Incorporating phylogeny into a new integrated dataset of South American tropical tree trait characteristics

• Grant number: 14/50453-4
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2014
• End date: November 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Agreement: Imperial College, UK
• Principal Investigator: Tomas Ferreira Domingues
• Grantee: Tomas Ferreira Domingues
• Principal researcher abroad: Jonathan Lloyd
• Institution abroad: Imperial College London, England
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/51872-5 - ECOFOR: Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in degraded and recovering Amazonian and Atlantic Forests, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

We aim to coordinate an effort to consolidate existing data on Brazilian Biomes regarding plant leaf and-stem traits that relate to primary productivity, specially photosynthesis. Ecology has largely benefited from the recognition of a global leaf economic spectrum, although the transfer of that knowledge into carbon balance models has lagged behind. Phylogenic profiling will be added to that consolidated dataset enabling new insights into patterns of trait evolution in relation to past climate changes. Furthermore, such approach should shed new light on current day plant community associations and help to distinguish to which extent observed current day associations represent functional as opposed to coincidental associations. We propose two round of discussions and concentrated efforts in London, and another one in Brazil. Short workshops will be held, one in each country. (AU)