Tunneling-induced groundwater depletion limits long-term growth dynamics of forest trees

Human interventions such as tunnel construction have caused groundwater depletion, which substantially affected the functions of forest tree species and their communities. However, the extent to which tunneling-induced groundwater depletion (TIGD) degrades their function levels at various spatial-temporal scales under varying climate conditions remains still unclear. Researchers used stand-scale dendrological records to track and extract the effects of TIGD associated with a single or series of tunneling events (three tunneling events during 1999–2001, 2006–2008, and 2010–2013) on short- and long-term growth levels of two dominant drought-tolerant tree species across (karst and non-karst) landscapes affected by tunnel construction and landscapes not subjected to tunnel construction in a mountainous forest ecosystem located in the southwest of China. The results showed that growth responses of both trees stand to TIGD, and the TIGD-linked water losses of other available water sources were negative and widespread across tunnel-affected landscapes, particularly in the karst landscapes known as delicate landscapes. Tree stands with faster (more vigorous) growth rates showed more significant adverse growth levels in response to either tunneling-induced or drought-induced water stresses. Also, they showed the highest recovered growth levels in response to favorable climatic conditions. Moreover, the growth level in the tunnel-affected forest never fully recovered during six years of very wet weather (2012–2018) after the construction of the final (third) tunnel in 2010–2013. Current research shows that tunnel construction has a cumulatively detrimental impact on the long-term survival of the forest. Even with the mediation of long-term very wet circumstances, it can substantially restrict the development dynamics of the forest compared to drought. [Display omitted] •Tunneling-induced groundwater depletion (TIGD) affects forest growth significantly.•Tree-ring data can be used to monitor TIGD-related ecohydrological effects.•Climate-caused growth pulses were differentiated from tunneling-induced growth pulses.•Responses to TIGD were both cumulative and profound over time.•Tunneling has more adverse effects on forest growth dynamics than drought.