Citation
Hydraulic limits to tree height and tree growth
TL;DR
Hydraulic resistance increases with height, limiting water transport
Ryan and Yoder's review synthesized evidence for hydraulic limitation as the primary constraint on tree height. Their work showed that trees slow growth as they approach height limits not because of age but because of physics.
This distinction matters for organizations: slowing growth may indicate approaching physical limits rather than management failure or market conditions.
Key Findings from Ryan & Yoder (1997)
- Hydraulic resistance increases with height, limiting water transport
- Trees at height limits show reduced photosynthesis and growth
- Height limitation is physical, not primarily competitive