Changes in wood anatomy linked to canopy height in a Hawaiian wet montane forest along a substrate age gradient

Abstract

Changes in wood anatomy linked to canopy height were examined in a Hawaiian wet montane forest along an age gradient of long-term soil-development. The sites have been the location of lava flows 400, 1400, 5000 and 9000 years ago. Lava flows are linked to soil nutrient conditions. The height of the canopy tree, Metrosideros polymorpha was greatest at the 5000-yr site, and was less at the 9000-yr site. The wood density of the canopy tree did not change with substrate age. The vessel frequency increased with substrate age, while the vessel pore area decreased with substrate age. These changes were linked to canopy height. These results suggest that changes in wood anatomy enable effective water transportation at different canopy heights.