Abstract
In tropical forests, trees strategically balance growth patterns to
optimize fitness amid multiple environmental stressors. Wind poses the
primary risk to a tree’s mechanical stability, prompting developments
such as thicker trunks to withstand the bending forces. Therefore, a
trade-off in resource allocation exists between diameter growth and
vertical growth to compete for light. We explore this trade-off by
measuring the relative wind mortality risk for 96 trees in a tropical
forest in Panama and testing how it varies with tree size, species and
wind exposure. Surprisingly, local wind exposure and tree size had
minimal impact on wind mortality risk; instead, species wood density
emerged as the crucial factor. Low wood density species exhibited a
significantly greater wind mortality risk, suggesting a prioritization
of competition for light over biomechanical stability. Our study
highlights the pivotal role of wind safety in shaping the life-history
strategy of trees and structuring diverse tropical forests.