The study uses measurements from an Amazon forest subjected to over 12 years of severe artificial drought to pinpoint the mechanisms of drought induced tree mortality.

Remarkably, even after widespread mortality the levels of carbon reserves in droughted trees remain unaltered, indicating that failure of water transport vessels are the most likely direct cause for mortality.

Read the article here: "Death from drought in tropical forests is triggered by hydraulics not carbon starvation", visit the staff page of Dan Metcalfe or watch "Caxiuanã Drought Experiment" below.