A test of ecophysiological theories on tropical forest functional traits along a VPD gradient

Forest primary production is a crucial process for both ecosystem functioning and global carbon cycling. Primary production responds to both temperature and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) through separate mechanisms. Vegetation models need to quantify both responses. However, due to their often high correlations, most observational data sets used to test models or theories hardly distinguish them. Here we evaluate ecophysiological theories on the effect of VPD using tree trait data collected along a VPD gradient in West Africa. Study sites spanned an annual rainfall range of 1200–2050 mm, with varying seasonality but minimal temperature variation. Most photosynthetic traits show trends consistent with predictions from optimality theory, including higher net CO2 assimilation rates and greater photosynthetic capacity at drier sites. These patterns were associated with greater deciduousness, increased respiration rates and enhanced water transport at drier sites. In contrast, hydraulic traits showed weaker consistency with theoretical predictions or global trends, particularly those based on the xylem efficiency-safety tradeoff. Our findings suggest that vegetation models should account for higher photosynthetic capacity in drier regions, but that further research is needed to incorporate hydraulic traits into models.