Study finds towering tropical Dipterocarp trees can move water to top branches without added drought vulnerability

Researchers from the University of Exeter and Cardiff University found that giant Dipterocarp trees in Malaysian Borneo compensate for height-related water transport challenges. The study, published in Science, shows their hydraulic systems remain effective even in trees over 70 meters tall, with no height-related growth loss during severe drought.

The findings challenge a long-standing theory that tree height inherently limits water transport and increases drought risk. They suggest some tropical forest giants have evolved adaptive plumbing that could make them more resilient than expected, refining how scientists model forest responses to climate stress.