Effects of Wood Hydraulic Properties on Water Use and Productivity of Tropical Rainforest Trees

The efficiency of the water transport system in trees sets physical limits to their productivity and use. Although coordination carbon assimilation hydraulic functions has long been documented, mutual inter-relationships between wood anatomy, use have not yet jointly addressed comprehensive field studies. Based on observational data from 99 Indonesian rainforest tree species 37 families across 22 plots, we analyzed how anatomy sap flux density relate size density, tested combined influence aboveground biomass increment ( ABI ) daily DWU ). Results pairwise correlations were compared outcome a structural equation model (SEM). Across species, found strong positive correlation . Wood was more closely related these indicators plant performance than density. According SEM, common effect average stem sufficient fully explain observed variables. Notably, after controlling for size, only relatively small indirect properties remained that mediated by which significantly higher with lighter hydraulically efficient wood. We conclude traits are mechanistically linked via flow, but large parts commonly relationships can be attributed confounding effects.