We investigated the leaf morphology of trees from three distinct successional stages (early, intermediate, late) of a lowland rain forest located near the coast of Paraná State, Brazil. This forest grows on sandy soil with low nutrient content. Leaves from trees from the early successional stage present a higher degree of sclerophylly, having thicker leaves, smaller leaf area, higher stomata density, thicker palisade parenchyma, and higher prevalence of sclerenchyma than those of species from the intermediate and late successional stages. Variation of leaf morphology along the successional gradient is likely related to microclimatic changes and the interaction of plant-soil processes, which intensify in older successional stages.
Atlantic Forest; leaf morphology; sclerophylly; succession
