Soil–climate interactions drive above-ground biomass in the Caatinga, the largest Neotropical seasonally dry tropical forest

Alexandre T. Brunello; Domingos Cardoso; Peter W. Moonlight; Ítalo A.C. Coutinho; John Cunha; Mário M. do Espírito Santo; Magna S.B. de Moura; Luciano P. de Queiroz; Rodolfo Nobrega; Tomas F. Domingues; et al

doi:10.1007/s11104-025-07921-6

Soil–climate interactions drive above-ground biomass in the Caatinga, the largest Neotropical seasonally dry tropical forest

Alexandre T. Brunello^*, Domingos Cardoso, Peter W. Moonlight, Ítalo A.C. Coutinho, John Cunha, Mário M. do Espírito Santo, Magna S.B. de Moura, Luciano P. de Queiroz, Rodolfo Nobrega, Tomas F. Domingues^*, et al

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

Abstract

Background and aims:

Soil properties are key drivers of vegetation structure, yet their influence on above-ground woody biomass (AGB_W) in seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) remains underexplored, particularly at larger scales. This gap is evident in the Caatinga, Latin America’s largest SDTF, known for its biodiversity and carbon storage potential. We investigated relationships among soil, climate, and vegetation properties to understand accumulation patterns of AGBW in SDTFs.

Methods:

We used standardised soil and vegetation data from 29 research plots spanning diverse geological and floristic conditions. Linear mixed models and multi-model inference were applied to analyse relationships between AGB_W and environmental variables, including soil texture, fertility, plant-available soil water, mean annual precipitation (MAP), temperature, and climatic water deficit (CWD). Structural equation modelling (SEM) was utilised to assess how environmental variables influenced community-weighted maximum stem diameter, wood density, functional richness, and their combined effects on AGB_W.

Results:

AGB_W was influenced by MAP, soil fertility, maximum plant-available soil water, and CWD. SEM indicated that soil nutrient availability shaped community functional traits, reflecting trade-offs between growth and water-use strategies. In turn, species’ maximum stem diameter and, to a lesser extent, functional richness positively influenced AGB_W, underscoring the role of soil-mediated functional traits in shaping biomass.

Conclusion:

AGB_W in the Caatinga is shaped by soil, climate, and their interactions, with soil properties exerting strong effects on community functional diversity and composition. Our findings highlight patterns of functional trait variability and biomass storage, offering insights for biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration in SDTFs under global environmental change.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1357-1381
Number of pages	25
Journal	Plant and Soil
Volume	517
Issue number	2
Early online date	24 Oct 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07921-6
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 24 Oct 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.

Keywords

Brazilian semi-arid
Carbon stocks
Dryland soils
Drylands
Functional traits
Global change

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Brunello, A. T., Cardoso, D., Moonlight, P. W., Coutinho, Í. A. C., Cunha, J., do Espírito Santo, M. M., de Moura, M. S. B., de Queiroz, L. P., Nobrega, R., Domingues, T. F., & al , E. (2025). Soil–climate interactions drive above-ground biomass in the Caatinga, the largest Neotropical seasonally dry tropical forest. Plant and Soil, 517(2), 1357-1381. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07921-6

@article{3f2599cdbfea4c60b2d40a25e85f7a02,

title = "Soil–climate interactions drive above-ground biomass in the Caatinga, the largest Neotropical seasonally dry tropical forest",

abstract = "Background and aims:Soil properties are key drivers of vegetation structure, yet their influence on above-ground woody biomass (AGBW) in seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) remains underexplored, particularly at larger scales. This gap is evident in the Caatinga, Latin America{\textquoteright}s largest SDTF, known for its biodiversity and carbon storage potential. We investigated relationships among soil, climate, and vegetation properties to understand accumulation patterns of AGBW in SDTFs. Methods:We used standardised soil and vegetation data from 29 research plots spanning diverse geological and floristic conditions. Linear mixed models and multi-model inference were applied to analyse relationships between AGBW and environmental variables, including soil texture, fertility, plant-available soil water, mean annual precipitation (MAP), temperature, and climatic water deficit (CWD). Structural equation modelling (SEM) was utilised to assess how environmental variables influenced community-weighted maximum stem diameter, wood density, functional richness, and their combined effects on AGBW. Results:AGBW was influenced by MAP, soil fertility, maximum plant-available soil water, and CWD. SEM indicated that soil nutrient availability shaped community functional traits, reflecting trade-offs between growth and water-use strategies. In turn, species{\textquoteright} maximum stem diameter and, to a lesser extent, functional richness positively influenced AGBW, underscoring the role of soil-mediated functional traits in shaping biomass. Conclusion:AGBW in the Caatinga is shaped by soil, climate, and their interactions, with soil properties exerting strong effects on community functional diversity and composition. Our findings highlight patterns of functional trait variability and biomass storage, offering insights for biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration in SDTFs under global environmental change.",

keywords = "Brazilian semi-arid, Carbon stocks, Dryland soils, Drylands, Functional traits, Global change",

author = "Brunello, \{Alexandre T.\} and Domingos Cardoso and Moonlight, \{Peter W.\} and Coutinho, \{{\'I}talo A.C.\} and John Cunha and \{do Esp{\'i}rito Santo\}, \{M{\'a}rio M.\} and \{de Moura\}, \{Magna S.B.\} and \{de Queiroz\}, \{Luciano P.\} and Rodolfo Nobrega and Domingues, \{Tomas F.\} and et al",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.",

year = "2025",

month = oct,

day = "24",

doi = "10.1007/s11104-025-07921-6",

language = "English",

volume = "517",

pages = "1357--1381",

journal = "Plant and Soil",

issn = "0032-079X",

publisher = "Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH",

number = "2",

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Brunello, AT, Cardoso, D, Moonlight, PW, Coutinho, ÍAC, Cunha, J, do Espírito Santo, MM, de Moura, MSB, de Queiroz, LP, Nobrega, R, Domingues, TF & al , E 2025, 'Soil–climate interactions drive above-ground biomass in the Caatinga, the largest Neotropical seasonally dry tropical forest', Plant and Soil, vol. 517, no. 2, pp. 1357-1381. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07921-6

TY - JOUR

T1 - Soil–climate interactions drive above-ground biomass in the Caatinga, the largest Neotropical seasonally dry tropical forest

AU - Brunello, Alexandre T.

AU - Cardoso, Domingos

AU - Moonlight, Peter W.

AU - Coutinho, Ítalo A.C.

AU - Cunha, John

AU - do Espírito Santo, Mário M.

AU - de Moura, Magna S.B.

AU - de Queiroz, Luciano P.

AU - Nobrega, Rodolfo

AU - Domingues, Tomas F.

AU - al , et

PY - 2025/10/24

Y1 - 2025/10/24

N2 - Background and aims:Soil properties are key drivers of vegetation structure, yet their influence on above-ground woody biomass (AGBW) in seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) remains underexplored, particularly at larger scales. This gap is evident in the Caatinga, Latin America’s largest SDTF, known for its biodiversity and carbon storage potential. We investigated relationships among soil, climate, and vegetation properties to understand accumulation patterns of AGBW in SDTFs. Methods:We used standardised soil and vegetation data from 29 research plots spanning diverse geological and floristic conditions. Linear mixed models and multi-model inference were applied to analyse relationships between AGBW and environmental variables, including soil texture, fertility, plant-available soil water, mean annual precipitation (MAP), temperature, and climatic water deficit (CWD). Structural equation modelling (SEM) was utilised to assess how environmental variables influenced community-weighted maximum stem diameter, wood density, functional richness, and their combined effects on AGBW. Results:AGBW was influenced by MAP, soil fertility, maximum plant-available soil water, and CWD. SEM indicated that soil nutrient availability shaped community functional traits, reflecting trade-offs between growth and water-use strategies. In turn, species’ maximum stem diameter and, to a lesser extent, functional richness positively influenced AGBW, underscoring the role of soil-mediated functional traits in shaping biomass. Conclusion:AGBW in the Caatinga is shaped by soil, climate, and their interactions, with soil properties exerting strong effects on community functional diversity and composition. Our findings highlight patterns of functional trait variability and biomass storage, offering insights for biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration in SDTFs under global environmental change.

AB - Background and aims:Soil properties are key drivers of vegetation structure, yet their influence on above-ground woody biomass (AGBW) in seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) remains underexplored, particularly at larger scales. This gap is evident in the Caatinga, Latin America’s largest SDTF, known for its biodiversity and carbon storage potential. We investigated relationships among soil, climate, and vegetation properties to understand accumulation patterns of AGBW in SDTFs. Methods:We used standardised soil and vegetation data from 29 research plots spanning diverse geological and floristic conditions. Linear mixed models and multi-model inference were applied to analyse relationships between AGBW and environmental variables, including soil texture, fertility, plant-available soil water, mean annual precipitation (MAP), temperature, and climatic water deficit (CWD). Structural equation modelling (SEM) was utilised to assess how environmental variables influenced community-weighted maximum stem diameter, wood density, functional richness, and their combined effects on AGBW. Results:AGBW was influenced by MAP, soil fertility, maximum plant-available soil water, and CWD. SEM indicated that soil nutrient availability shaped community functional traits, reflecting trade-offs between growth and water-use strategies. In turn, species’ maximum stem diameter and, to a lesser extent, functional richness positively influenced AGBW, underscoring the role of soil-mediated functional traits in shaping biomass. Conclusion:AGBW in the Caatinga is shaped by soil, climate, and their interactions, with soil properties exerting strong effects on community functional diversity and composition. Our findings highlight patterns of functional trait variability and biomass storage, offering insights for biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration in SDTFs under global environmental change.

KW - Brazilian semi-arid

KW - Carbon stocks

KW - Dryland soils

KW - Drylands

KW - Functional traits

KW - Global change

U2 - 10.1007/s11104-025-07921-6

DO - 10.1007/s11104-025-07921-6

M3 - Article (Academic Journal)

AN - SCOPUS:105019651594

SN - 0032-079X

VL - 517

SP - 1357

EP - 1381

JO - Plant and Soil

JF - Plant and Soil

IS - 2

ER -

Soil–climate interactions drive above-ground biomass in the Caatinga, the largest Neotropical seasonally dry tropical forest

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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