Phylogenetic signal

We did not find phylogenetic signal for maximum diameter (contrast variation=6.808, p>0.05) and maximum height (contrast variation=0.165; p>0.05) as well as herbaceous relative cover (contrast variation=0.043, p>0.05). Since from comstruct output it becomes possible to compute significance levels for phylogenetic structure values to be different from the zero expectation (MPD.rankHigh/nruns), Nitrogen fixers were clustered phylogenetically, (NRI=20.97), as well as those with resprouting ability (NRI=4.43), with urticancy or toxicity (NRI=9.54), spiny succulents (NRI=9.55), phanerophytes (NRI=5.70) and lianas (NRI=3.22), demonstrating that those functional traits related to herbivory and long-stemmed life forms are conserved within phylogenetic lineages of the metacommunity tree. In contrast, the endozoochorous species (NRI=-1.44), chamaephytes (NRI=0.39), annuals/therophytes (NRI=0.51) and hemicryptophytes (NRI=-0.29) were not significantly clustered.
Regarding the traits related to strategies for herbivory deterrence, distribution of traits on the phylogenetic tree of the woody component shows spinescent succulents restricted to the families Cactaceae and Bromeliaceae. Meanwhile, resprouters were distributed mainly among the Rosids clade. Urticancy and toxicity was mainly distributed in the family Euphorbiaceae, with some representatives in the families Fabaceae, Apocynaceae and Portulacaceae. Annuals were distributed throughout the metacommunity phylogenetic tree, but mainly in the families Poaceae, Commelinaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Asteraceae, Amaranthaceae and Cleomaceae (Figure 4).