Wood Density and Phytogeography

This chapter explores wood density (WD) studies in Amazon, African, Asian and island forests within tropical biomesBiomes, emphasizing their functional diversity compared to temperate biomes. The negative association between WD and terrain roughness is highlighted, with WD lower in areas with low seasonality-associated precipitation and higher in warm, humid regions. In Amazonian forests, established stands exhibit high WD, contrasting with lower WD in fast-growing pioneer species. WD variation in Amazonia is primarily inter-generic. In island forests, WD reflects climatic conditions, favoring low-WD species in wet sites and high-WD species in dry areas. African forests link WD to tree size, growth, and mortality, with large trees having higher WD and fast-growers lower. Human disturbances lower community WD. In Asian forests, WD relates to tree architecture, growth, biomass, and environmental factors. Low-WD species have thicker stems and shallower canopies, while high-WD species have broader, deeper crowns. Community WD correlates with stem biomass and basal area, influenced by soil texture, elevation, and ENSO-linked drought. Studies reveal that WD changes during forest succession, transitioning from low to high WD in wet forests and vice versa in dry forests. This suggests environmental influences on WD, with high WD advantageous in harsh, dry conditions. Increasing vegetation cover leads to converging community WD, signifying a shift toward more stable, diverse forest communities. This understanding is crucial for selecting suitable tree species in afforestation and reforestation. Trait-environment relationships, like WD and distribution patterns, offer valuable tools for predicting vegetation changes, complementing process-based vegetation models.