Consistent climatic controls of global wood density among angiosperms and gymnosperms
Authors: Mo Lidong , Crowther Thomas , Maynard Daniel , Hoogen Johan van den , Ma Haozhi , Bialic-Murphy Lalasia , Renner Susanne , Liang Jingjing , de-Miguel Sergio , Nabuurs Gert-Jan , Reich Peter B , Phillips Oliver , Abegg Meinrad , Yao C. Yves Adou , Alberti Giorgio , Zambrano Angélica Almeyda , Alvarado Braulio , Alvarez-Davila Esteban , Alvarez-Loayza Patricia , Alves Luciana , Amaral Ieda Leao do , Ammer Christian , Antón-Fernández Clara , Araujo-Murakami Alejandro , Arroyo Luzmila , Avitabile Valerio , C. Gerardo A. Aymard , Baker Timothy , Balazy Radomir , Banki Olaf , Barroso Jorcely , Bastian Meredith , Bastin Jean-Francois , Birigazzi Luca , Birnbaum Philippe , Bitariho Robert , Boeckx Pascal , Bongers Frans , Boonman Coline , Bouriaud Olivier , Brancalion Pedro , Brandl Susanne , Brearley Francis , Brienen Roel , Broadbent Eben , Bruelheide Helge , Bussotti Filippo , Gatti Roberto Cazzolla , César Ricardo , Cesljar Goran , Chazdon Robin , Chen Han , Chisholm Chelsea , Cho Hyunkook , Cienciala Emil , Clark Connie , Clark David , Colletta Gabriel , Coomes David , Valverde Fernando Cornejo , Corral-Rivas Jose , Crim Philip , Cumming Jonathan , Dayanandan Selvadurai , de Gasper André , Decuyper Mathieu , Derroire Géraldine , DeVries Ben , Djordjevic Ilija , Dolezal Jiri , Dourdain Aurélie , Obiang Nestor Laurier Engone , Enquist Brian , Eyre Teresa , Fandohan Adandé , Fayle Tom , Feldpausch Ted , Ferreira Leandro , Finér Leena , Fischer Markus , Fletcher Christine , Frizzera Lorenzo , Gamarra Javier , Gianelle Damiano , Glick Henry , Harris David , Hector Andrew , Hemp Andreas , Hengeveld Geerten , Herault Bruno , Herbohn John , Herold Martin , Hietz Peter , Hillers Annika , Coronado Eurídice Honorio , Hui Cang , Ibanez Thomas , Imai Nobuo , Jagodzinski Andrzej , Jaroszewicz Bogdan , Johannsen Vivian , Joly Carlos , Jucker Tommaso , Jung Ilbin , Karminov Viktor , Kartawinata Kuswata , Kearsley Elizabeth , Kenfack David , Kennard Deborah , Rojas Sebastian Kepfer , Keppel Gunnar , Khan Mohammed , Killeen Timothy , Kim Hyun Seok , Kitayama Kanehiro , Köhl Michael , Korjus Henn , Kraxner Florian , Kucher Dmitry , Laarmann Diana , Lang Mait , Lewis Simon , Li Yuanzhi , Lopez-Gonzalez Gabriela , Lu Huicui , Lukina Natalia , Maitner Brian , Malhi Yadvinder , Marcon Eric , Marimon Beatriz , Marimon-Junior Ben Hur , Marshall Andrew , Martin Emanuel , McCarthy James , Meave Jorge , Melo-Cruz Omar , Mendoza Casimiro , Polo Irina Mendoza , Miscicki Stanislaw , Merow Cory , Mendoza Abel Monteagudo , Moreno Vanessa de Souza , Mukul Sharif , Mundhenk Philip , Nava-Miranda María Guadalupe , Neill David , Neldner Victor , Nevenic Radovan , Ngugi michael , Niklaus Pascal , Ontikov Petr , Ortiz-Malavasi Edgar , Pan Yude , Paquette Alain , Parada Alexander , Parfenova Elena , Park Minjee , Parren Marc , Parthasarathy N. , Peri Pablo , Pfautsch Sebastian , Picard Nicolas , Piedade Maria , Piotto Daniel , Pitman Nigel , Poorter Lourens , Poulsen Axel , Poulsen John , Pretzsch Hans , Ramírez Fredy , Restrepo Zorayda , Richardson Sarah , Rodeghiero Mirco , Rolim Samir , Roopsind Anand , Rovero Francesco , Rutishauser Ervan , Saikia Purabi , Salas-Eljatib Christian , Saner Philippe , Schall Peter , Schelhaas Mart-Jan , Schepaschenko Dmitry , Scherer-Lorenzen Michael , Schmid Bernhard , Schoengart Jochen , Searle Eric , Seben Vladimír , Serra-Diaz Josep M , Sheil Douglas , Shvidenko Anatoly , Silva Ana da , Espejo Javier Silva , Silveira Marcos , Singh James , Sist Plinio , Slik J.W.Ferry , Sonké Bonaventure , Sosinski Ênio , Souza Alexandre , Stereńczak Krzysztof , Svenning Jens-Christian , Svoboda Miroslav , Swanepoel Ben , Targhetta Natalia , Tchebakova Nadja , Steege Hans ter , Thomas-Caesar Raquel , Tikhonova Elena , Umunay Peter , Usoltsev Vladimir , Valencia Renato , Valladares Fernando , Bodegom Peter van , Plas Fons van der , Do Tran , Nuland Michael Van , Martinez Rodolfo Vasquez , Verbeeck Hans , Viana Helder , Vibrans Alexander , Vieira Simone , von Gadow Klaus , Wang Hua-Feng , Watson James , Werner Gijsbert , Wittmann Florian , Woll Hannsjörg , Wortel Verginia , Zagt Roderick , Zawiła-Niedźwiecki Tomasz , Zhang Chunyu , Zhao Xiuhai , Zhou Mo , Zhu Zhi-Xin , Zo-Bi Irie Casimir , Zohner Constantin 
Published: February 2024

The density of wood is a key indicator of trees’ carbon investment strategies, impacting productivity and carbon storage. Despite its importance, the global variation in wood density and its environmental controls remain poorly understood, preventing accurate predictions of global forest carbon stocks. Here, we analyze information from 1.1 million forest inventory plots alongside wood density data from 10,703 tree species to create a spatially-explicit understanding of the global wood density distribution and its drivers. Our findings reveal a pronounced latitudinal gradient, with wood in tropical dry forests being up to twice as dense as that in boreal forests. In both angiosperms and gymnosperms, temperature and water availability emerged as the primary factors influencing the variation in wood density globally. This indicates similar environmental filters and evolutionary adaptations among distinct plant groups, underscoring the essential role of abiotic factors in determining wood density in forest ecosystems. Additionally, our study highlights the prominent role of disturbance, such as human modification and fire risk, in influencing wood density at more local scales. Factoring in the spatial variation of wood density notably changes the estimates of forest carbon stocks, leading to differences of up to 21% within biomes. Therefore, our research contributes to a deeper understanding of terrestrial biomass distribution and how environmental changes and disturbances impact forest ecosystems.