Morphofunctional ecology of 15 seedlings species from an Atlantic Rainforest of Sergipe, Brazil

Atlantic Rainforest of Sergipe State is now fragmented and reduced to only 9% of its original cover. The knowledge of seedlings’ morphofunctional ecology in this ecosystem is essential to taxonomic, forestry and ecological purposes, since the ability to recognize seedlings on field is required to understand the natural regeneration and plant succession dynamics. In this study, the germination and seedlings morphology of 15 species of aSergiperemanescentForestwere described and illustrated. Besides, relationship among seed biometry, seedling morphology and ecological traits were analyzed. From the total of species analyzed 40% was classified as phanerocotylar epigeal with foliaceous cotyledons, 26.7% as cryptocotylar hypogeal with reserve storage cotyledons, 26.7% as phanerocotylar epigeal with reserve storage cotyledons and 6.6% as phanerocotylar hypogeal with reserve storage cotyledons. The relationships among seed biometry, seedling morpho-functional type and species ecological attributes found in species analyzed are similar to those obtained in other tropical forests. This result suggests that the morphology of seedlings is strongly driven by species regeneration niche.Em Sergipe a Floresta Atlântica encontra-se hoje fragmentada e reduzida a apenas 9% da sua cobertura original. O estudo da ecologia morfofuncional de plântulas nesse ecossistema é importante para a taxonomia, silvicultura e ecologia, possibilitando a identificação das plântulas no campo, requisito necessário para o entendimento da regeneração e sucessão vegetal. Neste estudo, foram descritas a germinação e a morfologia de plântulas de 15 espécies de um remanescente florestal sergipano, sendo também analisadas as relações entre biometria das sementes, morfologia das plântulas e outros atributos ecológicos. Do total de espécies analisadas 40% foram classificadas como fanero-epígeo-foliáceas, 26,7%, como cripto-hipógeo-armazenadoras, 26,7% como fanero-epígeo-armazenadoras e 6,6% como fanero-hipógeo-armazenadoras. A existência de relações entre a biometria da semente, o tipo morfofuncional de plântula e os atributos ecológicos das espécies analisadas corroborou os resultados obtidos em outras florestas tropicais, indicando que a morfologia da plântula é fortemente direcionada pelas características do nicho de regeneração.São Cristóvão, S

Caracterização florística de um remanescente de Mata Atlântica no sul de Sergipe: Mata do Crasto

The state of Sergipe has suffered extreme reduction of its Atlantic Forest area in the last decades. The objective of this study is to present an inventory of the Mata do Crasto flora, the largest Atlantic Forest Remnant in Sergipe (approximately 1,000 ha), located in the Municipality of Santa Luzia do Itanhy. An intensive survey was undertaken with monthly plant collections in the study area, for four years (1995 to 1999). Additionally, collections deposited in herbaria were consulted to complete the species list. A total of 324 species were found, belonging to 84 families and 193 genera. This study adds an additional 29 genera and 96 species to the Sergipe flora as new occurrences. The four most speciose families were the Fabaceae (33 species), Rubiaceae (24 species), Myrtaceae (23 species) and Melastomataceae (15 species), that accounted for ca. 30% of the total species. The taxonomic distinction of the area is very similar to three other lowland forests in Northeastern Brazil, although its species composition is quite distinct.O estado de Sergipe sofreu extrema redução da área de Mata Atlântica nas últimas décadas. Este trabalho tem como objetivo inventariar a composição florística da Mata do Crasto, maior remanescente de Mata Atlântica de Sergipe (aproximadamente 1.000 ha), situada no Município de Santa Luzia do Itanhy. Um inventário intensivo foi realizado com coletas florísticas na área de estudo por quatro anos (1995 a 1999). Adicionalmente, exsicatas depositadas em herbários foram consultadas para complementar a lista de espécies. Um total de 324 espécies foram identificadas, pertencentes a 84 famílias e 193 gêneros. Este estudo adicionou 96 espécies è flora de Sergipe como novas ocorrências. As famílias com maior número de espécies são Fabaceae (33 espécies), Rubiaceae (24 espécies), Myrtaceae (23 espécies) e Melastomataceae (15 espécies), que juntas somam cerca de 30% do total de espécies. A distinção taxonômica do remanescente é surpreendentemente similar ao de outras florestas de terras baixas no Nordeste do Brasil embora suas espécies sejam bastante distintas.Campina

A causal trait model for explaining foliar water uptake capacity

International audienceQuestions: Plants largely vary in their capacity for foliar water uptake (FWU), that is, the capacity to increase leaf water content by directly absorbing water from leaf‐wetting events. Climate change will reduce leaf wetting and increase drought events. Therefore, we need a better understanding of the underlying traits and mechanisms that facilitate FWU. Location Seasonally dry tropical montane grasslands in Brazil ( Campos de Altitude ). Methods: We measured FWU and leaf traits related to wettability, surface conductance, water potential and water storage on up to 55 plant species. By using Direct Acyclic Graph theory and Bayesian modelling, we tested how those leaf traits affect FWU. Results: We found that stomatal conductance largely explained interspecific variation in FWU, which was also favoured in species with hydrophilic leaves, high cuticular conductance, more negative leaf water potentials, low dry‐matter content, isohydric behaviour, and more elastic cell walls. Conclusions: Due to the existence of trade‐offs, not all species exhibit an optimal combination of traits that favours FWU. Instead, co‐occurring species have achieved a similar capacity for FWU through distinct trait combinations. Consequently, species engaged in FWU may exhibit differential vulnerabilities to climate change as they can cope with drought using other strategies beside FWU

Plant traits and associated data from a warming experiment, a seabird colony, and along elevation in Svalbard.

Acknowledgements: This research was conducted at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), which provided background knowledge of the study sites and systems, accommodation, lab space, and logistical support for lab and field work during the PFTC4 course. Funding provided by the Norwegian Center for International Cooperation in Education (SIU) and the Research Council of Norway (grants 2013/10074, HNP2015/10037, INTPART 274831) made it possible to conduct this field course at Svalbard with 21 students from 12 nationalities and 4 continents as participants and co-authors to this data paper. The ITEX experiment and field site was funded by UNIS and the University of Iceland Research Funds (grants to ISJ) and the Research Council of Norway (grant 246080/E10). We thank Pernille Bronken Eidesen for introducing us to the local study systems and invaluable assistance with taxonomic identifications, Geir Wing Gabrielsen for background information on the seabird nutrient input gradient below the little auk colony in Bjørndalen, and Christine Schirmer and her team of internship students at the University of Arizona for assistance with stoichiometric and isotope analysis.The Arctic is warming at a rate four times the global average, while also being exposed to other global environmental changes, resulting in widespread vegetation and ecosystem change. Integrating functional trait-based approaches with multi-level vegetation, ecosystem, and landscape data enables a holistic understanding of the drivers and consequences of these changes. In two High Arctic study systems near Longyearbyen, Svalbard, a 20-year ITEX warming experiment and elevational gradients with and without nutrient input from nesting seabirds, we collected data on vegetation composition and structure, plant functional traits, ecosystem fluxes, multispectral remote sensing, and microclimate. The dataset contains 1,962 plant records and 16,160 trait measurements from 34 vascular plant taxa, for 9 of which these are the first published trait data. By integrating these comprehensive data, we bridge knowledge gaps and expand trait data coverage, including on intraspecific trait variation. These data can offer insights into ecosystem functioning and provide baselines to assess climate and environmental change impacts. Such knowledge is crucial for effective conservation and management in these vulnerable regions

Plant traits and associated data from a warming experiment, a seabird colony, and along elevation in Svalbard.

The Arctic is warming at a rate four times the global average, while also being exposed to other global environmental changes, resulting in widespread vegetation and ecosystem change. Integrating functional trait-based approaches with multi-level vegetation, ecosystem, and landscape data enables a holistic understanding of the drivers and consequences of these changes. In two High Arctic study systems near Longyearbyen, Svalbard, a 20-year ITEX warming experiment and elevational gradients with and without nutrient input from nesting seabirds, we collected data on vegetation composition and structure, plant functional traits, ecosystem fluxes, multispectral remote sensing, and microclimate. The dataset contains 1,962 plant records and 16,160 trait measurements from 34 vascular plant taxa, for 9 of which these are the first published trait data. By integrating these comprehensive data, we bridge knowledge gaps and expand trait data coverage, including on intraspecific trait variation. These data can offer insights into ecosystem functioning and provide baselines to assess climate and environmental change impacts. Such knowledge is crucial for effective conservation and management in these vulnerable regions

Plant traits and associated data from a warming experiment, a seabird colony, and along elevation in Svalbard

Abstract The Arctic is warming at a rate four times the global average, while also being exposed to other global environmental changes, resulting in widespread vegetation and ecosystem change. Integrating functional trait-based approaches with multi-level vegetation, ecosystem, and landscape data enables a holistic understanding of the drivers and consequences of these changes. In two High Arctic study systems near Longyearbyen, Svalbard, a 20-year ITEX warming experiment and elevational gradients with and without nutrient input from nesting seabirds, we collected data on vegetation composition and structure, plant functional traits, ecosystem fluxes, multispectral remote sensing, and microclimate. The dataset contains 1,962 plant records and 16,160 trait measurements from 34 vascular plant taxa, for 9 of which these are the first published trait data. By integrating these comprehensive data, we bridge knowledge gaps and expand trait data coverage, including on intraspecific trait variation. These data can offer insights into ecosystem functioning and provide baselines to assess climate and environmental change impacts. Such knowledge is crucial for effective conservation and management in these vulnerable regions

Plant traits and associated data from a warming experiment, a seabird colony, and along elevation in Svalbard

Acknowledgements: This research was conducted at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), which provided background knowledge of the study sites and systems, accommodation, lab space, and logistical support for lab and field work during the PFTC4 course. Funding provided by the Norwegian Center for International Cooperation in Education (SIU) and the Research Council of Norway (grants 2013/10074, HNP2015/10037, INTPART 274831) made it possible to conduct this field course at Svalbard with 21 students from 12 nationalities and 4 continents as participants and co-authors to this data paper. The ITEX experiment and field site was funded by UNIS and the University of Iceland Research Funds (grants to ISJ) and the Research Council of Norway (grant 246080/E10). We thank Pernille Bronken Eidesen for introducing us to the local study systems and invaluable assistance with taxonomic identifications, Geir Wing Gabrielsen for background information on the seabird nutrient input gradient below the little auk colony in Bjørndalen, and Christine Schirmer and her team of internship students at the University of Arizona for assistance with stoichiometric and isotope analysis.The Arctic is warming at a rate four times the global average, while also being exposed to other global environmental changes, resulting in widespread vegetation and ecosystem change. Integrating functional trait-based approaches with multi-level vegetation, ecosystem, and landscape data enables a holistic understanding of the drivers and consequences of these changes. In two High Arctic study systems near Longyearbyen, Svalbard, a 20-year ITEX warming experiment and elevational gradients with and without nutrient input from nesting seabirds, we collected data on vegetation composition and structure, plant functional traits, ecosystem fluxes, multispectral remote sensing, and microclimate. The dataset contains 1,962 plant records and 16,160 trait measurements from 34 vascular plant taxa, for 9 of which these are the first published trait data. By integrating these comprehensive data, we bridge knowledge gaps and expand trait data coverage, including on intraspecific trait variation. These data can offer insights into ecosystem functioning and provide baselines to assess climate and environmental change impacts. Such knowledge is crucial for effective conservation and management in these vulnerable regions