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Atlantic forest and leaf traits: an overview

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Abstract

Key message

Leaf traits in Atlantic forest are modulated by environmental filters and biotic interactions. More information about leaf traits and nutrient are needed.

Abstract

Categorizing tree species according to their relationships with ecosystem processes in the Atlantic forest (AF) biome is fundamental to better understand their functionality in this high biodiversity hotspot. For categorizing vegetation, leaf traits are extremely useful and this is the first compilation of leaf traits focusing on photosynthesis, water relations, nutrients, and functional diversity across major AF vegetation types: (1) rainforest (ombrophilous dense and mixed ombrophilous Araucaria forest), (2) seasonal semi-deciduous forest, (3) deciduous forests, and (4) coastal plain forests (restingas). Species showed high plasticity of photosynthetic traits from early developmental stages, including adjustments in Rubisco carboxylation capacity, maximum photosynthetic capacity, photochemical and non-photochemical quenching, specific leaf area (SLA), and chlorophyll and spongy parenchyma thickness. Montane rainforest tree species showed lower SLA and longer leaf lifespan in comparison to lowland rainforest species. Tree communities are structured by environmental filtering leading to trait convergence in early successional stages or in stressful ecosystems such as restingas, and by biotic interactions leading to trait divergence in later stages. Altitudinal gradients in litter production and below/aboveground biomass stocks in AF show contrasting patterns in comparison to other tropical forests, with important consequences for responding to climate change. However, the identity of limiting elements to growth still represents a critical gap in leaf trait data for AF species. Other gaps in knowledge of AF leaf traits are highlighted for consideration in future studies.

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Acknowledgements

The first author thanks the Brazilian Council for Research and Technology (CNPq) for the Productivity Fellowship (Grant # 301169/2016-0) and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for the Estagio Senior Exterior fellowship (Grant # 5656/14-1). The last author thanks the Botany and Plant Sciences Department at the University of California Riverside and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture for support. The authors thank Dora Villela for support in the nutrient section.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000, UENF, CBB, Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28013-602, Brazil

    Angela Pierre Vitória

  2. Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Luciana F. Alves

  3. Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA

    Louis S. Santiago

  4. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Panama

    Louis S. Santiago

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  1. Angela Pierre Vitória
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  2. Luciana F. Alves
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  3. Louis S. Santiago
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Correspondence to Angela Pierre Vitória.

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Communicated by Marcos Buckeridge.

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Vitória, A.P., Alves, L.F. & Santiago, L.S. Atlantic forest and leaf traits: an overview. Trees 33, 1535–1547 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-019-01864-z

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