Phenology and dispersal syndromes of woody species in deciduous forest fragments of the Pantanal in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil

Abstract

We analyzed the phenological responses of shrub-tree species of lowland deciduous (LDF) and submontane deciduous (SFD) forests in the Pantanal, and assessed their relationships with climatic factors at the community level and with strategies for seed dispersal. Vegetative and reproductive phenophases of 50 tree-shrub species were monitored monthly (12 months), and their relationship with climatic variables was tested using multiple linear regression. Time of leaf budding differed between areas for autochoric species and between autochoric and anemochoric species at LDF. Leaf fall in communities and functional groups was seasonal and highly synchronous during the dry season (95 % of species). Leaf budding peaked at the end of the dry season with > 80 % synchrony. In general, the species presented low synchrony or asynchrony for flowering phenophases, while fruiting phenophases were weakly seasonal but differed between functional groups. Temperature and precipitation were the regulating factors of vegetative phenophases in LDF, while daylength regulated them in SDF. Abiotic factors only influenced flowering phenophases at the dispersion group level. Only ripe fruits were related to reduced daylength. The phenophases of the deciduous forests of the Pantanal seem to be regulated not only by climatic factors but also by strong endogenous control.

Reproductive phenology of timber tree species in the Yungas Piedmont Forest of Argentina

“…In our study area, the timber tree species studied are deciduous (Brown et al, 2001;Malizia et al, 2012) and flowering of almost all species corresponds with leaf fall. Leaf loss decreases photosynthetic activity and may result in stem rehydration for flowering (Singh & Kushwaha, 2016), and can facilitate flower visibility for pollinators (Lima & Damasceno-Junior, 2020).…”

Reproductive biology of Vatica venulosa Blume (Dipterocarpaceae)

“…The development of flower buds until the flower bloomed took between 7-9 days, and the loss of flower buds was very high, reaching between 40-97.5 %. Lima (2020) states that at the end of the dry season 80 % of leaf shoots develop on woody species.…”

“…The minimum air humidity was 74.43 % and the maximum was 89.21 % (BMKG 2020). Temperature, humidity and duration of radiation greatly affect the vegetative and generative growth of plants in lowlands and submontane (Lima 2020). Winarni et al (2016) also commented that climate change affects the flowering and fruiting time of Dipterocarpaceae in the forest.…”

Anotaciones sobre interacciones ecológicas en el refugio de vida silvestre barras de cuero y salado, Honduras

“…Diversos estudios han enfatizado la importancia de las interacciones ecológicas en las áreas protegidas (Machado y Lopes, 2004;Hipólito et al, 2019;Lima y Damasceno-Júnior, 2020). El humedal del Refugio de Vida Silvestre Barras de Cuero y Salado es reconocido por la Convención Relativa a los humedales de Importancia Internacional como uno de los principales sitios para el hábitat de muchas especies de aves, donde se realizan actividades de pesca, agricultura y turismo (Ramsar, 2021).…”