A flamabilidade de gramíneas do Pantanal é influenciada pela sua composição anatômica?

Abstract

.In ecosystems like the Pantanal, where fire and flooding combine to provide special selective pressures, fire is an ecologically important component in the development of plant traits and vegetation dynamics. The anatomical makeup of three grass species—Andropogon bicornis, Axonopus leptostachyus, and Paspalum wrightii—is examined in this study, along with how it relates to flammability. Morphoanatomical methods were used to examine structural features, including regular parenchyma (RPR), chlorophyll parenchyma (CPR), bulliform cells (BCR), lignified tissues (SCR), and non-lignified sheath cells (SHR). Significant interspecific differences in structural traits and unique patterns across the flammability groups were found using multivariate analysis (PERMANOVA and paired PERMANOVA). In contrast to our alternate idea, the species in the Fast-Burning group showed a larger percentage of lignified tissues. These results highlight the significance of morphological traits in fire-related ecological strategies and offer fresh perspectives on the connection between grass anatomy and flammability. This study confirms the value of anatomical research in fire-prone ecosystems and advances our understanding of fire ecology in the Pantanal.