Dalmolin A. C. author Dalmagro H. J. author de Lobo F. A. author Antunes M. Z. author Ortíz C. E. R. author Vourlitis G. L. author text journal article 2013 Vochysia divergens Pohl is considered to be a flood-adapted, light-demanding pioneer species that has been invading grasslands of the Brazilian Pantanal. In these areas, a successful invasion requires an ability to tolerate physiologically wide fluctuations in surface hydrology and shading induced by a dense cover of grasses and other vegetation. We evaluated how flooding and shading affected the photosynthetic performance of V. divergens saplings by measuring light-saturated gas exchange (net photosynthetic rate, P _N; stomatal conductance, g _s), and intercellular CO₂ (P _N/C _i) and photosynthetic photon flux density (P _N/PPFD) response curves over a 61-d field experiment. Shading and flooding reduced significantly light-saturated P _N and g _s and affected multiple aspects of the leaf gas exchange response of V. divergens to variations in PPFD and CO₂. Flooding influenced the physiology of this species more than shading. Given the success of V. divergens at invading and expanding in seasonally flooded areas of the Pantanal, the results were surprising and highlighted the physiological ability of this species to tolerate suboptimal conditions. However, the consistently higher light-saturated P _N and g _s under nonflooded conditions suggested that the invasive success of V. divergens might not be related to its physiological potential during flooding, but to situations, when flooding recedes during the dry season and soil water availability is adequate. Brazilian Pantanal; CO2 and light-response curves; ecophysiology; invasive plants; tropical wetlands 10.1007/s11099-013-0034-1 https://ps.ueb.cas.cz/artkey/phs-201303-0007.php https://ps.ueb.cas.cz/artkey/phs-201303-0007.php continuing 51 3 379 386 2013 03003604 periodical academic journal