Differences in architecture and performance between two sub‐canopy congeneric tropical tree species

Abstract

We report architectural divergence between two congeneric tropical tree species coexisting in the same stratum which suggests different strategies: reducing selfshading and support costs, or maximizing light foraging. We found species-specific differential performance across light environments, suggesting that architectural differentiation could facilitate the coexistence of species with similar vertical habitat.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material. K E Y W O R D S allometry, Atlantic forest, Brazil, Coexistence, Coussarea, growth strategies, shade tolerance, tree life history AUTH O R CO NTR I B UTI O N S Costa, R.C. involved in conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, funding acquisition, investigation, methodology, project administration, visualization, and wrote the original draft and reviewed the manuscript. Santos, F.A.M. involved in conceptualization, funding acquisition, methodology, project administration, resources, supervision, and reviewed the manuscript. E TH I C A L A PPROVA LEthical guidelines do not apply to this study.