Hydrologic effects of the expansion of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) in a tropical catchment

Guardiola Claramonte and coauthors (2010) just published this paper which investigates the hydrologic effects of rubber plantations on catchment scale hydrologic processes. Dr. Guardiola-Claramonte completed the work as part of her dissertation under the direction of Dr. Peter Troch in the department. She also worked with a diverse team of investigators at multiple institutions. She and her co-authors were able to document that rubber plantations increase transpirative use of water and thus decrease stream discharge out of headwater catcments. As rubber plantations continue to expand in southern China and southeast Asia these authors work could influence basin scale management of water resources in these systems.