Morpho-functional ecology of seedlings in a seasonal semi-deciduous forest fragment

• Grant number: 06/00673-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2006
• End date: December 31, 2006
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Roberto Martini
• Grantee: Luciano Pereira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Seedling morphofunctional ecology concerns the development of morphological structures after the germination, mainly the position, structure, and exposure of the cotyledon, in search of their meaning in the species establishment. Many studies in tropical forests have found morphofunctional patterns, which are important for seedling establishment. Five main groups have been reported: phanerocotylar-epigeal-foliaceous (PEF), phanerocotylar-epigeal-reserve (PER), phanerocotylar-hypogeal-reserve (PHR), cryptocotylar-hypogeal-reserve (CHR), cryptocotylar-epigeal-reserve (CER) seedlings. With the aid of morphologic, ecologic, and evolutive aspects it is possible to apply this system to the identification of species by means of seedling characteristics. This project aims to identify morphofunctional groups of seedlings in the Ribeirão Cachoeira reserve, municipality of Campinas, SE Brazil, as well as to discuss the distribution of species among these groups, and to make identification keys by means of seddling characteristics. (AU)