Increasing drought stress challenges vulnerable hydraulic system of plants, professor finds
Tuesday, November 27, 2012 - 19:00
in Earth & Climate
The hydraulic system of trees is so finely-tuned that predicted increases in drought due to climate change may lead to catastrophic failure in many species. A recent paper finds that those systems in plants around the globe are operating at the top of their safety threshold, making forest ecosystems vulnerable to increasing environmental stress.