The effect of salinity on branch water relations and stem hydraulic vulnerability in two co-occurring mangrove species ARC DP180102969

The maintenance of hydraulic conductance and cellular function underpin survival when water availability is limited. Yet, management of hydraulic risk through water release from foliage and stem organs is not often considered in assessments of drought tolerance. In this dataset we aimed to understand how plasticity in branch water relations and hydraulic vulnerability maintain stem hydraulic function in two co-occurring mangrove species: <em>Aegiceras corniculatum</em> and <em>Rhizophora stylosa</em> growing at low and high salinity. This dataset shows that contributions of foliage and stem to branch capacitance changed as water loss progressed during drying such that stem water content was conserved at the cost of the foliage. Such redistribution of water together with plastic adjustments of hydraulic vulnerability traits, decreased hydraulic vulnerability at high salinity. These results highlight the need to combine water relations and hydraulic vulnerability parameters to assess whole plant vulnerability to water stress.