Structuring Taxonomic, Functional, and Phylogenetic Diversity and Flammability: The Role of Fire, Flooding, and Functional Traits in Pantanal Tree Communities

Abstract

The assembly, diversity, and resilience of arboreal communities in the Pantanal are shaped by the interplay of multiple environmental filters, especially fire and flooding, which act recurrently and structurally across the landscape. This thesis integratedly investigated how fire regimes, flood gradients, and functional traits influence the taxonomic, functional, phylogenetic structure, and flammability of tree communities in seasonally flooded areas of the Pantanal. Chapter 1 characterized patterns of taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity across environmental gradients and fire histories, highlighting the importance of these filters in structuring communities. Chapter 2 experimentally assessed leaf flammability and associated functional traits, revealing how fire, flooding, and leaf attributes modulate fire risk and behavior. Chapter 3 evaluated the phylogenetic conservation of functional traits and flammability parameters, demonstrating that fire acts as an evolutionary filter, promoting the selection of conserved attributes in certain lineages. The results show that fire and flooding are not merely disturbances but fundamental environmental filters maintaining the diversity and resilience of the Pantanal. The findings of this thesis contribute to advancing scientific knowledge about multiple filters in tropical wetlands and provide a basis for more effective management and conservation strategies in the face of rapid environmental and climate change.