Means (±1 SD) and ANOVA P values for differences in environmental and physiological features of seedlings either (i) recruited in the forest, (ii) recruited in the adjacent reforested area, or (iii) planted in the reforested area.

P-values for midday soil moisture (TDR volumetric percentage) and midday leaf water potential (Ψ) were calculated using Friedman tests with “Sampling day” as a within-block factor. P-values for specific leaf area (SLA), contents of total chlorophyll (Chla+b), β-carotene, and xanthophyll cycle pool (VAZ) were calculated using a nested ANOVA approach based on pairwise permutations, with plant nested within seedling experimental group.Values across rows with different superscript letters indicate that means were significantly different (Tukey's HSD test, P