Wood Anatomical and Demographic Similarities Between Self-Standing Liana and Tree Seedlings in Tropical Dry Forests of Colombia.

Canopy lianas differ considerably from trees in terms of wood anatomical structure, and they are suggested to have a demographic advantage-faster growth and higher survival-than trees. However, it remains unclear whether these anatomical and demographic differences persist at the seedling stage, when most liana species are self-standing and, consequently, might be ecologically similar to trees. We assessed how self-standing liana and tree seedlings differ in relation to wood anatomy, growth, and survival.

Linking seedling wood anatomical trade-offs with drought and seedling growth and survival in tropical dry forests.

Wood anatomy plays a key role in plants' ability to persist under drought and should therefore predict demography. Plants balance their resource allocation among wood cell types responsible for different functions. However, it remains unclear how these anatomical trade-offs vary with water availability, and the extent to which they influence demographic rates.