Leathwick and Whitehead (2001): Soil and atmospheric water deficits and the distributions of New Zealandís indigenous tree species.

Leathwick, J. R., & Whitehead, D. 2001. Soil and atmospheric water deficits and the distributions of New Zealandís indigenous tree species. Functional Ecology 15: 233–242.

This paper explores relationships between native tree species distributions and climate, with a particular focus on water relations. Results highlight the likely role of fôhn winds that produce very high air saturation deficits in explaining the low abundance of many species east of New Zealandís main mountain ranges. They also suggest that reduced rainfall in dry years is more important in affecting species distributions than long-term average rainfall.