Inpa examines drought vulnerability of giant Amazon trees

The National Institute of Amazonian Research (Inpa) is hosting a seminar in Manaus to discuss the vulnerability of giant trees in the Amazon to prolonged droughts. The event, part of the ‘Amazon Seminars’ project, focuses on the hydric dynamics of monumental forest specimens and their ability to survive water scarcity.

Researcher Paulo de Lima Bittencourt will present findings on how vertical growth affects water circulation within plants. The research investigates whether the height of these trees makes them more susceptible to drought due to the physical challenges of transporting fluids against gravity from the root system to the canopy. This study is considered strategically important for global conservation, as approximately half of the carbon stored in the region's forest ecosystems is concentrated in just 1% of the tallest trees.