Changes in wood anatomy linked to canopy height in a Hawaiian wet montane forest along a substrate age gradient

Abstract

Changes of wood anatomy linked to canopy height were examined in Hawaiian wet montane forest along a gradient of long-term soil-development sequence aged 400-yr, 1400-yr, 5000-yr and 9000-yr sites after lava flow linked to soil nutrient condition. The height of canopy tree, Metrosideros polymorpha reached a peak at 5000-yr site, and then decreased at 9000-yr site. The wood density of canopy tree did not change with substrate age. The vessel frequency increased with substrate age, while the pore area of vessel decreased with substrate age. These changes were linked to canopy height. These results suggested that the changes of wood anatomy related to canopy height for effective water transportation to the canopy.