Giant trees find ways to survive extreme droughts

Researchers are investigating how giant trees in tropical forests, some exceeding 70 meters in height, manage to survive extreme droughts. These massive organisms face the significant challenge of transporting water from their roots to their canopies through vessels known as xylem.

Historically, scientific studies, including one from 2015, suggested that larger trees were at a disadvantage during dry periods. In approximately 65% of analyzed cases, taller trees faced a higher risk of mortality because drought can cause air bubbles to form within the xylem, blocking water flow similarly to a clogged pipe.

However, new observations in forests across the Americas, Africa, and Asia have identified specific giant trees that demonstrate superior resilience to drought. Scientists suggest that their survival depends not just on size, but on specific structural adaptations and methods of water transport and conservation.