Environmental drivers on leaf phenology of ironstone outcrops species under seasonal climate

Banded iron formations (BIF) have a particular vegetation type and provide a good model system for testing theories related to leaf phenology, due to unique stressful environmental conditions. As a consequence of the stressful conditions of BIF environment, we hypothesize that most species would ret...

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Published in:Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências Vol. 89; no. 1; pp. 131 - 143
Main Authors: GARCIA, LETÍCIA C., BARROS, FERNANDA V., LEMOS-FILHO, JOSÉ P.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Brazil Academia Brasileira de Ciências 2017
Subjects:
Brazil
Canga
day length
drought stress
Ecosystem
evergreen
Iron - chemistry
leaf shedding
MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES
Photoperiod
Plant Leaves - physiology
Rain
Seasons
Soil - chemistry
Temperature
Time Factors
Trees - physiology
Tropical Climate
tropical ecosystems
day length
leaf shedding
drought stress
evergreen
tropical ecosystems
Canga
ISSN:0001-3765, 1678-2690, 1678-2690
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Banded iron formations (BIF) have a particular vegetation type and provide a good model system for testing theories related to leaf phenology, due to unique stressful environmental conditions. As a consequence of the stressful conditions of BIF environment, we hypothesize that most species would retain at least some significant canopy cover, even at the end of the dry season, independently of growth form - trees, shrubs, and sub-shrubs. Considering the strong seasonality, we also hypothesize that photoperiod and rainfall act as triggers for leaf fall and leaf flushing in these environments. The majority of the fifteen studied species had a semi-deciduous behavior and shed their leaves mainly during the dry season, with a recovery at the end of this season. In general, leaf flushing increased around the spring equinox (end of the dry season and start of the rainy season). A trade-off between leaf loss and leaf maintenance is expected in a community in which most plants are naturally selected to be semi-deciduous. Our results suggest photoperiod as a dominant factor in predicting leaf phenology.
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ISSN:0001-3765
1678-2690
1678-2690
DOI:10.1590/0001-3765201720150049