Palm Species Traits Determine Soil Nutrient Effects on Seedling Performance

Environmental gradients influence plant establishment, survival, and functional traits. Along the Panama Canal Isthmus there is a strong rainfall gradient with an underlying mosaic of soil types ranging in nutrient availability. In this region, tree species distribution patterns are correlated phosphorus availability patterns, but how understory such as palms relate to these factors less clear. We hypothesized that due greater resource use efficiency optimal biomass allocation, specialist will have seedling performance growing home sites compared not occurring there. To test hypothesis, we used two ( Chamaedorea tepejilote Geonoma congesta ) generalist cuneata var. pinnatifrons ), for four measured traits on seedlings assessed their shade house field transplant experiments using five soils. Soils were sourced from which varied rainfall, distributed along lowland tropical forests Isthmus. shadehouse experiment, leaf determined by rather than However, relative growth rate interactions between soil, weak support home-site advantage one species. survival was strongly related dry season water tended high at other higher rainfall. Together, results suggest palm species-specific responses combination This indicates while nutrients determines both therefore distributions moisture gradient.