Aims The projected increase in drought intensity and frequency due to climate change is expected to exert sustained pressure on forest survival and growth in southern China. However, it remains unclear how plants adjust their water-use strategies and competitive mechanisms in response to water scarcity, as well as the effectiveness of these adaptations in mitigating drought-induced physiological stress. Methods In this study, we used water stable isotopes and sap flow measurements to evaluate the adjustment of water-use patterns and interspecific interactions in response to seasonal drought fo...
