Functional traits of lianas in restored ecosystems and in a seasonal semideciduous tropical forest fragment

• Grant number: 18/03120-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2018
• End date: May 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Forestry Resources and Forestry Engineering - Nature Conservation
• Principal Investigator: Vera Lex Engel
• Grantee: Andra Carolina Dalbeto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (FCA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

One of the goals of ecology is to understand the mechanism that controls abundance and distribution of organisms. Functional traits provide generalizations and prediction of species compositions in different habitats. The aim of this study is to explain some distribution patterns found in previous surveys of the liana community in restored areas versus reference systems. We will compare the functional traits of the most abundant woody vine species found in a 20-year restoration system with a reference system (semideciduous tropical forest in good conservation status). The main hypothesis being tested is that the composition differences between restored forests versus reference forest fragments cam be predicted by their functional traits. Specific leaf area, wood density, climbing modes, fruit category and seed dispersal patterns of the ten most abundant and exclusive species in each area will be assesed. Multivariate analysis and multiple means comparison tests will be used to relate the functional traits of the species studied with their occurrence habitat. (AU)