Background:

The functional traits of plants are related with adaptive strategies and they are part of the biological diversity. Due its adaptations diversity the terrestrial orchids are a model for studying the relationship between their diversity, functional traits and environment, but this has been little studied.

Questions:

How does the orchids diversity and their functional traits change between vegetation types? Do the functional traits allow to recognize groups of orchid species? Are the diversity and functional traits of orchids associated with climatic and vegetation structure variables?

Study site and dates:

El Cielo Biosphere Reserve, January 2016-January 2017.

Methods:

The richness, abundance and functional traits of terrestrial orchids were recorded, as well as climatic and vegetal structure variables in three vegetation types. True diversity, species turnover, and trait diversity between vegetation types were estimated, in order to recognize functional groups at interspecific level. Diversity and functional traits between vegetation types were associated with environmental variables.

Results:

The pine-oak and cloud forests presented higher true diversity and had a greater species turnover among them than with the sub-deciduous tropical forest, which had the greatest diversity of functional traits. Three functional groups were recognized at the interspecific level; true and functional diversity was related to temperature, humidity, and canopy density.

Conclusions:

True diversity does not determine the diversity of functional traits; environments subjected to greater environmental stress have greater diversity of traits; the composition of functional groups among orchids reflects convergence events in its functional traits.

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