| Popis: |
The link between functional traits and changes in the environment are challenging, especially in systems of high diversity, such as transitional regions between savannas and tropical forests that are considered unstable and highly vulnerable to climate change. Here we evaluate a series of anatomical traits, key morphological traits, and nutrient concentration for the most representative woody species of four vegetation types (i.e. semideciduous seasonal forest, transition forest, typical cerrado and rocky cerrado) in the Amazonia-Cerrado transition. Our aim was to understand how trees respond to the distinct and unique environmental conditions in each area. Overall, species growing in closed-canopy environments exhibited acquisitive strategies (i.e., higher leaf water content and higher specific leaf area). On the other hand, species from open-canopy environments have adopted conservative strategies (i.e., higher leaf thickness and higher trichomes density). These differences represent a divergence in the adaptive strategies of woody species of the Amazonia-Cerrado transition and are important indicators of how vegetation can respond to future climate change and water availability. Despite these differences, stomatal density and leaf nutrient concentration at a mass basis was surprisingly similar across trees from all vegetation types, suggesting some common environmental drivers, such as likely similar nutrient limitation and climate seasonality. |
