Habitat loss and canopy openness mediate leaf trait plasticity of an endangered palm in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Cerqueira, Amanda Freitas; Rocha‐Santos, Larissa; Benchimol, Maíra; Mielke, Marcelo Schramm

doi:10.1007/s00442-021-04879-x

Cited by 16 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 104 publications

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“…In addition, the low photosynthetic potential evidenced by low ETR values may extend the payback time of the investment in leaf construction. In contrast, adult E. edulis palms showed a generalist response in light behavior (Benchimol et al, 2016) and was the species with intermediary functional trait values, but young individuals had low potential for growth and survival in forests with greater canopy openness and light transmission (Gatti et al, 2011;Cerqueira et al, 2021). Therefore, small forest fragments have more open canopy and seem to be unfavorable for the establishment of typical shade-tolerant species as G. schottiana, and even for those with great plasticity •kg −1 -F).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Linking Plant Functional Traits to Demography in a Fragmented Landscape

Portela

Colmenares-Trejos

Mattos

2021

Front. For. Glob. Change

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Habitat loss in highly deforested landscapes such as the Brazilian Atlantic Forest has been severely affecting the diversity and survival of palm species. As some species are more sensitive than others, trait responses to the environment, as well as environmental effects on fecundity, growth, and mortality rates, may affect species demography. Considering this context, we studied functional and demographic responses of three palm species (Astrocaryum aculeatissimum, Euterpe edulis, and Geonoma schottiana) to habitat loss in the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil by measuring morpho-physiological traits related to plant growth and light acquisition for photosynthesis. We also tested the response of population fitness to fragment size. Plant survival and growth was subsequently monitored in 2006 and 2007, and population dynamics were summarized in pool matrices for large and small forest fragments in the monitoring periods comprehending one full year between 2005–2006 and 2006–2007. The asymptotic growth rate of populations (defined here as population fitness, λ) in five forest fragments was then calculated. Diameter of individuals of the demography plots (from year 2005 to 2007) was used to calculate the relative diameter growth rate. Later, in 2015, we measured a set of morpho-physiological functional traits in palms in the same plots used in the demographic studies. While A. aculeatissimum populations were stable in both monitoring periods in small and large fragments, E. edulis populations were predicted to decline due to intense predation by monkeys in the large fragment, but were stable in the smaller fragments, and G. schottiana populations were stable in the large fragments in both monitoring periods, but populations in the smaller fragments were predicted to decline in the second period, i.e., with lower fitness in these fragments. In addition, the functional traits analyzed showed that G. schottiana is a forest interior species associated with the shade/understory environment response. E. edulis was also affected by the size of the fragment, but due to a disruptive interaction with a predator and showed intermediate functional traits values. On the other hand, A. aculeatissimum thrived in areas with higher and lower incidence of light and was not demographically affected by forest remnant size. This suggests that E. edulis and A. aculeatissimum are habitat generalists. We concluded that differences in the ecophysiological performance of palms due to distinct morpho-physiological functional traits related to leaf economic spectrum, such as LDMC or specific leaf area (SLA) and to photosynthetic responses to light environment as electron transport rate (ETR) and saturation irradiance (Ik) were linked to the demographic variation observed in forest remnants of different size.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…and wide geographical distribution as E. edulis. This trend has potentially severe ecological and ecosystem consequences (Cerqueira et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking Plant Functional Traits to Demography in a Fragmented Landscape

Portela

Colmenares-Trejos

Mattos

2021

Front. For. Glob. Change

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“…Habitat loss is another driver of plant extinction that can influence leaf traits. In the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, habitat loss was correlated with a lower chlorophyll content, smaller leaf area, higher leaf mass per area, and lower magnesium, nitrogen and phosphorus concentration in the leaves of the endangered palm Euterpe edulis (Cerqueira et al 2021).…”

Section: Relationship Between Leaf Traits and Extinction Riskmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Climate change is not the only extinction driver that can influence leaf traits. Changes to nutrient supply (Tilman and Lehman 2001), land use change (Cerqueira et al 2021) and pollution (Dadkhah-Aghdash et al 2022) have all also been shown to impact leaf traits and elevate the risk of extinction in some plants. For example, changes in the supply of major nutrients can alter the competitive balance of a plant community and push certain species towards extinction (Tilman and Lehman 2001).…”

Section: Relationship Between Leaf Traits and Extinction Riskmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can the extinction risk of Irish vascular plants be predicted using leaf traits?

O’Rourke

Lughadha²,

Bacon³

2022

Biodivers Conserv

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Globally, 39% of vascular plant species are estimated to be threatened with extinction. Many factors are responsible for this figure; however, in numerous regions the primary drivers of plant extinction remain unknown. In this study, leaf traits were examined to determine whether there is an association between any specific leaf trait and extinction risk for the Irish flora. Ireland has a relatively small flora that is influenced by a temperate, oceanic climate. Fourteen leaf traits were measured for 1,029 angiosperm taxa, primarily from online herbarium images. Extinction risk was based on national Red List assessments for the Irish flora. Multivariate analysis of the data showed no correlation between leaf traits and extinction risk for the Irish flora. One-way ANOVA and Pearson’s Chi-squared tests largely supported this result, with some indication that leaf teeth may be associated with extinction risk. The correlation of extinction risk and leaf traits with phylogenetic relatedness was also considered, with the presence of a phylogenetic signal detected for the distribution of extinction risk across the Irish flora and significant phylogenetic signal observed for individual leaf traits. It was concluded that the leaf traits analysed do not significantly correlate with the extinction risk of the Irish flora and that leaf traits are not a good predictor of extinction risk for this flora.

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“…This is the case of the neotropical palm, E. edulis Mart. (Areacaceae), which grows preferentially under the closed and shady forest canopy, and tend to be absent in highly deforested (<25% forest cover) areas and large clearings (Gatti et al, 2011;Cerqueira et al, 2021;Leal et al, 2021). We argue that this species deserves special attention, given its underlying ecological role as an important food resource (especially in lean times) for several frugivorous vertebrate species, while representing a valuable economic asset for human consumption (Henderson et al, 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Impacts of landscape-scale forest loss and a dry event on the demographic structure of the endangered palm Euterpe edulis Mart. in the Atlantic Forest

Leal

Benchimol

Costa

et al. 2022

Front. For. Glob. Change

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Forest loss is one of the most serious threats to biodiversity in the tropics and mainly occurs due to the conversion of native forests by the expansion of human activities. In addition, regional climate change is likely to adversely affect the remaining biota. These disturbances may have direct or indirect consequences on the demographic structure of plant species in human-modified landscapes. To test this hypothesis, and thus look for management practices aimed at enhancing the population viability, we used the palm species Euterpe edulis Mart. (Arecaceae) to assess the demographic structure of five ontogenetic stages prior (2014) and after (2017) a prolonged drought event (2015) that occurred in the northeastern Atlantic Forest of Brazil. We also investigated the influence of landscape forest cover on the ontogenetic demographic structure, given that forest remnants were embedded within landscapes ranging from 6 to 97% of forest amount. We revealed that forest cover was a key predictor explaining the abundance patterns of E. edulis, with all ontogenetic stages (except seedlings, immature, and adults) exhibiting lower abundance in forest remnants surrounded by lower amount of native forests. Conversely, the regional drought event unaffected the demographic structure of this palm species, which may suggest that populations of E. edulis were able to cope with an isolated, though severe, drought event. The impacts of forest loss on E. edulis demographic structure, particularly on juveniles, raises a concern about the future persistence of E. edulis populations, since the early stages represent the adult generation in the near future. Management measures, including species reintroduction, forest restoration, environmental education programmes and the enforcement of environmental laws must be encouraged to safeguard E. edulis populations in the Atlantic Forest.

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Habitat loss and canopy openness mediate leaf trait plasticity of an endangered palm in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Cited by 16 publications

References 104 publications

Linking Plant Functional Traits to Demography in a Fragmented Landscape

Linking Plant Functional Traits to Demography in a Fragmented Landscape

Can the extinction risk of Irish vascular plants be predicted using leaf traits?

Impacts of landscape-scale forest loss and a dry event on the demographic structure of the endangered palm Euterpe edulis Mart. in the Atlantic Forest

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