The Espinhaço highlands, the largest mountainous region in Brazil's interior, has great topographic variations and a diverse ecosystem structure. Espinhaço is a natural divider of hydrographic basins of great ecological importance in southeastern Brazil, since its very old geological structure, the rugosity of its relief and its acute features, results in a great variety of soils and environmental conditions, which allows the presence of a high diversity of species, including several endemics \cite{Benites_2007}.
Efforts have been made to justify the presence of different types of vegetation across the Espinhaço highlands, specially savannas (cerrado) and moist forests (mata atlântica) physiognomies. Studies have shown a precipitation \cite{Ribeiro_Nascimento_Madeira_Ribeiro_2009,Santos_Serafim_Sano_2011}  and air humidity  \cite{Santos_Serafim_Sano_2011a,Fernandes_2016} difference between the eastern and western regions of the study area, pointing out for a possible altitudinal hydroclimatic gradient. However, is still necessary a better hydrologic flux quantification (inputs and outputs) of these domains, which will lead us to a better understanding of bioclimatic controls and feedbacks amid the hydroclimatic dynamics and the current distribution and occurence of different vegetation types.  

Perguntas

  1. Which are the temporal and spatial controls on plant water availability differences across the study region? 
  2. How does the differences on water availability drives plant water use strategies and efficiency based on phenologic metrics? 

Metodologia