Sebastián Emilio Díaz-C., Esperanza N. Pulido-Rodríguez, Merly Y. Carreño-Díaz, Ana M. Aldana, René López-Camacho
Functional patterns of wood traits in Terra Firme and Igapó (tropical moist forests), Colombian Orinoquia
Dendrobiology 2025, vol. 94: 115-125
https://doi.org/10.12657/denbio.094.008
Abstract:
Wood anatomical traits, considered hard traits, are ecologically relevant due to their relationship with the function of aboveground biomass storage in trees. In contrasting soil conditions, these traits can enhance our understanding of the role of species in ecosystem processes. We compared tree vegetation in Terra firme and Igapó within the tropical moist gallery forest of the Colombian Orinoquia, focusing on wood traits. Data were processed from five permanent monitoring plots, three in Terra firme and two in Igapó. We mounted tissue slices from wood cores to measure functional traits. We identified three functional types of trees with two strategies: conservatives and intermediate conservatives (characterized by hydraulic safety and fiber investment), and intermediate acquisitive (characterized by hydraulic efficiency and storage). In Terra fime, we recognized a functional type corresponding to palms (fiber investment and storage). Three trade-offs were observed in both forests: fiber traits vs. parenchymatic traits; fiber investment vs. storage, and hydraulic efficiency vs. hydraulic safety. We found a wide range of trait values within the same wood density range. Terra firme and Igapó forests exhibited similar functional patterns.
Keywords: wood anatomical traits, plant functional types, tree community ecology