The Bromeliaceae is one of the largest and most ecologically diverse angiosperm families in the Neotropics. In recent years, this family has begun to emerge as a model system for the study of plant evolutionary ecology and physiology, and major advances have been made in understanding the factors involved in episodes of rapid diversification and adaptive radiation in specific bromeliad lineages. However, despite a long tradition of ecophysiological research on the Bromeliaceae, an integrative, evolutionarily-contextualised synthesis of the links between anatomical) physiological, and ecological aspects of bromeliad biology has hitherto been lacking. The overarching aim of this research project was therefore to use new quantitative data representing a wide range of bromeliad taxonomic and functional groups to elucidate how variation in leaf traits connected by structure-function relationships influences ecological differentiation among bromeliad taxa. Special emphasis was placed on hydraulic and water relations traits because of fast-paced contemporary developments in these fields. The methodologies employed included an assessment of the diversity of bromeliad hydrological habitat occupancy, quantification of key anatomical and physiological traits and their correlations, investigation of the links between vascular and extra-xylary anatomy and hydraulic efficiency and vulnerability, quantification of stomatal sensitivity to leaf-air vapour pressure deficit and stomatal kinetics, and a case study of trait-mediated niche segregation among congeneric epiphytic bromeliad species on the Caribbean island of Trinidad. The results highlight how divergences in a range of continuous and categorical anatomical traits underpin differences in physiological capacities and sensitivities, which in turn determine environmental relations and ecological distinctiveness. This research project therefore provides critical insights into the mechanistic basis of evolutionary diversification in a highly ecologically important family. It also represents the most comprehensive analysis of the significance of trait variation for ecological differentiation across any major radiation of herbaceous angiosperms.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T14:52:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE COMPORTAMENTO ECOFISIOLOGICO.pdf: 1820060 bytes, checksum: cc63b18f41fa04014c546ac63af492df (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-01-17 / It was used the "transpirometer of balance" for planting of five tree species to evaluate the physiological behaviour regarding: total transpiration, stomatal conductance and transpiration leaf, growth, partition of phytomass, study the fluorescence of chlorophyll a e anatomical study of leaves of the species : Tabebuia serratifolia Nichols (Ipê yellow), Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. Ex Hayne (Jatobá), Myroxilum balsamum (Linn) Harms (Balsamo), Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn and Eucalyptus citriodora Hook (eucalyptus). The equipment consisted of a hydraulic system, composed of three elements: a reservoir of water (R1), another with a buoy (R2) to control the level of water in vessels (V) where the tree species were planted. The soil was analyzed by LASF / UFG-AGRO. It recommended, for pot, dolomitic lime (50g) and 88g of NPK (4-14-8). This study is subdivided parcels of split plot in time (split-plot in time), at a significance level of 5%, analyzed by SAS / STAT. E. camaldulensis and E. citriodora showed similar transpiration. Ipê, jatobá and balsamo showed no significant difference between them. The porometric measures suggested that the species obey strict control stomatic, with the closing of the stomates in the light of high evaporative demand of the air, changing the rates transpiration and stomatal conductance along the hours of the day. Evaluations biophysical showed that the growth in height, diameter and leaf area of E. camaldulensis was superior to other species. To partition of biomass, this species showed significant difference in dry stems, leaves and roots. The photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv / Fm) was statistically similar to the species E. citriodora, E. camaldulensis, ipê and balsamo, with a significant difference between the ratio (Fv / Fm), E. camaldulensis and jatobá, suggesting that the jatobá showed greater susceptibility of photosystem II in this experiment because of the high brightness. The study of the anatomy leaf showed that E. camaldulensis and E. citriodora have leaves amphistomatic with stomatestype anomocytic, ipê and balsamo have leaves hypostomatics with stomates anomocytic. Jatobá leaves hypostomatics with paracytic stomates. Given the results, it is suggested that the leaf anatomy influenced the rate transpiration resulting in differences in growth and biomass of partition. Ipê, jatobá and balsamo had more layers of lacunary parenchyma than eucalyptus, adaptive characteristics that allow those species colonize places of lesser brightness. All species showed secretory cavities. The stomatic density estimated average of each species indicated proximity of the values found in sclerophylly plants (100-500/mm ²). This work showed the importance of the physiological responses of the tree species, on the consumption of water, helping in the definition of strategies for management of natural environments, guided information for reflorestations with native and exotic species in the savanna in Goias states. / Utilizou-se o Transpirômetro de equilíbrio para plantio de cinco espécies arbóreas para avaliar o comportamento fisiológico quanto à: transpiração total, transpiração e condutância estomática foliar, crescimento, partição de fitomassa, estudo da fluorescência da clorofila a e estudo anatômico de folhas das espécies: Tabebuia serratifolia (Vahl) Nichols (Ipê amarelo), Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. Ex Hayne (Jatobá), Myroxilum balsamum (Linn) Harms (Balsamo), Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn e Eucalyptus citriodora Hook (eucaliptos). O equipamento consistiu de um sistema hidráulico, composto de três elementos: um reservatório de água (R1), outro com uma bóia (R2) para controlar o nível de água nos vasos (V) onde foram plantadas as espécies arbóreas. O solo foi analisado por LASF/UFG-AGRO. Recomendou-se, por vaso, calcário dolomítico (50g) e 88g de NPK (4-14-8). Configurou-se experimento de parcelas subdivididas no tempo (split-plot in time), a um nível de significância de 5%, analisados por SAS/STAT. E. camaldulensis e E. citriodora apresentaram transpiração semelhantes. Ipê, jatobá e bálsamo não apresentaram diferença significativa entre si. As medidas porométricas sugeriram que as espécies obedecem a rigoroso controle estomático, com o fechamento dos estômatos em função da alta demanda evaporativa do ar, alterando as taxas transpiratórias e de condutância estomática ao longo das horas do dia. As avaliações biofísicas evidenciaram que o crescimento em altura, diâmetro e área foliar de E. camaldulensis foi superior às outras espécies. Para partição de fitomassa, essa espécie apresentou significativa diferença em matéria seca de caule, folhas e raiz. A eficiência fotoquímica do fotossistema II (Fv/Fm) foi estatisticamente semelhante para as espécies E. citriodora, E. camaldulensis, ipê e bálsamo, havendo diferença significativa entre a razão (Fv/Fm) de E. camaldulensis e do jatobá, sugerindo que o jatobá apresentou maior susceptibilidade do fotossistema II nesse experimento em razão da alta luminosidade. O estudo da anatomia foliar revela que E. camaldulensis e E. citriodora têm folhas anfiestomáticas com estômatos tipo anomocítico, T. serratifolia e M. balsamum têm folhas hipostomáticas com estômatos anomocíticos, Hymenaea stigonocarpa folhas hipostomáticas com estômatos paracíticos. Diante dos resultados, sugere-se que a anatomia foliar influenciou a taxa transpiratória resultando em diferenças no crescimento e partição de fitomassa. Ipê, jatobá e bálsamo apresentaram mais camadas de parênquima lacunoso do que os eucaliptos, características adaptativas que permitem essas espécies colonizar locais de menor luminosidade. Todas as espécies estudadas apresentaram cavidades secretoras. A densidade estomática média estimada de cada espécie indicou proximidade dos valores encontrados em plantas esclerófilas (100-500/mm²). Este trabalho evidencia a importância das respostas fisiológicas das espécies arbóreas, quanto ao consumo de água, contribuindo na definição de estratégias de manejo de ambientes naturais, norteando informações para reflorestamentos com espécies exóticas e nativas no Cerrado goiano.