文摘
Tropical African pioneer Maesopsis eminii seedlings were hypothesized to cope with drought using strategies known to their ecological strategy cohort. Contrary to expectation, we observed low stomatal conductance (gs) in this pioneer species during control and drought stress conditions. Conservative water use was further mirrored through hysteresis loops in both sap flow and gs with vapour pressure deficit. Seedlings had however limited control over nocturnal water losses. Thus, M. eminii’s plant-specific traits as opposed to ecological strategy traits governed its drought performance.