Inselbergs, isolated rock outcrops that rise above the surrounding landscape, harbor a highly diverse flora. Differences in slope, water availability, soil depth and sun exposure result in the creation of microhabitats ...

Summary: Cycads are the most ancient lineage of living seed plants, but the design of their leaves has received little study. We tested whether cycad leaves are governed by the same fundamental design principles previously ...

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 ...

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Tree saplings and shrubs are frequently overlooked components of tropical rainforest biodiversity, and it may be hypothesized that their small stature and shallow root systems predisposes them to be vulnerable to drought. ...

Abstract: Shade tolerance (the capacity to survive and grow over long periods under shade) is a key component of plant fitness and the foundation of current theories of forest succession in tropical rain forests. It serves ...

The acquisitive-conservative axis of plant ecological strategies results in a pattern of leaf trait covariation that captures the balance between leaf construction costs and plant growth potential. Studies evaluating trait ...

Frost and drought are key stress factors limiting the growth and distribution of tree species. Resistance to stress involves energy costs that may result in trade-offs between different functional traits. Structures or ...