Ecologically, red maple is one of the most aggressive tree species. But physiologically, it's one of the most conservative. Normally, scientists associate aggressive behavior with robust physiology, Abrams explains. They assume plants that photosynthesize faster, for example, will outcompete other plants. Or plants with higher nutrient levels in their leaves or better drought adaptation will have the advantage.
Red maple breaks the mold.
The red maple has changed my thoughts on some basic principles of physiological ecology. Ranking species based on the usual physiological parameters may not be a good way to rank their ecological success. This page created by David Silsbee.