Ecophysiology of selected tree species in different plant communities at the periphery of the Atlantic Forest of SE Brazil I. Performance of three different species of Clusia in an array of plant communities

Three species of Clusia, namely two CAM-species (C. hilariana Schlecht. and C. fluminensis Planch. et Triana) and a C3-species (C. parviflora Saldanha et Engl.) were studied in different plant communities at the periphery of the Atlantic Forest in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The sites chosen were an inselberg (C. parviflora), a range of wet restinga – dry restinga – semideciduous dry forest (C. fluminensis), and a gradient from the sea shore inland with a first sand dune beach ridge – a dry forest – a second beach ridge (C. hilariana). Analyses comprised C and N contents, soluble carbohydrates, soluble nonprotein N compounds and carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) in leaves, roots, phloem and wood. Photosynthetic performance was assessed by chlorophyll fluorescence with measurements of instant photosynthetic yield as well as light dependence and potential quantum-use efficiency of photosystem II.