However, we did not expect P. taeda to bear roots less resistant to
embolism than almost any of the deciduous species. Root vulnerability
curves of Acer rubrum and N. sylvatica growing at the coastal
site did not support the hypothesis that species occurring on wetter
sites would exhibit higher vulnerability to xylem cavitation.
Although this result is not unprecedented (Cochard and Tyree,
1990; Cavender-Bares and Holbrook, 2001), it emphasizes that
the current understanding of species cavitation resistance along a
soil moisture gradient is still limited.