Wood hydraulic characteristics of pioneers/early secondary and non-pioneer species

Abstract

We aimed to determine any differences in hydraulic conductivity between pioneer species/early secondary and non-pioneers. To make this determination, we measured maximum vessel length (Mvl), specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks), percentage of embolized vessels (Pev), leaf hydraulic conductivity (Kl) and wood density at equilibrium moisture content-12% (Wd₁₂). The pioneer/early secondary species we examined were Guazuma ulmifolia, Inga marginata and Maclura tinctoria. The non-pioneers we examined were Paubrasilia echinata, Cariniana legalis and Myroxylon peruiferum. The results were submitted to statistical analyses, including multiple comparison tests and t test, to verify differences between successional groups and regression analysis to verify the relationship between Ks and the other variables. Pioneer species had higher Ks than non-pioneers. Non-pioneers had a higher percentage of embolized vessels and wood density. Successional groups did not differ in Mvl, which is positively related to hydraulic conductivity in both successional groups since the percentage of embolized vessels was related negatively. Wood density is positively related to Ks in non-pioneer species, while a negative correlation was observed between Ks and Kl in the pioneer species.