Throughfall and temporal trends of rainfall redistribution in an open tropical rainforest, south-western Amazonia (Rond?nia, Brazil)

Gross precipitation of 97 events amounted to 1309 mm,89±5.6% (S.E.) of which reached the forest floor asthroughfall. The redistribution of water within the canopy washighly variable in time, which we attribute to the high density ofbabassu palms (Orbignya phalerata), their seasonal leafgrowth, and their conducive morphology. We identified a 10-minrainfall intensity threshold of 30 mmh-1 above whichinterception was highly variable. This variability is amplified byfunneling and shading effects of palms. This interaction between arainfall variable and vegetation characteristics is relevant forunderstanding the hydrology of all tropical rainforests with ahigh palm density. 展开▼