Edge effect influences the ecological strategies of plant communities in tropical forest fragments

The continuous fragmentation of tropical forests is a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. This process creates extensive forest edges, alters microclimates, and promotes shifts in species composition. Functional traits are key to understanding how species respond to these disturbances and to predicting future vegetation dynamics. This study investigates the ecological strategies of species located at the edges and interiors of forest fragments in the Eastern Amazon. We sampled abundant tree species in seven forest fragments distributed across three municipalities in Pará, Brazil. We analysed 16 morphological and anatomical traits related to leaf economics and xylem function. Comparisons were made between edge and interior environments, and traits were correlated with edaphic variables. Species at forest edges had traits associated with hydraulic efficiency, including higher hydraulic conductivity and a greater fiber fraction. In contrast, interior species displayed a range of strategies, from resource-acquisitive to conservative. We found evidence of a decoupling between leaf and wood trait axes, with wood traits varying independently from leaf traits. Soil conditions influenced trait patterns only at fragment edges. Our study enhances understanding of the mechanisms regulating species survival, as evidenced by the different strategies adopted by plants in the interior and at the edges of forest fragments, reflecting contrasting responses to resource availability. These findings also provide support for conservation and forest management strategies and contribute to policy development aimed at mitigating the impacts of fragmentation on Amazonian biodiversity.