Host utilization of the Brazil nut family (Lecythidaceae) by sympatric wood-boring species of Palame (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae, Acanthocinini)

Estimates of the total number of arthropod species in existence are based, in part, upon assumptions about both the host specificity of tropical insects and their restriction to the forest canopy. It has been difficult to evaluate these estimates because of the paucity of available data. A newly discovered association between wood-boring beetles (Cerambycidae) and their host plants in the Brazil nut family (Lecythidaceae) inspired a year-long rearing project in the Neotropical rain forest of French Guiana. Branches severed from five species of Lecythidaceae yielded 1813 cerambycids belonging to 37 species. Three cerambycid species– Palame anceps (Bates), P. crassimana Bates, and P. mimetica Monné–accounted for almost half of the individuals reared. Each demonstrated a different pattern of host fidelity. Palame crassimana emerged from four of the five potential hosts, P. anceps emerged exclusively from a single host, and P. mimetica made a seasonal change in host affiliation. Although Palame spp. emerged from both ground level and canopy branches, they made a seasonal shift in stratum: they reproduced at both levels during the dry season, but exclusively at canopy level during the rainy season. Even specialized tropical insects may show greater flexibility in host utilization than some current hypotheses suggest.     

Detection of seasonal variability in microclimatic borders and ecotones between forest and savanna

Along eight forest-savanna transects, the borders, the width of associated ecotones, and the depth-of-edge influence (DEI) towards the forest interior were determined on the basis of microclimatic parameters. The analysis focused on the seasonal variability of microclimate at the forest-savanna ecotone that has so far rarely been investigated. The study was located in an intact mosaic of semi-deciduous forests and savanna in the Comoé National Park (north-eastern Ivory Coast). The microclimatic parameters air temperature, air humidity, and vapor pressure deficit were measured from the dry season (February) until the rainy season (September) during five measurement periods (MP). Borders and ecotones including their confidence intervals were determined by a border-and-ecotone detection analysis, which is based on non-linear regression analysis. The ecotone limits were interpreted as DEI towards the two habitats. During the dry season, the microclimatic border between forest and savanna was located further towards the forest interior than during the rainy season. This may be caused by different foliation patterns of tree species at the forest interior and the forest boundary, with the latter being completely defoliated during the dry season. In addition, the variability of microclimatic parameters was higher and differences between forest and savanna were less pronounced during the dry season. The minimum DEI towards the forest interior was 27.4±15.5 m for air humidity in the rainy season (MP-5). The maximum DEI of 137.3 ±138.3 m occurred for air temperature in the dry season (MP-1). The average DEI for all microclimate parameters and MPs was 50.5 m. These DEI values are similar to observations from temperate and tropical forest boundaries in the literature. As microclimate borders proved to shift over the seasons, detailed knowledge of species’ responses to this variability appears to be essential for predicting concomitant dynamics of forest core areas.     

Host specificity and association of Cerambycidae with the physical characteristics of the wood of trees in a tropical dry forest

Few studies test the host specificity of tropical dry forest cerambycids, in this study, we examined the host preferences of the cerambycids of a tropical dry forest in central Mexico and the association of cerambycid richness and abundance with the physical characteristics of the wood of their host plants. Branch segments of 81 species of woody plants were cut and left exposed to allow cerambycids oviposition, and the branches were collected and placed in emergence chambers. We measured the density, decomposition rate, and volume of wood for each branch segment. Fifty-seven species of cerambycids emerged. We categorized the cerambycids by the degree of host specificity: 23% were generalists, 14% were specialists, and for 63% of the data were insufficient to determine specificity. For the first time we report, for the tropical dry forest, preference patterns between Cerambycidae (subfamilies and species) and their host plants (families and species). Physical characteristics of wood, such as density and decomposition rate, were strongly related to the presence of cerambycids. Cerambycidae in this forest use wood resources that decompose at an intermediate rate and are relatively soft. The cerambycids were most often generalists, and specific cerambycid/tree species associations were rare, but close commensal relationships were found at the level of subfamilies and plant families. Cerambycid richness and abundance depend on the type of host, medium decomposed woods, and the great abundance of each individual host in the area.     

Phenology of Tree Species in Bolivian Dry Forests

Phenological characteristics of 453 individuals representing 39 tree species were investigated in two dry forests of the Lomerío region, Department of Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The leaf, flower, and fruit production of canopy and sub–canopy forest tree species were recorded monthly over a two–year period. Most canopy species lost their leaves during the dry season, whereas nearly all sub–canopy species retained their leaves. Peak leaf fall for canopy trees coincided with the peak of the dry season in July and August. Flushing of new leaves was complete by November in the early rainy season. Flowering and fruiting were bimodal, with a major peak occurring at the end of the dry season (August–October) and a minor peak during the rainy season (January). Fruit development was sufficiently long in this forest that fruiting peaks actually tended to precede flowering peaks by one month. A scarcity of fruit was observed in May, corresponding to the end of the rainy season. With the exception of figs (Ficus), most species had fairly synchronous fruit production. Most canopy trees had small, wind dispersed seeds or fruits that matured during the latter part of the dry season, whereas many sub–canopy tree species produced larger animal– or gravity–dispersed fruits that matured during the peak of the rainy season. Most species produced fruit annually. Lomerio received less rainfall than other tropical dry forests in which phenological studies have been conducted, but rainfall can be plentiful during the dry season in association with the passage of Antarctic cold fronts. Still, phenological patterns in Bolivian dry forests appear to be similar to those of other Neotropical dry forests.     

Vertical distribution and abundance of arthropods in the soil of a Neotropical secondary forest during the rainy season∗

About 64,000 arthropods per m² soil were extracted in a secondary dryland forest at Manaus, Brazil, during the rainy season in early 1986. About 74% of all arthropods lived in the top 3.5 cm, 14% below the humus layer (3.5–7 cm depth), and only 12% in 7–14 cm depth. Acari and Collembola represented more than 72% of the total catch. Decreasing abundance was significantly correlated with lower soil humidity at greater soil depths. Vertical distribution of arthropods corresponded with data obtained during the dry season in late 1985 from the same forest. Consequently, neither during the rainy season nor during the dry season was the abundance of arthropods in mineral subsoils higher in response to the changing humidity in organic layers, as reported from forests in the seasonal tropics.     

Microclimate and seed bank under Pithecellobium keyense (Fabaceae) in a coastal scrubland

Microclimatic conditions affect seeds' survival, dormancy, and germination, which are determinants in vegetation succession and recovery. The semiarid coastal scrublands of Yucatan, Mexico are very important because of the environmental services they provide thus, studies are needed in disturbed sites in relation to seed viability and microclimate. In this study, we characterized the microclimate and seed bank under Pithecellobium keyense shrubs, during the rainy and dry seasons. We collected soil samples and measured microenvironmental variables under adult P. keyense at three different positions under the canopy of every studied individual (“open” or completely sunny, “half-shaded,” placed at the border of the canopy, and “fully shaded” placed under the canopy, next to the stem of the shrub). Photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), minimum night-time temperature, and maximum daytime temperature behaved differently among positions under the canopy both in rainy and dry seasons. During the rainy season, seed viability was no different among microenvironments, while in the dry, the highest was found in the fully shaded and the lowest in the open position. Microclimatic variables under the canopy of P. keyense had an effect on the probability of seed viability in Chuburná; and this effect was stronger in the dry season. Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.     

Reproductive phenology of two Mimusops species in relation to climate,tree diameter and canopy position in Benin (West Africa)

Assessing species phenology provides useful understanding about their autecology, to contribute to management strategies. We monitored reproductive phenology of Mimusops andongensis and Mimusops kummel, and its relationship with climate, tree diameter and canopy position. We sampled trees in six diameter classes and noted their canopy position. For both species flowering began in the dry season through to the rainy season, but peaked in the dry season, whilst fruiting occurred in the rainy season and peaked during the most humid period. Flowering was positively correlated with temperature. Conversely, fruiting was negatively correlated with temperature and positively with rainfall, only in the Guineo‐Sudanian zone. For M. andongensis, flowering and fruiting prevalences were positively linked to stem diameter, while only flowering was significantly related to canopy position. For M. kummel, the relationship with stem diameter was significant for flowering prevalence only and in the Guineo‐Sudanian zone. Results suggest that phylogenetic membership is an important factor restricting Mimusops species phenology. Flowering and fruiting of both species are influenced by climate, and consequently climate change might shift their phenological patterns. Long‐term investigations, considering flowering and fruiting abortion, will help to better understand the species phenology and perhaps predict demographic dynamics.     

垂叶榕榕小蜂群落及种间互作网络季节动态

群落中的物种相互作用构成了复杂的生态网络。有关物种的数量和组成的季节性动态变化已有较多的研究, 但是对于生态网络的动态变化知之甚少。揭示生态网络的动态变化对于理解群落的稳定性以及群落的动态变化过程和机理具有重要意义。本研究以垂叶榕(Ficus benjamina)榕小蜂群落为研究对象, 分别在西双版纳的干季和雨季采集了榕小蜂的种类和数量信息。比较了两个季节榕小蜂群落的动态变化以及共存网络的参数(例如网路直径、连接数、嵌套性和群落矩阵温度)变化。结果显示: 雨季榕果内传粉榕小蜂Eupristina koningsbergeri所占比例高于干季, 传粉榕小蜂的种群数量也高于干季, 而在干季非传粉榕小蜂的种类增加(干季15种小蜂, 雨季14种)。从榕树-传粉榕小蜂互利共生系统的适合度来看, 干季非传粉小蜂的增加对传粉榕小蜂和榕树的适合度是不利的。在干季, 共存网络物种间的连接数(干季0.95, 雨季0.47)多于雨季, 群落矩阵温度(干季23.24, 雨季2.64)也显著高于雨季。表明干季榕小蜂群落组成及种间关系较雨季更为复杂而多样, 高的矩阵温度暗示群落受到的干扰更大。     

西双版纳望天树林林窗小气候特征研究

 对西双版纳望天树林林窗小气候要素的季节变化、水平差异进行了观测研究,并对比分析了两个大小不同林窗内温度垂直分布状况、相对湿度差别。结果表明：大林窗内温度、湿度、光照的日变化均比林内大;大林窗中央光照强度为林内的10倍以上,太阳总辐射量、净辐射量为林内的5倍以上,大林窗中央的蒸发耗热量大于林内,且均占各自净辐射的较大比例(70％～80％),干季大林窗内温度、湿度日变化比雨季剧烈,大林窗内具有两个加热层(幼苗冠层、地表),小林窗仅有一个加热层(幼树冠层),且前者的加热强度大于后者,相对湿度日变化则是大林窗内较剧烈。     

Species Richness and Abundance of Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) in Huatulco,Oaxaca, Mexico; Relationships with Phenological Changes in the Tropical Dry Forest

Cerambycidae have an important ecological role in initiating the degradation process of dead wood, but few studies have evaluated Cerambycidae community attributes in relation to ecosystem phenology. We surveyed the cerambicid fauna of the tropical dry forest in Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico, and explored the relationship of Cerambycidae species richness and abundance with phenological changes in vegetation. We applied three collecting methods of light traps, direct collection, and Malaise traps to survey Cerambycidae throughout 2005. To determine seasonal variations, we collected samples in the dry season month of February in the rainy season of May–July and August–September, and in the transition months of October and November through. We collected and identified 145 species, 88 genera, 37 tribes, and four subfamilies. The subfamily with the highest number of species was Cerambycinae (100 species), and the tribe with the highest number of genera and species was Elaphidiini with 13 genera and 33 species. The ICE non-parametric estimator determined an overall expected richness of 373 species, while the overall Shannon Diversity Index was 4.1. Both species richness and abundance varied seasonally, with the highest values recorded in the rainy season and the lowest in the dry season. Overall species abundance was not significantly correlated to monthly rainfall or EVI neither, only for “direct collecting” the EVI vs Richness and EVI vs Shannon Diversity Index were significantly correlated. We propose that the seemingly contradictory relationships between seasonal richness patterns of Cerambycidae and the greening/senescence of vegetation (EVI) may be explained by the seasonal availability of dead organic matter, flowers, or leafy vegetation that may be synchronized with the behavior of different cerambycid species.     

Foggy days and dry nights determine crown‐level water balance in a seasonal tropical montane cloud forest

The ecophysiology of tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) trees is influenced by crown‐level microclimate factors including regular mist/fog water inputs, and large variations in evaporative demand, which in turn can significantly impact water balance. We investigated the effect of such microclimatic factors on canopy ecophysiology and branch‐level water balance in the dry season of a seasonal TMCF in Veracruz, Mexico, by quantifying both water inputs (via foliar uptake, FU) and outputs (day‐ and night‐time transpiration, NT). Measurements of sap flow, stomatal conductance, leaf water potential and pressure–volume relations were obtained in Quercus lanceifolia, a canopy‐dominant tree species. Our results indicate that FU occurred 34% of the time and led to the recovery of 9% (24 ± 9.1 L) of all the dry‐season water transpired from individual branches. Capacity for FU was independently verified for seven additional common tree species. NT accounted for approximately 17% (46 L) of dry‐season water loss. There was a strong correlation between FU and the duration of leaf wetness events (fog and/or rain), as well as between NT and the night‐time vapour pressure deficit. Our results show the clear importance of fog and NT for the canopy water relations of Q. lanceifolia.     

Seasonal variation in abundance and diversity of eavesdropping frog‐biting midges (Diptera,Corethrellidae) in a neotropical rainforest

1. In the tropics, precipitation patterns result in seasonal fluctuations in the abundance and distribution of plant and animal species. Tropical predators and parasites are therefore faced with seasonal changes in prey and host availability. 2. This study investigates the seasonal interaction among a specialised ectoparasite, eavesdropping frog‐biting midges (Corethrella spp.), and their anuran hosts, examining how the abundance and diversity of the frog‐biting midge community fluctuate between the rainy (host abundant) and dry (host sparse) seasons. 3. Midges were captured in both the rainy and dry seasons using acoustic playbacks of calls from a common frog species that breeds during the rainy season, the túngara frog (Engystomops, Physalaemus, pustulosus). During the dry season túngara frog choruses are absent. To explore seasonal shifts in host preference or changes in the midge community due to host specificity, midges were also captured using playbacks of calls from a frog that breeds during the dry season, the pug‐nosed tree frog (Smilisca sila). 4. While the overall abundance of midges decreased in the dry season, only slight differences in the relative abundance between midge species were found. These results suggest that midge populations can shift between hosts as they become available across seasons, allowing adult populations of frog‐biting midges to persist year‐round. To overcome the challenge of detecting and localising different host species, it is proposed that frog‐biting midges have evolved a generalised acoustic template, allowing them to respond to a broad range of available hosts, regardless of seasonal host composition.     

Ovitrap surveys of dengue vector mosquitoes in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand: seasonal shifts in relative abundance of Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti

Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) were surveyed using ovitraps in residential areas in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. Egg populations (both species inclusive) remained low in the dry season, but increased/decreased exponentially during the first/latter half of the rainy season, respectively. This seasonal pattern was similar to the seasonal distribution of dengue haemorrhagic fever cases in the area. During the dry season (November-March) Ae.aegypti was dominant in urban and indoor ovitraps. With onset of the rainy season in April, relative abundance of Ae.albopictus increased in rural and outdoor ovitraps. Ae.albopictus displaced Ae.aegypti in the latter half of the rainy season in the rural area. Possible mechanisms to account for this seasonal decline of Ae.aegypti and reciprocal fluctuations in relative abundance of Ae.albopictus are discussed in relation to food availability for larvae in container habitats.     

热带雨林林内小生境对木奶果和染木种子萌发与幼苗存活的影响

森林生态系统中小生境的差异可能影响种子萌发与幼苗的建立,并形成物种不同的分布格局。为探讨生境异质性对植物分布的影响,该研究在西双版纳热带季节性雨林中选取5个具有不同海拔和地形的小生境,人工散布木奶果与染木种子,定期监测种子萌发与幼苗存活,同步记录小生境的近地面（距地面3 cm）温度、近地面(3 cm)空气湿度和表层土壤(5 cm)含水量变化,并在实验室开展种子脱水和不同水势条件下的种子萌发实验。结果表明：（1）实验所选的5个小生境中,沟底地带的土壤水分含量在一年中始终都高于其他小生境;5个小生境的空气相对湿度在雨季与雾凉季都接近饱和,只有在干热季出现明显的差别,即随海拔的升高,空气湿度下降。同时,在旱季,近地面温度随海拔的升高而升高, 出现1~2个月的山地逆温现象。（2）木奶果与染木具有不同的种子传播与萌发规律,而且染木种子在不同生境下,其种子萌发率和幼苗存活率有显著的差异。其中：木奶果种子在雨季成熟散布并快速萌发,以幼苗的形式度过干热季,其种子可以在相对较低的水势下萌发;染木种子在雨季末期成熟并进入休眠期,以种子的形式度过干热季,其种子相对较抗脱水。研究认为,地形是决定西双版纳热带季节性雨林生境异质性的重要因子,小生境在温度和水分方面的差异在干热季时尤为明显,并对木奶果和染木种子的萌发或幼苗存活产生了重要影响, 而木奶果与染木种子自身的特性使其对于西双版纳季节性的干旱具有不同的适应对策。     

Effect of Air Humidity on the Egg Viability of Predatory Mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae) Common on Rubber Trees in Brazil

Rubber pest mites, Calacarus heveae and Tenuipalpus heveae, reach economic damage levels at the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the dry season in Brazil. Therefore, low humidity adaptation might be an important characteristic for predatory mites to successfully control pest organisms. This study determined the effect of the relative humidity (RH) levels of 30–100% on the hatching of larvae of Amblyseius acalyphus, Euseius citrifolius, Iphiseiodes zuluagai, Metaseiulus camelliae, Agistemus floridanus and Zetzellia malvinae at 25 ± 0.5 °C. These predatory mites are common on rubber trees in the state of São Paulo and might be used for introduction in the major rubber tree production regions in the state of Mato Grosso. At 70% RH or higher, viability was 70% or higher for all species, indicating that their performance might be higher during the rainy season than during the dry season. Eggs of E. citrifolius and M. camelliae presented higher viability at the lower relative humidity levels than those of other species, indicating that these species might have higher chance to persist in the dry season. It is suggested that M. camelliae should be further evaluated for introduction in the state of Mato Grosso, considering that this mite is not yet present in that area.     

Shifting clinal patterns of stress resistance traits in Drosophila ananassae

Drosophila ananassae, a desiccation and cold sensitive species, is abundant along the latitudinal gradient of the Indian subcontinent. Analysis of seasonally varying wild-caught flies showed two independent patterns of melanisation: (1) narrow to broad melanic stripes on three anterior abdominal segments only; (2) a novel body color pattern (dark vs. light background). We investigated the degree to which these two melanisation systems vary; first with latitude and secondly among seasons. There is a shallow latitudinal cline for percent striped melanisation as well as for frequency of body color alleles during the rainy season. The frequencies of body color alleles vary significantly across seasons in the northern populations i.e. the light allele occur abundantly (>0.94) during the rainy season while the frequency of the dark allele increases (0.22–0.35) during the dry season causing steeper clines during the dry season. By contrast, the low variations in abdominal stripes showed non-significant changes and the cline was similar across seasons. Furthermore, both types of melanisation patterns showed no plasticity with respect to temperature. The present study also investigated clines related to desiccation, heat and cold stress in D. ananassae females across seasons (rainy and dry) from nine latitudinal populations. The clines for stress related traits changes to steeper and non-linear during the dry season. Thus, latitudinal populations of D. ananassae differ in slope values of clines for stress related traits across seasons. This study reports seasonal changes in latitudinal clines of stress resistance traits as seen in a changing frequency of body color alleles of D. ananassae in northern locality, while in southern localities it remains constant. This is presumably the result of only minor seasonal changes in humidity and temperature in the South, whereas in the North seasonal climatic variability is much higher.     

Effects of drought and fire on seedling survival and growth under contrasting light conditions in a seasonal tropical forest

Question: How do tree seedlings differ in their responses to drought and fire under contrasting light conditions in a tropical seasonal forest? Location: Mae Klong Watershed Research Station, 100–900 m a.s.l, Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand. Method: Seedlings of six trees, Dipterocarpus alatus, D. turbinatus, Shorea siamensis, Pterocarpus macrocarpus, Xylia xylocarpa var. kerrii and Sterculia macrophylla, were planted in a gap and under the closed canopy. For each light condition, we applied (1) continuous watering during the dry season (W); (2) ground fire during the dry season (F); (3) no watering/no fire (intact, I). Seedling survival and growth were followed. Results: Survival and growth rate were greater in the gap than under the closed canopy for all species, most dramatically for S. siamensis and P. macrocarpus. Dipterocarpus alatus and D. turbinatus had relatively high survival under the closed canopy, and watering during the dry season resulted in significantly higher survival rates for these two species. Watering during the dry season resulted in higher growth rates for five species. All seedlings of D. alatus and D. turbinatus failed to re‐sprout and died after fire. The survival rates during the dry season and after the fire treatment were higher for the seedlings grown in the canopy gap than in the shade for S. siamensis, P. macrocarpus, X. xylocarpa var. kerrii and S. macrophylla. The seedlings of these species in the canopy gap had higher allocation to below‐ground parts than those under the closed canopy, which may support the ability to sprout after fire. Conclusions: The light conditions during the rainy season greatly affect seedling survival and resistance to fire during the subsequent dry season. Our results suggest differentiation among species in terms of seedling adaptations to shade, drought and fire.     

Seasonal mortality factors of the coffee leafminer, Leucoptera coffeella

Seasonal population fluctuation of the coffee leafminer, Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin-Méneville & Perrottet) (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae), led to an investigation of its natural mortality factors during the rainy season when the population level is low and during the dry season when population peaks occur. Life-table data were collected from insecticide-free plots within a 3 ha coffee plantation on the upper, medium and lower canopy. Leafminer mortality was similar among the canopy parts but varied in the two seasons studied. During the rainy season, the generational mortality averaged 94.3%, with 50.2, 33.7 and 10.4% occurring during egg, larval and pupal stages, respectively. During the dry season, total mortality was 89%, with 13.2, 61.0 and 14.8% occurring during egg, larval and pupal stages, respectively. Marginal mortality rates during the rainy season were highest for physiological disturbances, rainfall and egg inviability; but, in the dry season, they were highest for predaceous wasps, physiological disturbances and parasitoids. Egg and larval stages accounted for most of the mortality variation in the rainy season, while the combination of larval and pupal mortality better described the generational mortality in the dry season. Variation in mortality during the rainy season was primarily associated with egg inviability, rainfall and parasitoids. In contrast, predatory wasps and physiological disturbances were the main factors associated with mortality variation during the dry season. These results suggest that weather conditions, natural enemies and plant quality attributes are the main determinants of the population dynamics of L. coffeella.     

Gash模型在热带季节雨林林冠截留研究中的应用

为了验证Gash林冠截留解析模型在西双版纳热带季节雨林中的适用性,基于2003年的热带季节雨林气候及林冠特征观测数据、采用Gash模型对林冠截留进行了模拟.结果显示,西双版纳热带季节雨林样地年降雨量为1244.4mm,穿透降雨为867.3mm,树干径流为114.4mm,树冠截留量为262,7mm,林内穿透降雨量和林外降雨量之间存在显著的正相关关系;降雨过程中饱和林冠的蒸发强度为0.12mm/h,使林冠饱和的降雨为0.6mm,林冠枝叶部分持水能力为0.41mm,树干持水能力为0.18mm;模型模拟的年林冠截留量为274.9mm,干季为71.7 mm,雨季为203.1 mm;模拟的相对误差年值为4.3%,干季为0.1%,雨季为6.9%,模拟与实测有很好的一致性,显示了Gash模型适用于西双版纳地区热带季节雨林林冠截留计算.     

Fruiting phenology in a tropical dry evergreen forest on the Coromandel coast of India in relation to plant life-forms,physiognomic groups,dispersal modes,and climatic constraints

The fruiting phenology of 22 woody plant species belonging to 19 families was studied with respect to life-forms, physiognomic groups and dispersal modes, for 1 year at monthly intervals, in a tropical dry evergreen forest at Oorani (12°11′N, 79°57′E) on the Coromandel coast of India. At the community level, bimodal fruiting pattern prevailed, with a major peak in the dry season and a minor one in the early rainy season. An annual fruiting pattern was observed in many species and among the studied species fruiting lasted for 2–9 months. There was no significant difference in the frequency of species at three fruiting stages across the life-form categories and many species of upper and lower canopy trees and lianas were in the ripe fruiting phase during the late dry season. Plant physiognomic groups displayed distinct seasonality in fruiting pattern. The fruit maturation period was much longer for the wet season fruiting brevi-deciduous species than evergreen and deciduous species that fruited during the dry season. The variation in timing of fruiting behaviour among zoochorous species demonstrated less seasonality and zoochorous fruits were available throughout the year. Fruiting in anemochorous species peaked during the driest months and dryness favoured the dissemination of seeds. The fruiting patterns observed in the studied tropical dry evergreen forest across various plant traits were comparable with patterns recorded in other tropical seasonal forests.