Tropical dry forest resilience and water use efficiency: an analysis of productivity under climate change

Abstract Tropical dry forests (TDFs) worldwide have an environment-sensitive phenological signal, which easily marks their response to the changing climatic conditions, especially precipitation and temperature. Using TDF characteristics as a proxy, this study aims evaluate current continental climate change across Americas. Here, we show that TDFs are resilient water stress droughts by increasing rain use efficiency (RUE) in drier years recovering average RUE year following drought. Additionally, find productivity trends over past 18 spatially clustered, with sites northern hemisphere experiencing increased productivity, while equatorial regions no change, southern exhibiting decreased productivity. The results indicate will be under future particularly if there drought conditions.