The objective of this study was to analyse the behavior of sap flow in a transition Amazon-Savannah forest species, to characterize the dependence of sap flow as a function of atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD). The sap flow was measured using the technique proposed by Granier, using heat dissipation probes in five different species. The data were divided into four seasons. In the experimental period, the curves of seasonal variation of sap flow showed an occurrence of peaks in the wet season. This seasonal sap flow trend was evidenced by the relationship between daily values of transpiration and VPD. The threshold value of VPD at these stations ranged from 1 to 1.5 kPa. Considering sap flow as representative of plant transpiration, reduction of the flux in the dry season did not confirm the hypothesis of maintenance of evapotranspiration process. The sap flow in the studied species was influenced more by weather than soil water availability. This raises the possibility of water storage in the stem during drier periods, when leaf area decreases. However the transpiration rate is not significantly different from that of the rainy season.
sap flow; evapotranspiration; water storage
