Padrões de histórias de vida de espécies arbóreas em uma Floresta com Araucária do Sul do Brasil

Abstract

The life history of species can be expressed by their phenotype features, because trait characteristics are determined by processes occurring in an evolutionary timescale. In this study I analyzed morphological and demographic traits to reveal life histories of Araucaria forest trees species. Possible influence of phylogeny in life history traits was taken into account by a Mantel test between traits and the phylogenetic distance. Trait patterns were then evaluated through ordination, classification and correlation analyses of species per trait matrixes. The Mantel test showed no significant influence of phylogeny in species traits. Principal Component Analysis showed seven life history axes, named as tissue retention, vertical growth, light range, seed length, zoochory trade-off, fast growth and light capture trade-off. Pearson correlations with Benjamini & Hochberg corrections resulted in 6 significant associations between regenerates 1 and 2. Cluster analysis separated the species in four different groups: shade tolerant, zoochoric intermediaries, non-zoochoric rather intermediaries and species with high intensity of solar radiation (especially to Araucaria angustifolia). This study enabled the comprehension of the strategies of life adopted by tree species in the Araucaria Forest, besides becoming a new means of conservation and management of these species.