Strong floristic distinctiveness across Neotropical successional forests
Authors: Jakovac Catarina C. , Meave Jorge A. , Bongers Frans , Letcher Susan G. , Dupuy Juan Manuel , Piotto Daniel , Rozendaal Danaë M. A. , Peña-Claros Marielos , Craven Dylan , Santos Braulio A. , Siminski Alexandre , Fantini Alfredo C. , Rodrigues Alice C. , Hernández-Jaramillo Alma , Idárraga Alvaro , Junqueira André B. , Zambrano Angelica María Almeyda , de Jong Ben H. J. , Pinho Bruno Ximenes , Finegan Bryan , Castellano-Castro Carolina , Zambiazi Daisy Christiane , Dent Daisy H. , García Daniel Hernán , Kennard Deborah , Delgado Diego , Broadbent Eben N. , Ortiz-Malavassi Edgar , Pérez-García Eduardo A. , Lebrija-Trejos Edwin , Berenguer Erika , Marín-Spiotta Erika , Alvarez-Davila Esteban , de Sá Sampaio Everardo Valadares , Melo Felipe , Elias Fernando , França Filipe , Oberleitner Florian , Mora Francisco , Williamson G. Bruce , Colletta Gabriel Dalla , Cabral George A. L. , Derroire Géraldine , Fernandes Geraldo Wilson , van der Wal Hans , Teixeira Heitor Mancini , Vester Henricus F. M. , García Hernando , Vieira Ima C. G. , Jiménez-Montoya Jaider , de Almeida-Cortez Jarcilene S. , Hall Jefferson S. , Chave Jerome , Zimmerman Jess K. , Nieto Jhon Edison , Ferreira Joice , Rodríguez-Velázquez Jorge , Ruíz Jorge , Barlow Jos , Aguilar-Cano José , Hernández-Stefanoni José Luis , Engel Julien , Becknell Justin M. , Zanini Kátia , Lohbeck Madelon , Tabarelli Marcelo , Romero-Romero Marco Antonio , Uriarte Maria , Veloso Maria D. M. , Espírito-Santo Mário M. , van der Sande Masha T. , van Breugel Michiel , Martínez-Ramos Miguel , Schwartz Naomi B. , Norden Natalia , Pérez-Cárdenas Nathalia , González-Valdivia Noel , Petronelli Pascal , Balvanera Patricia , Massoca Paulo , Brancalion Pedro H. S. , Villa Pedro M. , Hietz Peter , Ostertag Rebecca , López-Camacho René , César Ricardo G. , Mesquita Rita , Chazdon Robin L. , Muñoz Rodrigo , DeWalt Saara J. , Müller Sandra C. , Durán Sandra M. , Martins Sebastião Venâncio , Ochoa-Gaona Susana , Rodríguez-Buritica Susana , Aide T. Mitchell , Bentos Tony Vizcarra , de S. Moreno Vanessa , Granda Vanessa , Thomas Wayt , Silver Whendee L. , Nunes Yule R. F. , Poorter Lourens 
Published: July 2022

Forests that regrow naturally on abandoned fields are important for restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services, but can they also preserve the distinct regional tree floras? Using the floristic composition of 1215 early successional forests (≤20 years) in 75 human-modified landscapes across the Neotropic realm, we identified 14 distinct floristic groups, with a between-group dissimilarity of 0.97. Floristic groups were associated with location, bioregions, soil pH, temperature seasonality, and water availability. Hence, there is large continental-scale variation in the species composition of early successional forests, which is mainly associated with biogeographic and environmental factors but not with human disturbance indicators. This floristic distinctiveness is partially driven by regionally restricted species belonging to widespread genera. Early secondary forests contribute therefore to restoring and conserving the distinctiveness of bioregions across the Neotropical realm, and forest restoration initiatives should use local species to assure that these distinct floras are maintained.