Size and age effects relating to changes in wood traits

Wood is a dominant part of terrestrial ecosystems and plays an important role in the global carbon cycle, of which tropical forests are an important component. Wood has various functions (mechanical support water transport, storage, defence), which are reflected in its structure and anatomy. Tree species, individuals of one species and wood within an individual tree differ in their anatomy, reflecting the optimal adjustment for the ecological strategy of the species, the environment and tree size. Within this project, the variation between tree species and from pith to bark will be studied in trees from a natural monsoon forest in Thailand. Additionally wood from rubber tree clones will be compared to understand the genetic basis between within-species variation in wood structure and functions.