How do tropical trees survive drought? This STSM brings together researchers from the University of Göttingen and IIT Bombay to find answers in the Western Ghats—one of the worlds most biodiverse and climate-sensitive regions.

Over a three-week field campaign in Nethravali Wildlife Sanctuary, we will measure key hydraulic traits in dominant and endemic tree species to better understand how they cope with heat and water stress. These traits are rarely studied in tropical Asia but are critical for predicting climate resilience.

By combining field data with IIT Bombay’s modeling expertise, we aim to build a comparative framework of species-level drought strategies. The project will feed into global trait databases, lead to a joint publication, and lay the groundwork for future research proposals, while also offering valuable experience to early-career scientists focused on forest resilience in a changing world.