Scientists studied how plants in the Amazonian savannas survive in dry conditions. They found that different plants have unique ways of persisting in this challenging environment, like having thick leaves or special...
Tag - Cerrado
Renata Cantoro
Rising from the ashes: The “Phoenix plants” that flower the next day after burning
Some Brazilian Cyperaceae are the fastest post-fire bloomers in the world!
João C. F. Cardoso
The colour of background vegetation reveals how bees see flowers
Studying how bees perceive flowers gives insight into how pollinators have influenced flower evolution.
Andrea Romero
Reconsidering the conservation of an endangered tree in Brazil: one species or a hybrid?
Have you ever gone for a walk and noticed that the landscape has changed? Changes in plant species are easy to spot between, for example, a meadow and a forest. The transition area of biomes is called an ecotone which...
Juniper Kiss
Fire and germination in a tropical savanna
Are seeds using heat from fires as a signal to end physical dormancy and germinate?
Alex Assiry
The hidden diversity of Pitcairnia lanuginosa
Pitcairnia lanuginosa might look similar wherever you find it in South America, but hidden inside are some differences that can tell a tale about its past.
Alun Salt
Ant pollination in Brazilian savanna
Ant–plant associations are widely diverse and distributed throughout the world, leading to complex ecological networks. Regarding ant–plant mutualism, ant pollination is a very rare interaction and few studies have...
Genetic differentiation among varieties of a Neotropical savanna tree
The Neotropical savanna fruiting tree species, Hancornia speciosa (Apocynaceae) has high social and economic importance in Brazil. Originally classified as six botanical varieties, more recently only two have been...
Germination in the Cerrado is unique
How rapidly does a seed need to germinate to survive? In Brazil's Cerrado, it's not just about speed, but starting at the right time.
Guest Author
Expanding forests can be bad news for the environment
You might think that increasing forest cover is good news in Brazil, but that’s not always the case, according to a new study.
Dale Maylea
Origin of distribution and genetic diversity of a savanna species
Cyclic glaciations were frequent throughout the Quaternary and this affected species distribution and population differentiation worldwide. Combining ecological niche modelling and phylogeographical analysis, this study...
Predestined to be awake
Being able to lie dormant is a huge advantage for a seed but, in the campo rupestre of Brazil, the seeds are unusually impatient.
Historical refugia and origins of genetic diversity in a Neotropical savanna tree species
Souza et al. investigate the role of Pleistocene climate changes in driving the geographic distribution and genetic diversity of Dimorphandra mollis, a tree species endemic to the Cerrado, the largest Neotropical...
botanyone
Endogenous hormones and fructan metabolism in Chrysolaena
Results suggest that the co-ordinated action of carbohydrate metabolism and hormone synthesis enables C. obovata to survive unfavourable field conditions.
