Hydraulic Traits Shift Mountain Trees

A global analysis finds that hydraulic traits, including water-transport efficiency and drought tolerance, help explain why mountain tree species respond differently to warming.

Some species are shifting upslope as conditions change, while others show potential for downslope expansion, making warming impacts more species-specific than temperature trends alone suggest. The findings provide a basis for forecasting mountain forest reorganization and tailoring conservation strategies, although habitat loss and drought vulnerability remain important constraints.