Spatio-temporal variation of photosynthetic pigments in the CAM tree Clusia hilariana Schlechtendal associated with dry spells during the rainy season in southeastern Brazil

In this work we assessed spatial and temporal variation of leaf pigment content of Clusia hilariana, a dominant CAM tree on the sandy coastal plains of SE Brazil. Chlorophyll a + b concentration, chlorophyll a/b ratio, and total carotenoid concentration were measured three times during the wet season. Chlorophyll a + b and total carotenoids decreased while the chlorophyll a/b ratio increased after a series of dry spells. We discuss our results in the context of Clusia literature, and argue that leaf-level pigmentation changes are an important source of phenotypic flexibility during acclimation to fluctuating light levels and groundwater availability.