A study conducted by a team from the South China Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that wind speed has a significant impact on plant hydraulics, altering their adaptation to environmental conditions and the formation of drought tolerance.
Conceptual framework for water flow in plants under different wind scenarios. High wind speeds reduce the resistance of the surface layer and vegetation, which leads to increased atmospheric dryness and mechanical damage to plants. Under such conditions, it is advantageous for plants to have high drought tolerance, small leaf area on branches, and high mechanical resistance. Conversely, in areas with low wind speeds, plants benefit from intensive water transport and rapid growth, as low wind speeds lead to less stress from drought, defoliation, and windthrow. Source: Nature Ecology & Evolution (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02603-5
Wind, recognized as an important ecological factor, reduces canopy resistance, increases evaporation, and creates mechanical stress. In areas with high wind speeds, plants exhibit adaptations that include smaller diameter sapwood tubes and lower hydraulic conductivity of the xylem. This reduces water loss and allows plants to function even under drought conditions, as the ratio of leaf area to sapwood area also decreases, reducing water requirements.
The study was based on an analysis of data for 1922 tree species from 469 locations around the world. The data included key parameters such as water potential at 50% loss of conductivity (P50) and specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks). Even after controlling for other climatic factors such as temperature or vapor pressure deficit, the influence of wind remained significant, suggesting its important role in shaping plant adaptive traits.
High wind speeds contribute to the formation of adaptations that allow plants to more effectively resist drought, which partially compensates for the negative impact of global warming or increased CO2 emissions.
The results also have implications for improving global vegetation models, as incorporating the relationship between wind and plant hydraulics could improve predictions of ecosystem responses to climate change. However, the researchers note that the mechanisms underlying these processes require further study to fully understand.
This study highlights the importance of considering wind speed in global environmental projections, as it can be a key factor in plant adaptation to a changing climate.