Phylogenetic structure of aquatic plant assemblages in a climate sequence

Abstract Floristic studies of aquatic plants and flora associated with ecosystems carried out in the Neotropical region have demonstrated predominance co-occurrence same plant families under different climatic conditions. One way to interpret this groups non-random patterns assemblages is understand their phylogenetic structure. Herein, we present an investigation that studied rule assembly on reservoirs a tropical climosequence Northeast Brazil. We eight areas during dry rainy periods characterized climatic, chemical, trace elements, as well richness, diversity, structure assemblages. found Fabaceae, Poaceae Cyperaceae, especially border areas. Among species surveyed, highlight those amphibian life-form, autochoric-type dispersion syndrome taxa wide geographical distribution. observed seasonal effect ruled tendency for non-co-familiarity. Water quality sediment were abiotic factors most efficient predictors richness variations metrics. In sense, family identified was less deterministic than expected through non-randomness, because temporally, guilds distinctly structured function seasonality.