From tree to forest: Multiple carbon sink constraints

Abstract

Forests are the largest carbon sinks among terrestrial ecosystems. They sequestrate carbon primarily through tree growth but are currently under severe threat from global change. Recently, Tavares et al.1 identified a crucial trait, the xylem hydraulic safety margin (HSM), for predicting the risk of drought-induced tree mortality and biomass in Amazon forests. They also found that old-growth forests with wide HSMs build more biomass, while fast-growing forests are exposed to greater hydraulic risks and have a higher mortality rate.

Topics & Concepts