10.5061/DRYAD.V2818
Apgaua, Deborah M. G.
Federal University of Lavras
James Cook University
Tng, David Y. P.
James Cook University
Cernusak, Lucas A.
James Cook University
Cheesman, Alexander W.
James Cook University
Santos, Rubens M.
Federal University of Lavras
Edwards, Will J.
James Cook University
Laurance, Susan G. W.
James Cook University
Data from: Plant functional groups within a tropical forest exhibit
different wood functional anatomy
Dryad
dataset
2016
tropical rainforest
xylem conductivity
plant hydraulic strategies
plant functional anatomy
Vines
wood functions
wood anatomical traits
tropical plant lifeforms
2016-10-20T22:49:48Z
2016-10-20T22:49:48Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.12787
341574 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Understanding the anatomical basis of plant water transport in forest
ecosystems is crucial for contextualizing community-level adaptations to
drought, especially in life-form-rich tropical forests. To provide this
context, we explored wood functional anatomy traits related to plant
hydraulic architecture across different plant functional groups in a
lowland tropical rain forest. We measured wood traits in 90 species from
six functional groups (mature-phase, understorey and pioneer trees;
understorey and pioneer shrubs; vines) and related these traits to
intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUEi) as a measure of physiological
performance. We also examined vessel size distribution patterns across
groups to determine trade-offs in theoretical hydraulic safety vs.
efficiency. Some plant functional groups exhibited significant differences
in vessel parameters and WUEi. Vessel diameters in vines and pioneer trees
were two- to threefold greater on average than in understorey trees and
shrubs. Contrastingly, vessels in understorey trees and shrubs fell within
the smaller size classes, suggesting greater safety mechanisms. In
addition to these trends, large vessel dimensions were important
predictors of WUEi among the functional groups. We conclude that wood
functional anatomy profiles varied across plant functional groups in a
tropical rain forest. These groups can therefore serve as a framework for
further investigations on structure–function relationships and a sound
basis for modelling species responses to drought.
Wood density, vessel characteristics and water use efficiency for 90
tropical speciesWood density, vessel characteristics and water use
efficiency for 90 tropical speciesVessel and WUE 90 species.xlsx