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In the fire-prone tropical savanna landscapes of northern South America, forest edge effects significantly shape tree structural integrity and functional traits, with implications for ecosystem resilience, carbon storage, and biodiversity. This study examines how the edge effect, intensified by fire, affects species dominance, forest structure, and functional trait distributions in this region. Using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs), we analyzed changes in species abundance and structural variables (biomass, basal area, tree height, and wood density), as well as leaf (leaf thickness, leaf moisture, leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and specific leaf area (SLA)) and stem (bark and stem thickness and stem-specific density) traits across edge-to-interior gradients. The key findings indicate significant reductions in tree height (F = 19.27, p < 0.01), basal area (F = 6.52, p < 0.01), and biomass (F = 5.44, p < 0.01) near the edges. Leaf moisture (F = 11.8, p < 0.01) and specific leaf area (SLA, F = 7.02, p < 0.01) increased at the edges, reflecting microenvironmental gradients, with heightened fire sensitivity seen in traits like bark thickness (F = 11.88, p < 0.01). Fire-affected areas displayed intensified adaptive trait shifts, suggesting a compounded resilience but potential functional convergence, limiting adaptive capacity under climate stressors. These findings emphasize the ecological significance of edge–fire interactions, advocating conservation strategies to enhance structural and trait diversity for ecosystem stability. Our study underscores the need for targeted management to bolster resilience and biodiversity within these dynamic landscapes as climate pressures intensify.
Armenteras et al. (Thu,) studied this question.