Stress Tolerance and Ecophysiological Ability of an Invader and a Native Species in a Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest

Abstract

Ecophysiological traits of Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. and a phylogenetically and ecologically similar native species, Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan, were studied to understand the invasive species’ success in caatinga, a seasonally dry tropical forest ecosystem of the Brazilian Northeast. To determine if the invader exhibited a superior resource-capture or a resource-conservative strategy, we measured biophysical and biochemical parameters in both species during dry and wet months over the course of two years. The results show that P. juliflora benefits from a flexible strategy in which it frequently outperforms the native species in resource capture traits under favorable conditions (e.g., photosynthesis), while also showing better stress tolerance (e.g., antioxidant activity) and water-use efficiency in unfavorable conditions. In addition, across both seasons the invasive has the advantage over the native with higher chlorophyll/carotenoids and chlorophyll a/b ratios, percent N, and leaf protein. We conclude that Prosopis juliflora utilizes light, water and nutrients more efficiently than Anadenanthera colubrina, and suffers lower intensity oxidative stress in environments with reduced water availability and high light radiation.

Ecophysiological Traits of Invasive C3 Species Calotropis procera to Maintain High Photosynthetic Performance Under High VPD and Low Soil Water Balance in Semi-Arid and Seacoast Zones

“…Changes in global rainfall patterns have resulted in more frequent drought across the semi-arid environments of the world (IPCC Climate Change, 2018). Several species, mainly C 3 plants, can be severely damaged and coming under threat of extinction under this scenario when considering the higher frequency of prolonged dry seasons and the low efficiency of water use among these species (Oliveira et al, 2014;Santos et al, 2014). High ecophysiological plasticity is an important trait under climatic changes.…”

“…Several plant species present outstanding performance and overcome limited resources, such as low water availability in semi-arid and arid regions, even during prolonged drought (Oliveira et al, 2014). In this context, some species have the ability to colonize environments with different available resources (Tezara et al, 2011;Frosi et al, 2013).…”

Invasive plants in the Brazilian Caatinga: a scientometric analysis with prospects for conservation

“…Differences related to the acquisition and utilisation of resources between native and invasive exotic species were also evaluated for the Caatinga. For example, studies performed by Oliveira et al (2014Oliveira et al ( , 2017 showed that P. juliflora uses resources, such as water, light and nutrients, more efficiently than native Caatinga species.…”

Seed biometry: another functional trait in caatinga

“…As for physiognomy, Lima, Carvalho, Ribeiro, and Manfrin (2018) pointed out similarities with arid regions in northern Colombia, Venezuela and Central America. However, the situation is even more complicated in Caatinga, a dry tropical forest that occupies one of the largest land areas in the world and exists at the limit of water resources availability for forests (Miles et al, 2006;Santos et al, 2014).…”

“…Caatinga plant species develop under severe climatic and edaphic conditions. The intense water, light and thermal stresses during most of the year are probably filters that can define common response traits in species that do not necessarily have phylogenetic proximity (Díaz et al, 2007;Pérez-Camacho et al, 2012;Oliveira et al, 2014;Silva et al, 2014). By observing the vegetation structure, it is possible to verify that the woody species do not reach high heights, although they have large branches.…”