Wind acclimation in a subtropical forest: trees on wind-exposed slopes are shorter with smaller crowns

Roi Ankori-Karlinsky; Tobias Jackson; Gan Yuan; Jess K. Zimmerman; Douglas C. Morton; Tian Zheng; María Uriarte

doi:10.1111/nph.70294

Wind acclimation in a subtropical forest: trees on wind-exposed slopes are shorter with smaller crowns

Roi Ankori-Karlinsky^*, Tobias Jackson, Gan Yuan, Jess K. Zimmerman, Douglas C. Morton, Tian Zheng, María Uriarte

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

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Abstract

Summary
• Tree architecture is an important component of forest community dynamics – taller trees with larger crowns often outcompete their neighbors, but they are generally at higher risk of wind-induced damage. Yet, we know little about wind impacts on tree architecture in natural forest settings, especially in complex tropical forests. Here, we use airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and 30 yr of forest inventory data in Puerto Rico to ask whether and how chronic winds alter tree architecture.
• We randomly sampled 124 canopy individuals of four dominant tree species (n = 22–39). For each individual, we measured slenderness (height/stem diameter) and crown area (m²) and evaluated whether exposure to chronic winds impacted architecture after accounting for topography (curvature, elevation, slope, and soil wetness) and neighborhood variables (crowding and previous hurricane damage). We then estimated the mechanical wind vulnerability of trees.
• Three of four species grew significantly shorter (2–4 m) and had smaller crown areas in sites exposed to chronic winds. A short-lived pioneer species, by contrast, showed no evidence of wind-induced changes.
• We found that three species' architectural acclimation to chronic winds resulted in reduced vulnerability. Our findings demonstrate that exposure to chronic, nonstorm winds can lead to architectural changes in tropical trees, reducing height and crown areas.
© 2025 The Author(s).

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1643-1654
Journal	New Phytologist
Volume	247
Issue number	4
Online published	12 Jun 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.70294
Publication status	Published - Aug 2025
Externally published	Yes

Funding

Collection of tree data was supported by NSF DEB-1546686, DEB-0516066, BSR-8811902, DEB-9411973, DEB-0080538, DEB-0218039, DEB-0620910, and DEB-0963447 to the University of Puerto Rico, working with the International Institute of Tropical Forestry (USDA Forest Service), for the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Program. TJ was supported by the UK Natural Environment Research Council NE/S010750/1 and NE/X000281/1. Goddard's LiDAR, Hyperspectral, and Thermal (G-LiHT) data collection was supported by the US Department of Energy Next Generation Ecosystem Experiment-Tropics Project and the USDA Forest Service International Institute for Tropical Forestry (IITF). DM was supported by the US Department of Energy Terrestrial Ecosystem Science Program, Interagency Agreements with NASA no. 89243018SSC000013.

Research Keywords

Cecropia schreberiana
Dacryodes excelsa
disturbance ecology
LiDAR
tree architecture
tree biomechanics
tropical forests
wind exposure

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title = "Wind acclimation in a subtropical forest: trees on wind-exposed slopes are shorter with smaller crowns",

abstract = "Summary• Tree architecture is an important component of forest community dynamics – taller trees with larger crowns often outcompete their neighbors, but they are generally at higher risk of wind-induced damage. Yet, we know little about wind impacts on tree architecture in natural forest settings, especially in complex tropical forests. Here, we use airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and 30 yr of forest inventory data in Puerto Rico to ask whether and how chronic winds alter tree architecture.• We randomly sampled 124 canopy individuals of four dominant tree species (n = 22–39). For each individual, we measured slenderness (height/stem diameter) and crown area (m2) and evaluated whether exposure to chronic winds impacted architecture after accounting for topography (curvature, elevation, slope, and soil wetness) and neighborhood variables (crowding and previous hurricane damage). We then estimated the mechanical wind vulnerability of trees.• Three of four species grew significantly shorter (2–4 m) and had smaller crown areas in sites exposed to chronic winds. A short-lived pioneer species, by contrast, showed no evidence of wind-induced changes.• We found that three species' architectural acclimation to chronic winds resulted in reduced vulnerability. Our findings demonstrate that exposure to chronic, nonstorm winds can lead to architectural changes in tropical trees, reducing height and crown areas.{\textcopyright} 2025 The Author(s).",

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T2 - trees on wind-exposed slopes are shorter with smaller crowns

AU - Ankori-Karlinsky, Roi

AU - Jackson, Tobias

AU - Yuan, Gan

AU - Zimmerman, Jess K.

AU - Morton, Douglas C.

AU - Zheng, Tian

AU - Uriarte, María

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N2 - Summary• Tree architecture is an important component of forest community dynamics – taller trees with larger crowns often outcompete their neighbors, but they are generally at higher risk of wind-induced damage. Yet, we know little about wind impacts on tree architecture in natural forest settings, especially in complex tropical forests. Here, we use airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and 30 yr of forest inventory data in Puerto Rico to ask whether and how chronic winds alter tree architecture.• We randomly sampled 124 canopy individuals of four dominant tree species (n = 22–39). For each individual, we measured slenderness (height/stem diameter) and crown area (m2) and evaluated whether exposure to chronic winds impacted architecture after accounting for topography (curvature, elevation, slope, and soil wetness) and neighborhood variables (crowding and previous hurricane damage). We then estimated the mechanical wind vulnerability of trees.• Three of four species grew significantly shorter (2–4 m) and had smaller crown areas in sites exposed to chronic winds. A short-lived pioneer species, by contrast, showed no evidence of wind-induced changes.• We found that three species' architectural acclimation to chronic winds resulted in reduced vulnerability. Our findings demonstrate that exposure to chronic, nonstorm winds can lead to architectural changes in tropical trees, reducing height and crown areas.© 2025 The Author(s).

AB - Summary• Tree architecture is an important component of forest community dynamics – taller trees with larger crowns often outcompete their neighbors, but they are generally at higher risk of wind-induced damage. Yet, we know little about wind impacts on tree architecture in natural forest settings, especially in complex tropical forests. Here, we use airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and 30 yr of forest inventory data in Puerto Rico to ask whether and how chronic winds alter tree architecture.• We randomly sampled 124 canopy individuals of four dominant tree species (n = 22–39). For each individual, we measured slenderness (height/stem diameter) and crown area (m2) and evaluated whether exposure to chronic winds impacted architecture after accounting for topography (curvature, elevation, slope, and soil wetness) and neighborhood variables (crowding and previous hurricane damage). We then estimated the mechanical wind vulnerability of trees.• Three of four species grew significantly shorter (2–4 m) and had smaller crown areas in sites exposed to chronic winds. A short-lived pioneer species, by contrast, showed no evidence of wind-induced changes.• We found that three species' architectural acclimation to chronic winds resulted in reduced vulnerability. Our findings demonstrate that exposure to chronic, nonstorm winds can lead to architectural changes in tropical trees, reducing height and crown areas.© 2025 The Author(s).

KW - Cecropia schreberiana

KW - Dacryodes excelsa

KW - disturbance ecology

KW - LiDAR

KW - tree architecture

KW - tree biomechanics

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KW - wind exposure

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Wind acclimation in a subtropical forest: trees on wind-exposed slopes are shorter with smaller crowns

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