Theory 27/Temperate Forest/Drought mortality
Drought Death Is Depth Against Risk
The claim
Temperate forest drought mortality is set by the ratio of rooting depth to hydraulic risk, so deep-rooted species survive droughts that kill shallow-rooted ones at the same site.
01Mechanism
Access to deep water determines whether the canopy can be supplied; vulnerability to embolism determines the cost of running dry.
02Prediction
Mortality should track the ratio.
03Refutation
Mortality tracking drought severity would remove rooting depth.