Paper · 2026 · Revista Brasileira de Botânica

How do legumes cope with environmental filters in savanna ecosystems? Analysis of morphoanatomical and ultrastructural traits of legumes aerial organs and ecological implications

Alice Souza Leal; Bruno Bonadio Cozin; Marilaine Cristina Marques Leite; et al.

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verbatim quotes
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citations
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Open access · cc-by

Abstract

Abstract Savannas are fire-prone seasonal ecosystems determined by environmental filters such as fire, herbivory and water availability, which change the dynamics in these environments. Plants growing in such conditions have adaptive traits that enable them to survive under different disturbances and stresses, not only on the underground organs, but also on aerial organs. Therefore, this work aimed to describe morphoanatomical and structural traits of the stem and leaves of eight representative legume species from Cerrado, related to ecological functions associated with resistance against environmental filters present in savanna ecosystems. We performed morphoanatomical and structural analysis of aboveground organs using four techniques: (1) Samples included in historesin were sectioned on a rotary microtome; (2) Fresh samples were sectioned on a sliding microtome; (3) Fresh samples were free-hand sectioned (4) The ultrastructural analysis of the leaf samples was performed on Scanning Electron Microscope. According to morphoanatomical analyses, it was possible to identify two functional groups, such as plants with xeromorphic traits and plants with mesomorphic traits. The traits protect plants from flame temperatures, sun exposure, drought, herbivory, and other environmental filters. Resprouting species of this study also have several important morphological and anatomical traits that enable these species to resist drought, fire, herbivory and other filters. The integration of morphoanatomy to functional ecology may be a remarkable tool in understanding vegetation responses to disturbances and stresses.

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Claims 3

Observationobservedoriginal resultmeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Morphoanatomical analyses identified two functional groups among the eight Cerrado legume species: plants with xeromorphic traits and plants with mesomorphic traits.

Taxon
legume speciese1
Outcome
two functional groups, such as plants with xeromorphic traits and plants with mesomorphic traitse0
Setting
Cerradoe1

Verbatim

e0

“it was possible to identify two functional groups, such as plants with xeromorphic traits and plants with mesomorphic traits”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1061–1185 · show in text ↑
e1

“eight representative legume species from Cerrado”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 479–527 · show in text ↑
Mechanismauthor interpretationoriginal resultmeasured

Claim · model-written summary

The xeromorphic and mesomorphic traits are interpreted as protecting the plants from flame temperatures, sun exposure, drought, herbivory and other environmental filters.

Taxon
legume speciese1
Outcome
protect plants from flame temperatures, sun exposure, drought, herbivory, and other environmental filterse0
Qualifier
The traitse0

Verbatim

e0

“The traits protect plants from flame temperatures, sun exposure, drought, herbivory, and other environmental filters”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1187–1303 · show in text ↑
e1

“eight representative legume species from Cerrado”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 479–527 · show in text ↑
Mechanismauthor interpretationoriginal resultmeasured

Claim · model-written summary

Resprouting species in the study have several morphological and anatomical traits that enable them to resist drought, fire, herbivory and other filters.

Taxon
Resprouting speciese0
Outcome
resist drought, fire, herbivory and other filterse0
Qualifier
several important morphological and anatomical traitse0

Verbatim

e0

“Resprouting species of this study also have several important morphological and anatomical traits that enable these species to resist drought, fire, herbivory and other filters”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1305–1481 · show in text ↑