Interpreting the water use strategies of plantation tree species by canopy stomatal conductance and its sensitivity to vapor pressure deficit in South China

•The coniferous species had significantly lower transpiration, stomatal conductance (Gs) than the broadleaved species did in South China.•The functional traits, such as wood density, Huber value, and root depth, partly explained the different stomatal behavior among species.•The smaller decline in transpiration in comparison of the significantly reduced leaf area after the typhoon “Mangkhut” indicated a compensatory effect of stomatal regulation.•The higher Gs sensitivities to vapor pressure deficit (VPD) for the introduced species under dry season indicated their better function than the native species.