Functional traits and symbiotic associations of geoxyles and trees explain the dominance of detarioid legumes in miombo ecosystems

The miombo region in Africa is covered by a mosaic of woodlands and geoxylic grasslands subject to disturbances such as fires, frost drought, low nutrient availability. dominance Fabaceae Detarioideae species ecosystems remarkable but little understood. We therefore compared plant functional traits (PFTs) common woody the Angolan plateau, grouped life form (trees, geoxyles), lineage (Fabaceae: Detarioideae, non-Detarioideae) symbiont association (ectomycorrhiza, rhizobia). PFTs reflect group-specific adaptations prevalent environmental conditions. To analyse impact drivers, we selected reflecting ecophysiological aspects leaf morphology, content water transport. Traits were measured following standardized protocols. found differences key between trees geoxyles both form-specific conditions lineage-specific strategies cope with stresses. interpret higher thickness wood density responses harsher open environments. general ectomycorrhizal showed better status. Symbiotic associations detarioid legumes ectomycorrhiza show specific advantages for phosphorous uptake Rhizobia-associated non-Fabaceae thus may be crucial stunning landscapes.