Plant Functional Traits in Tropical Dry Forests

Plants have certain characteristics which allow them to respond to various environmental conditions, like changes in climate, water scarcity in the soil, lack of minerals; among others. In some of these traits, the responses to climatic phenomena such as drought can be evidenced through morphological adaptations (spines, succulent tissues, trichomes) or physiological adaptations (regulation of water potential at the cellular level, the concentration of nutrients, etc.). A systematic literature review was performed to study plant functional traits (PFTs) in tropical dry forests (TDFs). The chapter suggests the role of functional traits in community dynamics and processes. The authors will also highlight the limitations of PFTs in TDFs and how they can be improved.