Dendrochronology and anatomy of the woody structures of small plants from campos naturais in the State of São Paulo

• Grant number: 24/02051-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: July 01, 2024 - June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Convênio/Acordo: CNPq
• Principal Investigator: Giselda Durigan
• Grantee: Giselda Durigan
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais (IPA). Secretaria de Meio Ambiente, Infraestrutura e Logística (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/01378-0 - Grasslands in the State of São Paulo: diagnosis, management and conservation, AP.BTA.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/14406-3 - Dendrochronology and anatomy of woody structures in shrubs from natural grasslands of São Paulo state, BP.JD

Abstract

The present study aims to understand the growth dynamics of woody plants in tropical natural grasslands, highlighting the importance of dendrochronology for evaluating the effects of climate and fire. Dendrochronology emerges as a crucial tool for understanding plant dynamics over time, providing information on plant age, growth rates, past climate variations and histories of disturbances, such as fire. In tropical regions, seasonality in precipitation is the main factor determining the formation of annual tree rings, while the occurrence of anomalous weather events can lead to the formation of double or false rings. In this context, complementary methods, such as X-ray densitometry and analysis of wood anatomy, are essential to help identify annual limits of growth rings. Despite the consolidation of dendrochronology for tropical tree species, studies on shrubs and subshrubs are still scarce, especially in natural grasslands. This project aims to fill this gap, exploring, through techniques usually used in the anatomy of underground woody structures and dendrochronology, the estimation of plant age, the analysis of the influence of climate on radial growth and the investigation of plants' response to fire. It is expected that this study will contribute to advancing knowledge about herbchronology, consolidating it as an area of research in Brazil and to elucidate outstanding scientific questions about the growth of small field plants through differences in climate and fire regime, thus contributing to support management and conservation policies for these ecosystems. (AU)