Plant functional assembly is mediated by rainfall and soil conditions in a seasonally dry tropical forest

• Published in: Basic and applied ecology Vol. 40; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Authors: Pinho, Bruno X., Tabarelli, Marcelo, Engelbrecht, Bettina M.J., Sfair, Júlia, Melo, Felipe P.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier GmbH 01.11.2019
• Subjects: Annual precipitation; anthropogenic activities; Anthropogenic disturbance; Brazil; Caatinga; climate; climate change; drought tolerance; dry matter content; environmental factors; Environmental gradients; field capacity; Functional traits; leaves; multivariate analysis; rain; Soil fertility; Soil field capacity; soil quality; species abundance; Species distribution; tropical forests; water conservation; water storage; wood density; Brazil; Annual precipitation; Soil field capacity; Caatinga; Soil fertility; Species distribution; Functional traits; Environmental gradients; Anthropogenic disturbance

Understanding how species assembly is influenced by the interplay of climate, local environmental conditions and human-caused disturbances remains a central question in ecology and conservation. Here, we assess how plant species abundance is determined by combinations of functional traits (ecologica...