How does spatial micro‐environmental heterogeneity influence seedling recruitment in ironstone outcrops?

• Published in: Journal of vegetation science Vol. 32; no. 2
• Main Authors: Dayrell, Roberta L. C., Fuzessy, Lisieux Franco, Azevedo, Luísa O., Lambers, Hans, Veneklaas, Erik J., Silveira, Fernando A. O., Kikvidze, Zaal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.03.2021
• Subjects: Abundance; adults; biodiversity hotspot; Brazil; canga; Coexistence; ecological differentiation; Ecosystems; Environmental conditions; Environmental effects; Environmental stress; Filters; Growth rate; Habitats; Herbivores; Heterogeneity; Lychnophora; microhabitat; Microhabitats; Mimosa calodendron; niche segregation; Outcrops; Plant communities; plant–plant interaction; Recruitment; seedling growth; seedling survival; Seedlings; Shrubs; Spatial heterogeneity; spatial variation; species recruitment; Species richness; Substrates; Survival; understory; vegetation; Water scarcity; water shortages; Brazil

Questions Environmental filters limit the set of potentially coexisting species in plant communities. Paradoxically, some of the world's most biodiverse communities are subjected to strong abiotic filters. We explored how environmental heterogeneity provides conditions for niche segregation in...