Características funcionais de espécies arbóreas de diferentes estádios sucessionais na várzea da Amazônia Central

Abstract

Seasonal inundations promote peculiar site conditions in Amazonian floodplains where erosion and sedimentation processes create new habitats for the establishment of vegetation every year. The adaptive strategies of trees to seasonal inundation evidence species replacement during succession, but not explain functional traits of species and their patterns within successional stages. To better understand succession-related strategies of tree species within forest succession, the present study investigated the pattern of functional variation with several functional traits of tree species from different successional stages in the várzea of Lago Janauarí, next to the city of Manaus. We investigated the key functional traits population structure, survival, growth, leaf area, chlorophyll-content in leaves, and size and weight of diaspores. We tested for similarity in patterns between species and relate these patterns to succession-related strategies and the inundation in area. Our results show that pioneer tree species, such as Cecropia latiloba, follow consistently the same establishment strategy in all investigated functional traits, while late-succession species, such as Piranhea trifoliata, may have different establishment strategies depending on the trait analyzed. The pattern of functional variation is consistent with the zonation and succession of species described in these environments. Although the flooding has not connected with the functional variation, there are strong indications that variable as ecological filter in the establishment of these species. We conclude that different successional stages are represented by indicator species and call attention to the need of a better classification of these tree species with respect to functional traits.