Reproductive phenology of Carapa guianensis Aubl. (Meliaceae) in two forest areas of the Central Amazon

This article presents the phenological study of Carapa guianensis Aubl species from 1974 to 2000, in ADFR and TFES forests stations research in Central Amazon, Brazil. The objective was to analyze and compare the phenological pattern (flowering and fructification) and the influence of the climatic factors. The flowering in the TFES started in a higher precipitation season; meanwhile at ADFR it was irregular. The fruiting in both areas occurred more frequently rainiest season, but in the ADFR the mature fruits were more irregular. The frequency of occurrence was annual from “flower bud” to “immature fruit” phenophases in TFES, but was over-annual only in “mature fruits”. But in ADFR, was annual from “flower bud” to “anthesis” and was over-annual in immature fruit” and “mature fruit”, both with irregular pattern and duration from intermediate to prolonged. The duration of the floral bud phenophase and anthesis was similar in the two areas; however, ‘immature fruits” in the TFES, in general, was higher than in the ADFR. But “mature fruits” were higher in ADFR. The phenophases did not occurred at same time in all trees studied, possibly due the influence of the intraspecific genetic variability in interaction with the environment

Uso de índices RGB para o Bioma Caatinga associados a dados meteorológicos e índices de vegetação: estudos iniciais.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo monitorar a cobertura vegetal em uma área de Caatinga preservada por meio de imagens digitais, bem como sua correlação com dados meteorológicos e índices de vegetação obtidos em imagens MODIS

Linking plant phenology to conservation biology

Phenology has achieved a prominent position in current scenarios of global change research given its role inmonitoring and predicting the timing of recurrent life cycle events. However, the implications of phenology to environmental conservation and management remain poorly explored. Here,we present the first explicit appraisal of howphenology-amultidisciplinary science encompassing biometeorology, ecology, and evolutionary biology- can make a key contribution to contemporary conservation biology. We focus on shifts in plant phenology induced by global change, their impacts on species diversity and plant-animal interactions in the tropics, and how conservation efforts could be enhanced in relation to plant resource organization. We identify the effects of phenological changes and mismatches in the maintenance and conservation of mutualistic interactions, and examine how phenological research can contribute to evaluate, manage and mitigate the consequences of land-use change and other natural and anthropogenic disturbances, such as fire, exotic and invasive species. Wealso identify cutting-edge tools that can improve the spatial and temporal coverage of phenological monitoring, from satellites to drones and digital cameras. We highlight the role of historical information in recovering long-term phenological time series, and track climate-related shifts in tropical systems. Finally, we propose a set of measures to boost the contribution of phenology to conservation science.Weadvocate the inclusion of phenology into predictive models integrating evolutionary history to identify species groups that are either resilient or sensitive to future climate-change scenarios, and understand how phenological m ismatches can affect community dynamics, ecosystem services, and conservation over time

Reproductive phenology of Dipteryx odorata (Aubl.) Willd (Fabaceae) in two forest areas in the Central Amazon

Long term phenological studies in tropical forests are scarce. A phenological study of Dipteryx odorata was carried out from 1974 to 2000 in two areas of Amazon Forest: Reserva Florestal Ducke (RFD) and Estação Experimental de Silvicultura Tropical (EEST). The objective was to compare the phenological patterns between the two areas, to verify the regularity of flowering and fruiting over a period of 27 years, and to verify the influence of climatic factors in these events. Five trees were marked in the RFD and five in the EEST; and were observed monthly for the presence of flowers, unripe and ripe fruits. The flowering and unripe fruiting presented an irregular pattern in both areas, and also varied with regard to duration and period of occurrence between years and seasons. Nevertheless, they presented similar frequency of occurrence during the 27 years of observation. On the other hand, the production of ripe fruits presented a different pattern, with three year intervals without ripe fruits in the RFD, and seven year intervals in the EEST. We concluded that the frequency of flowering and unripe fruiting was annual, and the frequency of occurrence of ripe fruiting was supra-annual, with an irregular pattern, and a duration from intermediate to extended. We also observed the occurrence of one to three year intervals between flowering and unripe fruiting episodes, and one to seven year intervals between episodes with ripe fruiting. The influence of climatic factors in the patterns observed was not clear. We suggest the rational use of natural products extracted from Dipteryx odorata, the "cumaru", especially the fruits, and the development of more long term studies, fundamental for understanding the reproductive phenological patterns as well as the resource offering patterns in tropical forests.Estudos fenológicos de longa duração em florestas tropicais são raros. Foi realizado o acompanhamento fenológico de Dipteryx odorata, no período de 1974 à 2000, em duas áreas de floresta amazônicaa Reserva Florestal Ducke (RFD) e Estação Experimental de Silvicultura Tropical (EEST). O objetivo foi observar os padrões fenológicos nas duas áreas, verificar a regularidade da floração e frutificação num período de 27 anos e a influência dos fatores climáticos nestes eventos. Foram marcados cinco indivíduos na RFD e cinco na EEST e observados quanto à produção de flores, frutos imaturos e maduros. A floração e a produção de frutos imaturos apresentaram padrão irregular nas duas áreas observadas, variando quanto a época de ocorrência e a duração entre anos e estações, mas apresentaram freqüência de ocorrência similar nos 27 anos observados. Para a fenofase frutos maduros este padrão foi diferente, com intervalos de até três anos sem ocorrência de frutos maduros, na RFD e de sete anos na EEST. Conclui-se que a freqüência de ocorrência das fenofases de floração e frutos imaturos foi anual e a de frutos maduros supra-anual, todas com padrão irregular e duração de intermediária a prolongada. Ocorreu variação de um a três anos entre episódios de floração e frutos imaturos e de um a sete anos entre episódios de frutos maduros, não ficando evidente, nesta análise, a influência dos fatores climáticos nos padrões observados. Sugere-se o uso racional dos produtos derivados de Dipteryx odorata, o cumaru, especialmente quanto à exploração de seus frutos e o desenvolvimento de mais estudos de longa duração, fundamentais para entender os padrões fenológicos reprodutivos e de oferta de recursos em florestas tropicais