Objective Plant transpiration is one of the main components of the global water cycle, and at the same time, water availability is one of the main abiotic factors limiting plant productivity, growth and survival. Hence, understanding the main environmental controls on tree water use is essential to address relevant questions posed by global change-related impacts on forest ecosystem services, including water availability and carbon sequestration. Sap flow measurements using thermal methods have now been applied to measure seasonal patterns in water use and the response of transpiration to environmental drivers across hundreds of species of woody plants worldwide, covering a wide range of climates, soils and stand structural characteristics. Here, we will design and begin to assemble a global database of sub-daily, tree-level sap flow (SAPFLUXNET) that will be used to improve our understanding of physiological and structural determinants of plant transpiration and to further investigate the role of vegetation in controlling global water balance. I will collectively analyse sap flow responses to environmental drivers, at time scales from daily to seasonal and annual, using statistical and mechanistic models of plant water transport. I will synthesise the database into a set of traits related to physiological regulation of transpiration. I will analyse these traits in their climatic and phylogenetic context and in relation to other drought tolerance traits. SAPFLUXNET is the first project designed towards a profound understanding of whole-plant transpiration regulation in woody species across the globe. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdatabasessocial scienceseconomics and businesseconomicsproduction economicsproductivitynatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems Keywords drought global change plant functional traits plant hydraulic architecture sap flow shrubs stomatal conductance transpiration trees water cycle Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2014-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator UNIVERSITEIT GENT Net EU contribution € 172 800,00 Address SINT PIETERSNIEUWSTRAAT 25 9000 Gent Belgium See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Oost-Vlaanderen Arr. Gent Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 172 800,00