The relationship between stem biomechanics and wood density is modified by rainfall in 32 Australian woody plant species.
*Stem mechanical properties are critically linked to foliage deployment and growth strategy, yet variation in stem mechanics across species and habitats is poorly understood. *Here, we compared 32 plant species growing across four sites of contrasting rainfall and soil nutrient availability in Australia. *The modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR) were tightly correlated with dry sapwood density within sites, but species from low-rainfall environments had higher wood density for a given MOE and MOR compared with species growing in high-rainfall environments. The ratio of MOE to MOR was slightly lower for species at low-rainfall sites, suggesting that wood was stronger for a given elasticity. Most species had thick bark, but the mechanical contribution of bark to stem MOE was small. *Our results suggest that arid-adapted species would need to deploy more dry mass to support stems. Our results also highlight the importance of understanding how the biomechanics-wood density relationship evolves under different environmental conditions to better understand plant growth across diverse habitats.
Onoda
Yusuke
Y
Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia. yusuke.onoda@gmail.com
Richards
Anna E
AE
Westoby
Mark
M
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001315:Australia; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002980:Climate; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000254:growth & development; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000254:growth & development*; D011891:Rain; D014197:Trees / Q000254:growth & development*; D014934:Wood / Q000254:growth & development*