Functional and anatomical plant adaptations to water deficit in Brazilian dry ecosystems

Esther Rodrigues Alves dos Reis

doi:10.14295/cerrado.v3i3.883

Authors

Esther Rodrigues Alves dos Reis Undergraduate student in Biological Sciences (B.Sc.), University Estácio de Sá, Belo Horizonte, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7651-6917

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14295/cerrado.v3i3.883

Keywords:

Xeromorphism, Phenotypic plasticity, Environmental filtering, Sclerophylly, Ecophysiology, Drought tolerance

Abstract

This study aimed to synthesize and discuss the main structural and ecological mechanisms that enable plant persistence in Brazilian dry environments, with emphasis on the Cerrado, Caatinga, and Restinga ecosystems. An integrative literature review combined with a descriptive bibliometric analysis was conducted using studies published between 1992 and 2024, retrieved from major scientific databases. The review followed PRISMA-based procedures and included 29 eligible studies addressing anatomical, physiological, and ecological responses to environmental stress. The results revealed recurrent xeromorphic characteristics, including cuticular thickening, trichome occurrence, compact mesophyll organization, epidermal reinforcement, and tissue sclerification, which contribute to water conservation and environmental resistance. Conservative functional strategies, phenotypic plasticity, adaptive convergence, and drought-avoidance mechanisms were also frequently reported across the analyzed ecosystems. The findings indicate that plant survival under restrictive conditions depends on the integration of anatomical organization, functional traits, and ecological strategies. Furthermore, similar environmental pressures promote convergent adaptive responses among distinct biomes, highlighting the importance of these mechanisms for ecosystem resilience under ongoing climate change.

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