Seed germination and seedling performance are aff ected by environmental factors and seed traits. In this study we investigated the eff ects of seed size and light intensity on germinability and seedling development of Copaifera oblongifolia. A total of 225 seeds were individually weighed and sown in three germination trays composed of 75 cells each. Each tray was placed in a diff erent germination chamber with controlled photoperiod, temperature and light intensity. Seed size showed a positive relationship with time required for seed germination, and seeds exposed to high light intensity required more time to germinate. Seed size did not aff ect germination percentage, but seeds sown under high light intensity had a lower germination percentage than seeds sown under low light intensity and darkness. Seedling shoot mass showed a positive relationship with seeds mass, and seedlings grown in high light intensity had greater shoot mass than seedling growth in low light intensity and darkness. Th us, seed germinability of C. oblongifolia was higher in darkness while seedlings exhibited greater development under light. Looking to explain the ability of C. oblongifolia to colonize open/disturbed sites, it seems possible that plowing soil can bury seeds, thereby stimulating the germination of seeds present in the seed bank.

Environmental factors act as drivers of species coexistence or competition. Mesic environments favor the action of parasites and predators on gall communities, while the factors that determine the structure of gall communities in xeric environments remain unknown. We evaluated the structure of gall communities along an environmental gradient defined by intrinsic plant characteristics, soil fertility, and aridity, and investigated the role of competition as a structuring force of gall communities in xeric environments. We created null models to compare observed and simulated patterns of co‐occurrence of galls and used the C‐score index to assess community aggregation or segregation. We used the NES C‐score (standardized C‐score) to compare patterns of co‐occurrence with parameters of environmental quality. Xeric environments had poorer and more arid soils and more sclerophyllous plants than mesic environments, which was reflected in the distribution patterns of gall communities. Values of the C‐score index revealed a segregated distribution of gall morphospecies in xeric environments, but a random distribution in mesic environments. The low availability of resources for oviposition and the high density of gallers in xeric environments reinforce interspecific competition as an important structuring force for gall communities in these environments.

Both biotic and abiotic environmental filters drive the occurrence, distribution, and persistence of plant species. Amongst drivers that influence the distribution of plants in harsh environments, seed predation and temperature are particularly important in habitats that are prone to fire. In this study, we highlight the combined effects of predation and high temperature simulating fire to understand its effects on the germination percentage and germination speed of the fire prone species Copaifera oblongifolia. Groups of seeds attacked by the beetles Rhinochenus brevicollis and Apion sp., seeds manipulated by the ant Atta laevigata, and seeds left intact were put to germinate in controlled environments. To evaluate the effects of abiotic filters, seeds with intact elaiosomes and seeds with elaiosomes removed by the ant Atta laevigata were exposed to temperatures of 27, 60, 100, and 200 °C. The results showed that only 2.8% of the seeds attacked by R. brevicollis germinated. Seeds attacked by Apion sp. germinated faster, followed by seeds with their elaiosomes removed and seeds with intact elaiosomes. Seeds attacked by Apion sp. had the lowest germination percentage. The temperature of 200 °C killed seed embryos, whereas seeds exposed to 100 °C took longer to germinate than seeds exposed to other temperatures. Our results reveal that fire intensity and seed damage are important drivers of seed germination of C. oblongifolia.

Background and Aims: Environmental factors can interact with plant life history to determinate the reproductive strategies of adult plants and seedling recruitment. We expect that widely distributed tree species produce heavier seed and with greater variation in seed size than shrubs of restricted geographic distribution. We also predict that widely distributed tree species should be capable to germinate and develop under variable range of light conditions, while sun-adapted shrubs should germinate and develop better under high light intensity. We used as models two congeneric species of Fabaceae. Copaifera langsdorffii is a widely distributed arboreal species and C oblongifolia is a shrub with restricted distribution. Methods: Seeds were collected from two plant species in a Cerrado vegetation area, northern Minas Gerais, Brazil. The effects of light available on seed germination and seedling development was conducted in a germination chamber with controlled photoperiod, temperature and light intensity.Key results: The widely distributed tree (C. langsdorffii) had greater seed mass than the shrub (C. oblongifolia). Seeds of C. langsdorffii germinated faster under available high light, while the shrub C. oblongifolia seeds required less time to germinate under available low light and darkness. Under high light intensity, germination percentage of C. langsdorffii and C. oblongifolia seeds did not vary. However, seeds of the shrub showed a higher germination percentage under low light intensity and darkness. In general, seed mass showed a negative relationship with germination percentage, but this relationship varied in function of species and the availability of light. Copaifera langsdorffii seedlings had larger shoots and roots than C. oblongifolia. In contrast, the root:shoot ratio was higher in shrub than in tree species.Conclusions: Our results have important implications for understanding the patterns of distribution of two Copaifera species and explain the ability of C. oblongifolia to colonize disturbed areas.

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