Functional Characters of Nurses and their Effect on Diversity in Semiarid Environments

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Facilitation by nurse plants is one of the most commonly reported interactions and is considered a crucial factor in structuring plant communities, especially in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. This study is based on a comprehensive review of articles published between 1996 and 2023, aiming to select the main morphological characteristics of nurse species in these environments that are deemed most important in the beneficiary-protected interaction. From this review, we analyze this relationship from a functional perspective. This perspective allows taxonomically different species to be classified into groups that respond similarly to environmental conditions. Our hypothesis suggests that some species share morphological traits that can modify environmental conditions in various ways, potentially reducing the dimensionality of the study of interactions between pairs of species in these ecosystems. The most relevant characteristics are related to the improvement of microclimatic conditions, the decrease in herbivory, and the increase in nutrient availability in soil. Understanding these dynamics is essential because these studies help identify the main limitations of species regeneration and establishment in arid and semi-arid environments. Additionally, this information can be crucial for the conservation and restoration of these vulnerable ecosystems and provides a solid foundation for future research and environmental management strategies.