Shifts in wood anatomical traits after a major hurricane

Trait variation across individuals and species influences the resistance
and resilience of ecosystems to disturbance, and the ability of
individuals to capitalize on post-disturbance conditions. In trees, the
anatomical structure of the xylem directly affects plant function and,
consequently, it is a valuable lens through which to understand resistance
and resilience to disturbance. To determine how hurricanes affect the wood
anatomy of tropical trees, we characterized a set of anatomical traits in
wood produced before and after a major hurricane for 65 individuals of ten
Puerto Rican tree species. We quantified variation at different scales and
determined trait shifts between the pre- and post-hurricane periods. We
also assessed correlations between traits and growth rates. While the
majority of anatomical trait variation occurred among species, we also
observed substantial variation within species and individuals. Within
individuals, we found significant shifts for some traits that generally
reflected increased hydraulic conductivity in the post-hurricane period.
We found weak evidence for an association between individual xylem
anatomical traits and diameter growth rates. Ultimately, within-individual
variation of xylem anatomical traits observed in our study could be
related to post-hurricane recovery and overall growth (e.g., canopy
filling). Other factors, however, likely decouple a relationship between
xylem anatomy and diameter growth. While adjustments of wood anatomy may
enable individual trees to capitalize on favorable post-disturbance
conditions, these may also influence their future responses or
vulnerability to subsequent disturbances.