Hydraulic control on water use, growth and survival in tropical rainforest

Tropical rainforests are sensitive to climate variability, especially drought, but despite large effects regionally and globally this sensitivity is poorly understood. The focus of this project will be to measure the drought-related limits to water transport in the woody xylem tissue of trees in Australian tropical rainforests, in order to understand how this influences tree water use, photosynthesis, health and mortality risk. The intention is to compare forests that contrast strongly in seasonal drought stress, and to use the information to develop a model designed for species-diverse forest, with subsequent potential global application. The outcomes will inform fundamental ecology, conservation science and Earth system model development.