Tree architecture is associated with light capture, carbon gain and the efficiency with which trees reach to the canopy. In closed forests, trees compete for better light conditions and face a dilemma whether they require current efficient light capture by horizontal expansion or expect future light capture by rapid vertical expansion. Therefore, it has been expected that species-specific life-history traits among tropical rainforest trees are related to the trade-off between horizontal and vertical space exploitation. In this context, previous results are inconsistent because they deal only with limited target species and ontogenetic stages.

This study examines the differentiation in tree architecture over whole ontogenetic stages in relation to adult stature, sapling mortality rate in understorey and wood density at the community-wide scale in a Malaysian tropical rainforest. As expected, it reports that adult stature is related to species architecture. Possible disadvantage with low wood density was not detected, but the architectural differentiation along with wood density supports light capture strategies rather than sapling mortality. Overall, architectural trade-offs are closely related to life-history traits, and which characterizes a species-rich tree community.