- New research reveals that the world's tallest tropical trees, specifically Dipterocarp species, have no trouble pumping water to their topmost branches despite conventional scientific theory suggesting height limits water transport.
- Adjustments inside giant Dipterocarp trees, such as wider water-carrying vessels near the ground and leaves adapted to withstand water stress, fully compensate for height-related challenges, maintaining hydraulic efficiency.
- The study finds that height does not make these trees more vulnerable to drought compared to shorter trees, with no height-related loss in growth observed during a severe drought.
- The findings challenge the widely accepted theory that vessel length and gravity limit water transport and growth in tall trees, indicating their hydraulic systems are perfectly evolved for their height.
- Understanding tall trees is vital as the tallest 1% store more than half of above-ground carbon in forests, and the study suggests existing climate-change models may overestimate drought risk for these trees.
- The research was conducted on Dipterocarp trees in Malaysian Borneo, ranging from 7 to 71 meters tall, and included measurements during the 2023-2024 El Niño drought, with implications for forest conservation under climate change.