David Woodruff

Current Research

My research focuses on plant ecophysiology, plant water and carbon relations and the mechanisms involved in tree growth, survival and mortality. I am particularly interested in these concepts in the context of changing climate.

Past Research

My past research has examined structure and function and adaptive responses in trees that offset growth limitations. I have investigated a number of anatomical and physiological parameters to assess how water stress impacts tree growth. I have also investigated adaptive responses that function to offset growth limitations that are associated with increased height, including anatomical characteristics that can affect the efficiency and capacity of a range of processes, such as photosynthesis, transpiration, water transport and phloem transport.

Research Interest

Why This Research Is Important

By developing a mechanistic understanding of not just the extent to which, but also the how and why certain factors affect tree growth, we are able to provide information to help develop management options to enhance forest productivity and sustainability.

Education

• Oregon State University, Ph.D., Tree Physiology, 2008

Other Publications

• Steven A. Kannenberg, Antoine Cabon, Flurin Babst, Soumaya Belmecheri, Nicolas Delpierre, Rossella Guerrieri, Justin T. Maxwell, Frederick C. Meinzer, David J.P. Moore, Christoforos Pappas, Masahito Ueyama, Danielle E.M. Ulrich, Steven L. Voelker, David R. Woodruff, William R.L. Anderegg. 2022. Drought-induced decoupling between carbon uptake and tree growth impacts forest carbon turnover time
• Andrew G. Merschel, Peter A. Beedlow, David C. Shaw, David R. Woodruff, E. Henry Lee, Steven P. Cline, Randy L. Comeleo, R. Keala Hagmann, Matthew J. Reilly. 2021. An ecological perspective on living with fire in ponderosa pine forests of Oregon and Washington: Resistance, gone but not forgotten
• Klaus Puettmann, Lisa Ganio, David Woodruff, Bryn Morgan. 2021. Influence of neighborhood competition on Douglas-fir growth is not altered by local environmental conditions and climate
• Antoine Cabon, Laura Fernández‐de‐Uña, Guillermo Gea‐Izquierdo, Frederick C. Meinzer, David R. Woodruff, Jordi Martínez‐Vilalta, Miquel De Cáceres. 2020. Water potential control of turgor‐driven tracheid enlargement in Scots pine at its xeric distribution edge
• Frederick C. Meinzer, Duncan D. Smith, David R. Woodruff, Danielle E. Marias, Katherine A. McCulloh, Ava R. Howard, Alicia L. Magedman. 2017. Stomatal kinetics and photosynthetic gas exchange along a continuum of isohydric to anisohydric regulation of plant water status
• Audrey G. Quentin, Elizabeth A. Pinkard, Michael G. Ryan, David T. Tissue, L. Scott Baggett, Henry D. Adams, Pascale Maillard, Jacqueline Marchand, Simon M. Landhausser, Andre Lacointe, Yves Gibon, William R. L. Anderegg, Shinichi Asao, Owen K. Atkin, Marc Bonhomme, Caroline Claye, Pak S. Chow, Anne Clement-Vidal, Noel W. Davies, L. Turin Dickman, Rita Dumbur, David S. Ellsworth, Kristen Falk, Lucía Galiano, Jose M. Grunzweig, Henrik Hartmann, Gunter Hoch, Sharon Hood, Joanna E. Jones, Takayoshi Koike, Iris Kuhlmann, Francisco Lloret, Melchor Maestro, Shawn D. Mansfield, Jordi Martinez-Vilalta, Mickael Maucourt, Nathan G. McDowell, Annick Moing, Bertrand Muller, Sergio G. Nebauer, Ulo Niinemets, Sara Palacio, Frida Piper, Eran Raveh, Andreas Richter, Gaelle Rolland, Teresa Rosas, Brigitte Saint Joanis, Anna Sala, Renee A. Smith, Frank Sterck, Joseph R. Stinziano, Mari Tobias, Faride Unda, Makoto Watanabe, Danielle A. Way, Lasantha K. Weerasinghe, Birgit Wild, Erin Wiley, David R. Woodruff. 2016. Non-structural carbohydrates in woody plants compared among laboratories
• David R. Woodruff, Frederick C. Meinzer, Katherine A. McCulloh. 2016. Forest canopy hydraulics
• Danielle E. Marias, Frederick C. Meinzer, David R. Woodruff, Katherine A. McCulloh, David Tissue. 2016. Thermotolerance and heat stress responses of Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine seedling populations from contrasting climates
• Frederick C. Meinzer, David R. Woodruff, Danielle E. Marias, Duncan D. Smith, Katherine A. McCulloh, Ava R. Howard, Alicia L. Magedman, Josep Penuelas. 2016. Mapping ‘hydroscapes’ along the iso- to anisohydric continuum of stomatal regulation of plant water status
• K. L. Fenn, F. C. Meinzer, K. A. McCulloh, D. R. Woodruff, D. E. Marias. 2015. Expression of functional traits during seedling establishment in two populations of Pinus ponderosa from contrasting climates
• Katie P. Gaines, Jane W. Stanley, Frederick C. Meinzer, Katherine A. McCulloh, David R. Woodruff, Weile Chen, Thomas S. Adams, Henry Lin, David M. Eissenstat, Nathan Phillips. 2015. Reliance on shallow soil water in a mixed-hardwood forest in central Pennsylvania
• Frederick Meinzer, David Woodruff, Danielle Marias, Katherine McCulloh, Sanna Sevanto. 2014. Dynamics of leaf water relations components in co-occurring iso- and anisohydric conifer species
• B. J. Saffell, F. C. Meinzer, D. R. Woodruff, D. C. Shaw, S. L. Voelker, B. Lachenbruch, K. Falk. 2014. Seasonal carbohydrate dynamics and growth in Douglas-fir trees experiencing chronic, fungal-mediated reduction in functional leaf area
• David R. Woodruff, Frederick C. Meinzer, Danielle E. Marias, Sanna Sevanto, Michael W. Jenkins, Nate G. McDowell. 2014. Linking nonstructural carbohydrate dynamics to gas exchange and leaf hydraulic behavior in Pinus edulis and Juniperus monosperma
• Daniel M. Johnson, Jean-Christophe Domec, David R. Woodruff, Katherine A. McCulloh, Frederick C. Meinzer. 2013. Contrasting hydraulic strategies in two tropical lianas and their host trees
• Frederick C. Meinzer, David R. Woodruff, David M. Eissenstat, Henry S. Lin, Thomas S. Adams, Katherine A. McCulloh. 2013. Above- and belowground controls on water use by trees of different wood types in an eastern US deciduous forest
• Katherine A. McCulloh, Daniel M. Johnson, Frederick C. Meinzer, David R. Woodruff. 2013. The dynamic pipeline: hydraulic capacitance and xylem hydraulic safety in four tall conifer species
• Daniel M. Johnson, Katherine A. McCulloh, David R. Woodruff, Frederick C. Meinzer. 2012. Evidence for xylem embolism as a primary factor in dehydration-induced declines in leaf hydraulic conductance
• Anna Sala, David R. Woodruff, Fredrick C. Meinzer. 2012. Carbon dynamics in trees: feast or famine?
• Daniel M. Johnson, Katherine A. McCulloh, David R. Woodruff, Frederick C. Meinzer. 2012. Hydraulic safety margins and embolism reversal in stems and leaves: Why are conifers and angiosperms so different?
• Katherine A. McCulloh, David R. Woodruff. 2012. Linking stomatal sensitivity and whole-tree hydraulic architecture
• David M. Barnard, Frederick C. Meinzer, Barbara Lachenbruch, Katherine A. McCulloh, Daniel M. Johnson, David R. Woodruff. 2011. Climate-related trends in sapwood biophysical properties in two conifers: avoidance of hydraulic dysfunction through coordinated adjustments in xylem efficiency, safety and capacitance
• D.M. Johnson, K.A. McCulloh, F.C. Meinzer, D.R. Woodruff, D.M. Eissenstat. 2011. Hydraulic patterns and safety margins, from stem to stomata, in three eastern US tree species
• Katherine A. McCulloh, Frederick C. Meinzer, John S. Sperry, Barbara Lachenbruch, Steven L. Voelker, David R. Woodruff, Jean-Christophe Domec. 2011. Comparative hydraulic architecture of tropical tree species representing a range of successional stages and wood density
• David R. Woodruff, Frederick C. Meinzer. 2011. Water stress, shoot growth and storage of non-structural carbohydrates along a tree height gradient in a tall conifer
• D.R. Woodruff, F.C. Meinzer, K.A. McCulloh. 2010. Height-related trends in stomatal sensitivity to leaf-to-air vapour pressure deficit in a tall conifer
• Frederick C. Meinzer, Katherine A. McCulloh, Barbara Lachenbruch, David R. Woodruff, Daniel M. Johnson. 2010. The blind men and the elephant: the impact of context and scale in evaluating conflicts between plant hydraulic safety and efficiency

• 

  New methods for characterizing woody plant responses to drought

  Efforts to predict species-specific drought performance and survival have intensified because of recent episodes of widespread tree mortality provoked by extreme droughts. However, metrics that accurately and consistently quantify species physiological responses to drying soil have been elusive.

  Year

  2018

  Research Station

  Pacific Northwest Research Station

  Principal Investigator(s): David Woodruff

  State(s)

  Oregon

  Washington
• 

  How do Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine seedlings handle heat stress?

  Temperatures and the frequency and intensity of heat waves are predicted to increase throughout the 21st century. Germinant seedlings are expected to be particularly vulnerable to heat stress because they grow close to the soil surface where intense heating occurs in open habitats.

  Year

  2017

  Research Station

  Pacific Northwest Research Station

  Principal Investigator(s): David Woodruff

  State(s)

  Oregon

  Washington
• 

  Ponderosa pine seedling establishment

  The successful establishment of tree seedlings is crucial for forest growth and regeneration. First-year seedlings are particularly vulnerable. Researchers Rick Meinzer and David Woodruff, along with Oregon State University graduate student Kelly Kerr and other colleagues, conducted a study of ponderosa pine seedlings and how their establishment is affected by variations in water availability.

  Year

  2016

  Research Station

  Pacific Northwest Research Station

  Principal Investigator(s): David Woodruff
• 

  How do trees function when stressed for moisture?

  Water and carbon cycles are strongly coordinated, and water availability is a primary limiting factor in many terrestrial ecosystems. Carbon acquisition by trees via photosynthesis requires a sufficient water supply to leaves. Maximizing water transport within a tree enhances carbon assimilation and can provide a competitive advantage.

  Year

  2016

  Research Station

  Pacific Northwest Research Station

  Principal Investigator(s): David Woodruff
• 

  Piñon-juniper mortality

  Drought-induced tree mortality is on the increase worldwide, and some species are more vulnerable than others. Since the 1990s, drought-driven dieback has affected more than 2 million acres of piñon pine-juniper woodlands in the Southwestern United States.

  Year

  2015

  Research Station

  Pacific Northwest Research Station

  Principal Investigator(s): David Woodruff
• 

  Reduced growth is traded off for increased resistance to drought and extreme temperatures

  Seeds from two populations of ponderosa pine from sites with contrasting precipitation and temperature regimes east and west of the Oregon Cascade Range were sown in a common garden experiment. First-year shoot growth was lower in the drier-site seedlings largely because they became dormant by early October; whereas the western population continued to grow throughout the fall.

  Year

  2015

  Research Station

  Pacific Northwest Research Station

  Principal Investigator(s): David Woodruff

  State(s)

  Oregon

• Center or Group
  

  Carbon Dynamics Research for Land and Watershed Managers

  Station

  Pacific Northwest Research Station
• Project
  

  Carbon science synthesis project

  Station

  Pacific Northwest Research Station
• Experimental Forest or Range
  

  South Umpqua Experimental Forest

  Station

  Pacific Northwest Research Station
• Program
  

  Forest and Range Ecology and Management

  Station

  Pacific Northwest Research Station