1. The extent (or lack) of phylogenetic signal for key ecological traits reveals the role of evolutionary processes on present-day ecosystem function and hints on future ecological trends under climate change scenarios. This approach has been applied to South American tropical moist forests, but not to the highly threatened seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTF), despite acknowledgement of their unique evolutionary history. To fill this knowledge gap, we investigated the legacy of evolutionary processes on vital...

Drymarchon corais and Caiman crocodilus are reported here using different feeding behaviors for consuming poisonous toads of the genus Rhinella (Bufonidae). Drymarchon corais was observed feeding on specimens of Rhinella diptycha without avoiding contact with the parotoid macroglands, suggesting that this snake species is immune to toad toxins. Caiman crocodilus was recorded avoiding contact with the parotoid macroglands of specimens of Rhinella marina by consuming only the front and rear legs, suggesting that this caiman...

Even after complete stomatal closure, plants lose water through the leaf cuticles and bark. This residual water conductance of leaves (gleaf-res) and stems (gbark) can negatively impact plant water balance and affect plant survival in seasonally dry environments. However, little is known about the costs and benefits associated with such water leaks, especially on stem level. Here, we characterized the structural and functional determinants of the variability in gbark across tropical savanna species to elucidate...

1. Ecological restoration of tropical open ecosystems remains challenging for both science and practice. Over the last decade, innovative techniques have been developed, but whether they have been successful or not remains to be demonstrated. Assessing the outcomes of these initiatives is crucial to drive the following steps to improve tropical grasslands and savanna restoration. 2. Analyzing 82 data sets from the literature and primary data collection, we assessed the effectiveness of passive and active...