Functional
traits
Among woody species, 78 species were phanerophytes (n=2176), nine were
woody lianas (n=48), one was a geophyte (n=10) and one was a
hemiepiphyte (n=1). Among non-woody species 53 species were therophytes,
24 chamaephytes, six were hemicryptophytes, four were non-woody lianas,
two were geophytes, one was an epiphyte and one was a hemiepiphyte.
Plots far from roads had higher species richness of phanerophytes
(p=0.0077) and of chamaephytes (p=0.047, Figure 2). In the woody
component (trees, shrubs and lianas), 39 species were resprouters, 27
were endozoochoric, 16 were nitrogen-fixers, nine were urticant or toxic
and seven were succulents with spines. Among the non-woody species,
eight were spiny succulents, eight were nitrogen fixers, five were
endozoochoric, three were resprouters and three were urticant or toxic
(Table S1). The species richness of woody resprouters (p=0.027) as well
as species richness of all resprouters (p=0.021) were lower near roads
than far from roads (Figure 3). There were less species of woody
nitrogen-fixers (p=0.018) as well as less species of nitrogen-fixers in
general (p=0.027) in plots near roads than in plots far from roads.
There were also less endozoochorous species (p=0.002) in plots near
roads than in plots far from roads (Figure 3).