Foliar evaluation of species indicated for forest restoration in the Amazon region of Mato Grosso
Conservation, functional attributes, ecological strategies
This study investigates the ecological strategies of 19 tree species used in forest restoration projects in the Amazon region of Mato Grosso, an area impacted by deforestation and climate change. The central objective of the study was to evaluate leaf attributes (anatomical, chemical, and morphometric) to understand how these species respond to environmental variations and their acclimation potential. The research was based on the following questions: 1) Which leaf strategies (acquisitive or conservative) stand out in these communities? 2) Is a plant's strategy best predicted by the integration of its leaf attributes? 3) Does interspecific variation in these attributes confer sufficient plasticity for acclimation? The selection of the 19 native species was based on models of future climate suitability, complemented by a functional screening of leaf attributes related to leaf strategies. Morphometric attributes such as height, diameter at breast height, specific leaf mass, leaf area, dry mass, and leaf thickness were analyzed, in addition to anatomical leaf characteristics such as cuticle and epidermis thickness, palisade and spongy parenchyma thickness, and stomatal density, area, and aperture, and potassium content in the leaf. The results indicated a predominance of species with conservative strategies, characterized by thicker leaves and greater investment in defense structures, an adaptation to environments with resource restrictions or environmental stress, such as drought. The integrated analysis of leaf attributes proved to be an effective predictor for determining the ecological strategy of each species. The interspecific variation observed in the attributes was considered significant, suggesting that the species have different degrees of phenotypic plasticity, which directly influences their ability to acclimate to climate change. The main conclusion is that the selection of species for restoration projects should consider their ecological strategies. Species with more conservative profiles may be more resilient to extreme weather events, such as prolonged droughts, and are crucial for the long-term sustainability of restored ecosystems. The study reinforces the importance of analyzing functional attributes as a tool for planning more effective forest restoration actions adapted to future climate scenarios in the Amazon.