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Leaf anatomical traits corroborate the leaf economic spectrum: a case study with deciduous forest tree species

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Abstract

Deciduous forests are seasonal systems that occur scattered throughout the Neotropics. Many aspects about these ecosystems have been studied. However, there is a lack of information about leaf structure and its possible functional and adaptive aspects. Here we examined leaf anatomy and specific leaf area (SLA) in 13 dominant tree species of dry forests in central Brazil, identifying structural patterns of these species. As the system is seasonal, with species presenting a deciduous behavior, we expect to find tree species with a set of mesomorphic leaf traits. The studied dry forest trees share similar leaf structure, with one-layered adaxial and abaxial epidermis and a well-developed mesophyll, high values of SLA, and the presence of calcium crystals and mucilaginous cells. Higher values of SLA and the high investment achieved in the mesophyll (especially in parenchyma tissue) are probably related to the accomplishment of a high performance of carbon and nutrients gain during the limited wet season.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by FAPESP (Grant 2011/23112-3) and PROPe—UNESP (RENOVE program). We would like to thank Dr. Jeanine Felfili (in memoriam) for the opportunity to travel to the region of the dry forest and Dr. Fabricio Alvim Carvalho (UFJF) for suggestions and discussion about environmental constraints in Deciduous Forests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n-Campus Universitário, São Pedro, Juiz de Fora, MG, 36036-900, Brazil

    Nádia Sílvia Somavilla

  2. Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências e Letras, UNESP-Univ. Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Campus de Assis, Av. Dom Antonio 2100, Assis, SP, 19806-900, Brazil

    Rosana Marta Kolb

  3. Departamento de Biologia Aplicada à Agropecuária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, UNESP-Univ. Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Campus de Jaboticabal, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/n, Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil

    Davi Rodrigo Rossatto

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  1. Nádia Sílvia Somavilla
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  2. Rosana Marta Kolb
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  3. Davi Rodrigo Rossatto
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Correspondence to Davi Rodrigo Rossatto.

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Somavilla, N.S., Kolb, R.M. & Rossatto, D.R. Leaf anatomical traits corroborate the leaf economic spectrum: a case study with deciduous forest tree species. Braz. J. Bot 37, 69–82 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-013-0038-x

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