Lianas and Trees From a Seasonally Dry and a Wet Tropical Forest Did Not Differ in Embolism Resistance but Did Differ in Xylem Anatomical Traits in the Dry Forest

One of the most prominent changes in neotropical forests has been increase abundance and size lianas. Studies suggest that lianas have more acquisitive strategies than trees, which could allow them to take advantage water effectively when it is available water-limited forests, but few studies compared across growth form (i.e., vs. trees) forest type wet seasonally dry). We measured hydraulic anatomical traits co-occurring trees convey drought resistance (xylem embolism intervessel pit membranes) transport capacity vessel diameter density) a dry evergreen tropical address: (1) Are there differences between vulnerability embolisms (P 50 —water potential at 50% loss conductivity) safety margins (HSM) type? (2) How do density vary (3) xylem membrane thickness does predict lianas? examined 32 species—eight eight each type. found no difference P HSMs wetter drier forest. Dry had 81% greater maximum 125% range sizes but, was significant life forms species 30% ones. Maximum correlated HSMs. The main occurred forest, where larger implying they proportionally conductive seasonal forests.