Letícia Lanes Ferreira, Priscila Fernanda Simioni, Igor Araújo, Demétrius Lira-Martins, Gabriel do Amaral Ferreira, Maura Da Cunha
{"title":"How does variation in physiological and structural traits explain the occurrence of plants in different restinga formations?","authors":"Letícia Lanes Ferreira, Priscila Fernanda Simioni, Igor Araújo, Demétrius Lira-Martins, Gabriel do Amaral Ferreira, Maura Da Cunha","doi":"10.1007/s00468-025-02683-1","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Key message</h3><p>This study reveals intraspecific variability in physiological and anatomical traits among tree species in different restinga formations, highlighting their adaptability to changing microclimatic conditions.</p><h3>Abstract</h3><p>Climate change, with increasingly frequent drought episodes, threatens the survival of tree species in biodiverse ecosystems like the Atlantic Forest. We investigated whether plants of the same species in different restinga formations exhibit intraspecific variability in physiological and secondary xylem traits. We evaluated five individuals of each of three tree species (<i>Scutia arenicola</i> (Casar.) Reissek (Rhamnaceae)<i>, Schinus terebinthifolia</i> Raddi (Anacardiaceae), and <i>Pera glabrata</i> (Schott) Baill. (Peraceae) all of which co-occur across three distinct formations within the restinga of northern Rio de Janeiro State: a beach grass and shrub, a <i>Clusia</i> formation, and a sandbanks forest formation. We used standard methods of plant physiology and anatomy to study the traits, focusing on the structure–function relationships between leaf and secondary xylem. The evaluated species exhibited a set of variations in functional traits. While the leaves invested in water-use efficiency, the wood remained conservative, prioritizing hydraulic safety. These traits vary mainly in the <i>Clusia</i> and beach grass and shrub formations, where the canopy is open and both soil moisture availability and irradiance are lower and higher, respectively. In the sandbanks forest, where the canopy is closed and soil moisture is higher, a pattern of photosynthetic efficiency, carbon acquisition, and water transport efficiency was observed. The physiological and tissue variation identified in this study may have played a role in the coexistence of the species, allowing them to adjust to variable microclimates among the different restinga formations. This variation may be essential for the persistence of these species, enabling efficient water to use and safety, which is reflected in their maintenance along vegetation gradients over time and under future climate scenarios.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":805,"journal":{"name":"Trees","volume":"39 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Trees","FirstCategoryId":"2","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00468-025-02683-1","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"FORESTRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Key message
This study reveals intraspecific variability in physiological and anatomical traits among tree species in different restinga formations, highlighting their adaptability to changing microclimatic conditions.
Abstract
Climate change, with increasingly frequent drought episodes, threatens the survival of tree species in biodiverse ecosystems like the Atlantic Forest. We investigated whether plants of the same species in different restinga formations exhibit intraspecific variability in physiological and secondary xylem traits. We evaluated five individuals of each of three tree species (Scutia arenicola (Casar.) Reissek (Rhamnaceae), Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Anacardiaceae), and Pera glabrata (Schott) Baill. (Peraceae) all of which co-occur across three distinct formations within the restinga of northern Rio de Janeiro State: a beach grass and shrub, a Clusia formation, and a sandbanks forest formation. We used standard methods of plant physiology and anatomy to study the traits, focusing on the structure–function relationships between leaf and secondary xylem. The evaluated species exhibited a set of variations in functional traits. While the leaves invested in water-use efficiency, the wood remained conservative, prioritizing hydraulic safety. These traits vary mainly in the Clusia and beach grass and shrub formations, where the canopy is open and both soil moisture availability and irradiance are lower and higher, respectively. In the sandbanks forest, where the canopy is closed and soil moisture is higher, a pattern of photosynthetic efficiency, carbon acquisition, and water transport efficiency was observed. The physiological and tissue variation identified in this study may have played a role in the coexistence of the species, allowing them to adjust to variable microclimates among the different restinga formations. This variation may be essential for the persistence of these species, enabling efficient water to use and safety, which is reflected in their maintenance along vegetation gradients over time and under future climate scenarios.
期刊介绍：
Trees - Structure and Function publishes original articles on the physiology, biochemistry, functional anatomy, structure and ecology of trees and other woody plants. Also presented are articles concerned with pathology and technological problems, when they contribute to the basic understanding of structure and function of trees. In addition to original articles and short communications, the journal publishes reviews on selected topics concerning the structure and function of trees.
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