Evaluation of temporal variation in functional characteristics of arboreal species in Cerrado-Amazonia transition zone physiognomies, Mato Grosso state, Brazil

Abstract

This study investigated the possibility of temporal variation in functional characteristics of arboreal species in three Cerrado vegetation physiognomies. We analyzed 195 species in total, including 88 in typical cerrado, 89 in cerradão and 105 in gallery forest, with 87 species common in at least two physiognomies. The study was based on lists provided by floristic and phytosociological surveys conducted over 12 years. We observed temporal variation in functional diversity values for typical cerrado and cerradão, while the gallery forest remained constant. The arboreal communities in all three physiognomies showed temporal variation in species richness and abundance, which is likely attributed to drought and fire events that occurred during the study. The lack of temporal change in functional diversity, species richness, and abundance in the gallery forest suggests higher functional stability during periods of environmental change. The causes of the functional changes observed in the typical cerrado and cerradão remain uncertain, but may be related to greater seasonality of soil water availability compared to the gallery forest, where trees have increased access to soil water throughout the year.