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Originally Posted by stereologist
The lecture was by a guy named Vogel or Vogelmann. He was working with a group in Mexico to re-establish forests where they once stood. He had great photos of lone trees in mist with wet ground under the trees. Very simple and dramatic work. What they wanted to know was whether or not this water did anything other than wet the upper surface.
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Thanks stereologist
I've done a bit of googling and come up with a few leads.
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Tropical montane cloud mist forests are among the most biologically rich and diverse ecosystems, providing habitats for many of the world's endangered species.
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More about how to make measurements.
Changes in Land Use and Water Use and Their Effects on Climate, Including Biogeochemical Cycles III Posters - Biogeosciences [B]
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What is a cloud forest?
Also known as the bosque mesófilo de montaña, the cloud forest constitutes one of the most beautiful natural settings in Mexico. This is a magical place, made up of evergreens, covered with brilliantly colored orchids, bromeliads, mosses and lichens. Here too, you will find dozens of beautiful and surprisingly large trees wrapped in the nearly constant mist, which evokes fascination and respect. The the expression cloud forest is not a scientific term, it is gerenerally used to describe a habitat or bioregion in ehich clouds and mist in the air determine the type of vegetation and conditions for growth. The Mexican cloud forest in Veracruz is often covered by mist, which in addition to rainfall, contributes to the hydrological cycle and influences climate and biodiversity.
Cloud Forest in Danger
While this eco-system possesses the greatest biodiversity of any found in Mexico, it is also one of the most threatened eco-systems in the world. We are in a distinct transition zone - where species from the northern and southern hemispheres live together harmoniously.
In México, the cloud forest has been reduced in large measure due to coffee cultivation, cattle grazing and increases in human population. Cloud forest deforestation has led to soil erosion, flooding, reduction in water flow, and plant and animal extinctions, which upset the ecological equilibrium of the ecosystem. This causes irreversible loss of natural, genetic resources. Increases in rural poverty are also a by-product of deforestation.
Why is it important to save cloud forests?
When cloud forests are cut down for cattle farming, the result is soil compaction. When the soil is compacted water infiltration is reduced and surface runoff increases. Erosion begins as well in upper watersheds. Flood danger increases for lower watersheds, putting communities at high risk. It is critical to protect cloud forests from becoming cultivated land. These fragile ecosystems are critical to the water cycle in the watershed and beyond. The cloud forest eco-system is the most "skilled" system in terms of its ability to "milk the clouds" for their precious liquid. Other environmental services that are provided by the cloud forest include: the creation of a carbon sink, the essential preservation of biodiversity and unparalleled beauty.
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cloud forest mexico adopt acre
i don't think we have these much in Australia as most mountain ranges are low by world comparisons.
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How is it possible for tropical cloud forest plants to thrive out-of-doors in Coastal California? If one looks into the origins of familiar local garden plants like Fuchsia or Begonia one will find that many of the species we grow are native to higher elevations in the tropics, in these cases the Andean foothills. Section Vireya Rhododendron and Aeschynanthus (lipstick plants) come from the montane tropics of Southeast Asia, particularly New Guinea. These plants can grow here because of striking similarities between coastal California's climate and that of mountainous areas in the tropics.
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Cloud Forests - Conservation Education
a bit tecnical, some seach terms may be useful. "Elfin " forests is nice
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Summary Diurnal courses of stomatal conductance, leaf water potential, and the components of tissue water potential were measured in six canopy species in an elfin cloud forest.
Water relations - Conductance - Water potential - Tropical trees - Turgor pressure
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SpringerLink - Journal Article
It would be nice to know if the plants had any special structures for harvesting the moisture, as "bio-mimicry" is all the rage in Engineering Technology these days.
