress independently of leaf age and recovered after 24-h rehydration. The intercellular CO 2 concentration, chlorophyll (Chl) content, and photochemical activity were not affected by water stress. However, non-photochemical quenching increased in mature stressed leaves. Rehydration recovered the levels of non-photochemical quenching and increased the F v/F m in young leaves. Drought did not alter the total Chl content. However, the accumulation of proline under drought was dependent on leaf age: higher content of proline was found in young leaves. After 24 h of rehydration the content of proline returned to the same contents as in control plants.

Corn root length density and root diameter as affected by soil compaction and soil water content

Negative effects of soil compaction have been recognized as one of the problems restricting the root system and consequently impairing yields, especially in the Southern Coastal Plain of the USA. Simulations of the root restricting layers in green house studies are necessary for the development of mechanism which alleviates soil compaction problems in these soils. The selection of three distinct bulk densities based on the standard proctor test is also an important factor to determine which bulk density restricts the root layer. The experiment was conducted to assess the root length density and root diameter of the corn (Zea mays L.) crop as a function of bulk density and water stress, characterized by the soil density (1.2; 1.4, and 1.6 g cm -3), and two levels of the water content, approximately (70 and 90% field capacity). The statistical design adopted was completely randomized design, with four replicates in a factorial pattern of (3 × 2). The PVC tubes were superimposed with an internal diameter of 20 cm with a height of 40 cm (the upper tube 20 cm, compacted and inferior tube 10 cm), the hardpan with different levels of soil compaction were located between 20 and 30 cm of the depth of the pot. Results showed that: the main effects of subsoil mechanical impedance were observed on the top layer indicating that the plants had to penetrate beyond the favorable soil conditions before root growth was affected from 3.16; 2.41 to 1.37 cm cm -3 (P<0.005). There was a significant difference at the hardpan layer for the two levels of water and 90% field capacity reduced the root growth from 0.91 to 0.60 cm cm -3 (P<0.005). The root length density and root diameter were affected by increasing soil bulk density from 1.2 to 1.6 g cm -3 which caused penetration resistance to increase to 1.4 MPa. Soil water content of 70% field capacity furnished better root growth in all the layers studied. The increase in root length density resulted in increased root volume. It can also be concluded that the effect of soil compaction impaired the root diameter mostly at the hardpan layer. Soil temperature had detrimental effect on the root growth mostly with higher bulk densities.

Determinação do índice de estresse hídrico em cultura do feijoeiro com termômetro de infravermelho

In order to calculate the daily stress degree of a bean crop submitted to four water regime applications, cover crop and air daily measurements temperatures were accomplished by using a hand-held infrared thermometer. The treatments did not present crop water stress except the control (without irrigation). The highest yield was obtained by the treatment that received less irrigation frequency, and among the treatments that had the same number of irrigation. The largest yield was obtained with the one that received larger amount of applied water. The largest irrigation frequency did not result in larger productivity. The methodologies used for the irrigation planning were efficient for the replacement of soil water. The daily stress degree index was effective in determining crop water stress; and it was reliable presenting negative values in good water soil condition.

Germinação e vigor de sementes de crambe sob estresse hídrico

This study aimed to evaluate crambe seeds germination and vigor under water stress conditions induced by polyethylene glycol solutions. The seeds were germinated on substrate moistened with polyethylene glycol solutions, using the osmotic potentials of 0 (control), -0.2, -0.4, -0.6, -0.8, -1.0, -1.2 and -1.4 MPa. The seeds germination was evaluated by normal seedlings and root emission percentages. Vigor was evaluated by germination average time, relative frequency, velocity and synchronization index. It was observed that more negative osmotic potential caused significant reduction in crambe seed germination and vigor, and no normal seedlings was observed at potentials below -0.6 MPa.