Speaker
Description
The Caatinga, a seasonally dry tropical forest in northeastern Brazil, remains one of the most understudied biomes in terms of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. To address this gap, the BrazilDry Experiment was established to explore how tree species richness, functional composition, and facilitation influence microclimate and contribute to ecosystem restoration and resilience against desertification.
We recorded canopy-level temperature and humidity using automated loggers across experimental plots varying in species richness and facilitation, covering a full seasonal cycle to capture diel and seasonal dynamics.
Preliminary results indicate that higher tree species richness and facilitative interactions contribute to buffering microclimatic extremes, particularly by reducing daytime temperatures and stabilizing humidity levels. These effects were most pronounced during the dry season, suggesting that facilitative species can help maintain favorable microhabitats under climatic stress.
Importantly, species-specific effects were highly variable, revealing that individual species modulate microclimate differently—likely due to differences in canopy architecture, phenology, and functional traits. This highlights the importance of species identity in shaping biodiversity–climate feedbacks.
These early findings provide new insights into the role of biodiversity and facilitation in enhancing microclimatic stability in dry tropical forests. As climate extremes intensify, understanding species-specific contributions to local microclimate regulation will be essential for designing effective restoration strategies and increasing ecosystem resilience in the Caatinga.
| Status Group | Doctoral Researcher |
|---|---|
| Poster Presentation Option | No, I prefer to present only as a talk. |
