中国壳斗科植物属的空间多样性及差异

该文采用地理信息系统技术,以县为空间数据的基本单元,以壳斗科植物为研究对象,制作属的空间分布图,计算空间相似性系数,分析壳斗科各属的空间多样性及其差异。结果表明,三棱栎属为连续分布,与其他属的空间分布最不相似,其他属均为间断分布,其中锥属、青冈属、柯属空间分布最相似,这3个属的多样化中心均有云南南部,水青冈的多样化中心比前3个属偏北,栎属多样化中心是四川西南部和云南西北部,西北地区东南部是联系南方与北方栎属植物的重要通道。     

Correlation between the shoot-cutting behavior of the acorn weevil and the reproductive traits of host fagaceous trees

Many fagaceous species mature acorns during the second autumn after flowering and are called “2-year species.” In 2-year species of subgenus Cyclobalanopsis (genus Quercus), alternate bearing (2-year seed production cycle) is prominent, but this has not been reported for other 2-year species in the genera of Lithocarpus and Castanopsis. We tested the hypothesis that the difference in reproduction of 2-year species is linked to the weevil, Mechoris ursulus. After ovipositing on acorns, this insect cuts the shoots to which the acorns are attached. We examined the host preference of M. ursulus and reproductive traits of fagaceous 2-year species. Percentage infestation was remarkably high in the subgenus Cyclobalanopsis, whereas Lithocarpus and Castanopsis species suffered almost no damage. Furthermore, unlike Lithocarpus and Castanopsis, most of the acorn-producing shoots in subgenus Cyclobalanopsis had no current-year shoots. The clear relationship suggests that alternate bearing in subgenus Cyclobalanopsis is an adaptation to the shoot-cutting behavior of M. ursulus.     

Beyond the usual climate? Factors determining flowering and fruiting phenology across a genus over 117 years

Premise

Although changes in plant phenology are largely attributed to changes in climate, the roles of other factors such as genetic constraints, competition, and self-compatibility are underexplored.

Methods

We compiled >900 herbarium records spanning 117 years for all eight nominal species of the winter-annual genus Leavenworthia (Brassicaceae). We used linear regression to determine the rate of phenological change across years and phenological sensitivity to climate. Using a variance partitioning analysis, we assessed the relative influence of climatic and nonclimatic factors (self-compatibility, range overlap, latitude, and year) on Leavenworthia reproductive phenology.

Results

Flowering advanced by ~2.0 days and fruiting by ~1.3 days per decade. For every 1°C increase in spring temperature, flowering advanced ~2.3 days and fruiting ~3.3 days. For every 100 mm decrease in spring precipitation, each advanced ~6–7 days. The best models explained 35.4% of flowering variance and 33.9% of fruiting. Spring precipitation accounted for 51.3% of explained variance in flowering date and 44.6% in fruiting. Mean spring temperature accounted for 10.6% and 19.3%, respectively. Year accounted for 16.6% of flowering variance and 5.4% of fruiting, and latitude for 2.3% and 15.1%, respectively. Nonclimatic variables combined accounted for <11% of the variance across phenophases.

Conclusions

Spring precipitation and other climate-related factors were dominant predictors of phenological variance. Our results emphasize the strong effect of precipitation on phenology, especially in the moisture-limited habitats preferred by Leavenworthia. Among the many factors that determine phenology, climate is the dominant influence, indicating that the effects of climate change on phenology are expected to increase.     

中国大陆北热带及亚热带地区樟科、壳斗科物种多样性及其生物地理格局分析

以中国大陆北热带及亚热带地区优势科樟科、壳斗科植物为研究对象,利用专著发表大量的样方数据和物种分布数据,分析樟科、壳斗科与群落构建的关系、它们各大属的地理分布格局,探讨影响其分布的可能历史原因。结果表明:中国大陆北热带及亚热带地区森林乔木层优势科为樟科、壳斗科、山茶科、杜鹃花科。樟科、壳斗科物种丰富度均与其所在群落的物种丰富度呈现一定的正相关,樟科对群落构建的贡献较大。樟科、壳斗科植物种的空间多样性分布中心均出现在我国亚热带中部偏南地区。樟科的厚壳桂属、琼楠属以及壳斗科的锥属物种多样性分布中心主要在南亚热带及北热带区域,以广西、云南省份的南部为主。樟科的樟属、新木姜子属、润楠属、木姜子属及壳斗科的柯属、青冈属主要分布在我国大陆北热带及亚热带中部偏南的地区,其多样性分布中心与樟科、壳斗科科水平的物种多样性分布中心极为相似。樟科的山胡椒属、楠属、黄肉楠属,壳斗科的栎属主要分布在研究区域中部以西的地区。研究结果佐证物种的生态学特性以及生物地理学历史综合作用导致目前樟科和壳斗科植物的生物多样性分布格局。     

中国壳斗科植物属的空间多样性格局及其指标研究

通过植物专业网站及已发表的论文论著,查找每一种壳斗科植物在中国的具体分布地点(县),并采用地理信息系统技术,以县为空间数据的基本单元,以壳斗科植物为研究对象,从空间上获取多样性格局指标,定量研究中国壳斗科植物的属、类型的空间多样性格局。结果表明:(1)中国壳斗科植物中青冈属、栎属、锥属、柯属的斑块丰富度、多样性指数、斑块总数、总形状指数明显高于三棱栎属、栗属、水青冈属,而三棱栎属因只有一个斑块,属与种的空间多样性格局相同,与其他属明显不同。(2)中国壳斗科植物中属的空间多样性格局指标之间有一定的相关性,斑块丰富度、多样性指数、斑块总数、总形状指数相互之间、总面积与斑块总数、多样性指数、总形状指数之间呈显著正相关关系,总的最大斑块指数与均度指数之间呈显著负相关关系。(3)除三棱栎属外,其他属的斑块类型所占面积、占属面积的比例、斑块数目、最大斑块指数、形状指数各指标,基本上均随所在属斑块类型值的增加其相应指标依次降低,斑块类型与其他指标呈显著负相关关系。(4)中国壳斗科植物在青冈属、栎属、锥属、柯属中,每一个属种数为1~7的斑块类型所占面积之和、斑块数目之和分别占其属对应总指标的值均高于80%,表明种数较少的斑块类型构成了属的主要分布区,而种数较多的斑块类型,其各指标值均较低,分布范围很狭窄,但物种多样性高。     

Reproductive phenology of two co‐occurring Neotropical mountain grasslands

Aim

Climate tends to explain phenological variations in tropical ecosystems. However, water availability and nutrient content in soil strongly affect plant communities, especially those on old, climatically buffered, infertile landscapes (OCBILs), and may impact these ecosystems’ plant reproductive phenology over time. Here, we compare the reproductive phenology of sandy and stony tropical grasslands, two co‐occurring herbaceous communities of the campo rupestreOCBILs. We asked whether flowering, fruiting and dispersal are seasonal in both grasslands, and whether these phenophases differ due to variations in soil properties. We also asked whether the phenological strategies and the number of flowers and fruits differ between these two grasslands as soil conditions vary.

Location

Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Methods

The phenology of herbaceous species of sandy and stony grasslands was monitored monthly over two consecutive years.

Results

Plants on sandy and stony grasslands flowered and fruited throughout the year. We did not find a distinct seasonal pattern at the community level of either studied grassland. However, flowering, fruiting and seed dissemination occurred in stony grasslands mainly during the rainy season, while sandy grassland species flowered in both seasons and fruited and disseminated seed mainly during the dry season, as observed in other savanna vegetation types in the Cerrado. Flower and fruit production was higher in sandy grasslands than in stony grasslands, which may be linked to higher water retention in sandy grassland soils. In both communities, species of Cyperaceae, Eriocaulaceae and Xyridaceae contributed most to overall production, whereas Poaceae and Velloziaceae, two important families in campo rupestre, barely participated in the reproductive phenology during our 2‐yr survey.

Conclusions

Despite a strong seasonal climate, there was no reproductive seasonal pattern at the community level in campo rupestre. This first investigation of Neotropical grassland phenology indicates that the differences in soil content may constrain the grassland reproductive phenology and restrict reproduction of stony grassland species to the most favourable season. Further studies of grassland phenology are necessary to disentangle the relative importance of soil, climate and other triggers, especially fire.     

西双版纳地区鞘花的繁殖物候特征及影响因素

桑寄生植物作为关键种和关键性食物资源在生态系统中扮演着重要角色,其鞘花的繁殖物候特征不仅会影响自身的繁殖适合度而且还会影响依赖于其获取食物资源的动物。为了解鞘花的繁殖物候特征及其影响因素,探究其与寄主植物和种子散布者之间的相互作用关系。该研究以西双版纳地区分布的鞘花为对象,通过定期观测鞘花和其寄主植物木荷的繁殖物候,测量它们的生物学特性和温湿度等环境因子,并分析鞘花在个体水平和种群水平上的繁殖物候特征以及寄主植物和温湿度对其繁殖物候的影响。结果表明:(1)鞘花的开花物候属于集中大量开花模式,整个种群的花期和果期的持续时间分别约为20 d和72 d,花期和果期的同步性指数都较高,6月中旬鞘花果实被取食的数量和速率最大,之后逐渐降低。(2)鞘花的始花期与木荷的始花期相关性较高,花期和果期与木荷的繁殖物候基本重叠。(3)每月开花和果熟的个体数量与同期和前一个月的平均温度和相对湿度的相关关系均不显著。总之,桑寄生植物的繁殖物候特征可能受到较多因素的影响,若想全面了解半寄生植物的繁殖物候特征,就要综合考虑生物和非生物等多种因子的共同作用。     

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.     

Host-mediated effects on the reproductive phenological asynchrony of a generalist mistletoe in China

一种泛性桑寄生植物繁殖物候异步性的寄主介导效应 寄主介导效应被认为会导致半寄生性的桑寄生植物的繁殖物候异步性，并由此为与桑寄生植物互惠共生的传粉者和种子散布者提供更长时间的食物资源供应，但目前关于此方面的研究还缺乏相关的实证数据。本研究以广泛分布于中国西南西双版纳地区的一种泛性桑寄生科植物五蕊寄生(Dendrophthoe pentandra)为材料，每周监测其开花、结果物候，检测了其开花和结果物候是否呈季节性格局，量化了五蕊寄生繁殖物候的异步程度，并检测了影响该植物始花期早晚的因素。最后，本研究还检验了五蕊寄生繁殖物候的异步性随寄主种类数量变化的效应。研究结果表明：(i)在连续两年的物候观测中五蕊寄 生的花期和果期都呈单峰分布格局；(ii)始花期显著受到植物大小和光照强度的影响，即冠幅越大和受光程度越高的植物个体有更早的始花期和更长的花期和果期；(iii)不同的寄主种类对五蕊寄生的繁殖物候有显著的影响，但与假设相反的是，随着寄主种类数量的增加，五蕊寄生繁殖物候的异步性没有显著提高。这项研究表明，在解释泛性桑寄生植物的繁殖物候异步性及寄主种类的数量对其影响的生态学意义还需进行更深入的探究。     

Genome size variation in the Fagaceae and its implications for trees

Polyploidization is a major source of diversification among plants, particularly during cladogenesis, but most evidence involves herbaceous temperate species. The prevalence of polyploidy among woody taxa is largely unknown, especially among tropical groups. In this study, we examined genome size variation globally and at several taxonomic levels within the Fagaceae. This family has diversified in the northern temperate zone (Quercus) and at least twice in the Asian tropics (Lithocarpus and Castanopsis), allowing us to examine genomic size evolution across a broad latitudinal range. We compared nuclear DNA contents from 78 species in six genera, including new measurements for 171 individuals from 47 Chinese species using standard flow cytometry methods. No evidence suggests that polyploidization or whole genome duplication has occurred in the family. Genome size varied among genera, but limited variation was present in each genus and species. In general, tropical species had larger genomes than temperate species, but the ancestral state cannot be determined given current evidence. Partial duplication does seem to occur among species as within genus variation was larger than within species variation. A review of the literature suggests that genome size and even chromosome structure is highly conserved among woody plants and trees. We propose that ploidy level and genome size are conserved among trees because they participate in diverse syngameons. This behavior would provide similar benefits to polyploidization but avoid exclusion from the syngameon. This conservatism in genome size and structure should enhance ongoing whole genome studies.     

Inter and intraspecific variation on reproductive phenology of the Brazilian Atlantic forest Rubiaceae: ecology and phylogenetic constraints

The reproductive phenology of seven species of Rubiaceae from the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest was compared to evaluate the occurrence of phylogenetic constraints on flowering and fruiting phenologies. Since phenological patterns can be affected by phylogenetic constraints, we expected that reproductive phenology would be similar among plants within a family or genus, occurring during the same time (or season) of the year. Observations on flowering and fruiting phenology were carried out monthly, from December 1996 to January 1998, at Núcleo Picinguaba, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Ubatuba, S?o Paulo State, Brazil. Nine phenological variables were calculated to characterize, quantify and compare the reproductive phenology of the Rubiaceae species. The flowering patterns were different among the seven species studied, and the Kruskal-Wallis test indicated significant differences in flowering duration first flowering, peak flowering and flowering synchrony. The peaks and patterns of fruiting intensity were different among the Rubiaceae species studied and they differed significantly from conspecifics in the phenological variables fruiting duration, fruiting peak date, and fruiting synchrony (Kruskal-Wallis test). Therefore, we found no evidence supporting the phylogenetic hypotheses, and climate does not seem to constrain flowering and fruiting patterns of the Rubiaceae species in the understory of the Atlantic forest.     

Phylogenetic conservatism and climate factors shape flowering phenology in alpine meadows

The study of phylogenetic conservatism in alpine plant phenology is critical for predicting climate change impacts; currently we have a poor understanding of how phylogeny and climate factors interactively influence plant phenology. Therefore, we explored the influence of phylogeny and climate factors on flowering phenology in alpine meadows. For two different types of alpine plant communities, we recorded phenological data, including flowering peak, first flower budding, first flowering, first fruiting and the flowering end for 62 species over the course of 5 years (2008–2012). From sequences in two plastid regions, we constructed phylogenetic trees. We used Blomberg’s K and Pagel’s lambda to assess the phylogenetic signal in phenological traits and species’ phenological responses to climate factors. We found a significant phylogenetic signal in the date of all reproductive phenological events and in species’ phenological responses to weekly day length and temperature. The number of species in flower was strongly associated with the weekly day lengths and followed by the weekly temperature prior to phenological activity. Based on phylogenetic eigenvector regression (PVR) analysis, we found a highly shared influence of phylogeny and climate factors on alpine species flowering phenology. Our results suggest the phylogenetic conservatism in both flowering and fruiting phenology may depend on the similarity of responses to external environmental cues among close relatives.     

Phenological variation in fruit characteristics in vertebrate-dispersed plants

Summary We investigated inter-specific variation in fruit characteristics — fruit size, seed number per fruit, seed weight, nutritional content, fruit persistence, and fruit synchronization — in relation to flowering and fruiting phenology in 34 species of fleshy fruited plants. Except for aspects of fruit synchrony and persistence, the results in general were inconsistent with previous suggestions about adaptive variation in phenologically related fruit traits. The main results were as follows: (1) Late flowering, late fruiting, lengthy development time from flower to fruit, and highly persistent fruits constitute a complex of correlated characteristics among the species. (2) Synchronization of fruiting within individuals increased from early ripening fruits to late ripening fruits. Fruiting synchrony was more pronounced in species with a small crop size than in species with a large fruit crop, whereas synchrony was not significantly related to flowering synchronization, nor to life form. (3) Nitrogen and carbohydrate content of fruit pulp did not vary in relation to phenology, whereas lipid content decreased from early to late ripening fruits. (4) No seasonal trends were found for variation in seed size or seed number per fruit. (5) Interactions with flowering phenology and developmental constraints are important in phenological fruiting patterns. Temporal variation in start of fruiting was partly (36%) explained by variation in flowering time. Seed weight variation explained 17% of variation in development time from flower to fruit. (6) Despite constraints from flowering and seed development, some adaptive adjustment in fruiting phenology is likely to be allowed for among the investigated species. Such an adaptive variation in fruiting phenology was suggested by intra-generic comparisons of Prunus and Vaccinium species.     

Diversity of flowering and fruiting phenology of trees in a tropical deciduous forest in India

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In the dry tropics, vegetative phenology varies widely with tree characteristics and soil conditions. The present work aims to document the phenological diversity of flowering and fruiting with reference to leafing events in Indian dry-tropical tree species. METHODS: Nine tree species, including one leaf-exchanging and eight deciduous showing varying leafless periods, were studied. Monthly counts of leaves, flowers and fruits were made on 160 tagged twigs on ten individuals of each species for initiation, completion and duration of different phenological events through two annual cycles. KEY RESULTS: Variation in flowering relative to leaf flushing (which occurred just prior to or during a hot, dry summer) revealed five flowering types: summer flowering (on foliated shoots), rainy-season flowering (on foliated shoots following significant rains), autumn flowering (on shoots with mature leaves), winter flowering (on shoots undergoing leaf fall) and dry-season flowering (on leafless shoots). Duration of the fruiting phenophase was shortest (3-4 months) in dry-season and winter-flowering species, 6-9 months in rainy-and autumn-flowering species, and maximum (11 months) in summer-flowering species. A wide range of time lag (<1 to >8 months) between the start of vegetative (first-leaf flush) and reproductive (first-visible flower) phases was recorded in deciduous species; this time lag was correlated with the extent of the leafless period. A synthesis of available phenological information on 119 Indian tropical trees showed that summer-flowering species were most abundant (56 % of total species) amongst the five types recognized. CONCLUSIONS: The wide diversity of seasonal flowering and fruiting with linkages to leaf flush time and leafless period reflect the fact that variable reproductive and survival strategies evolved in tree species under a monsoonic bioclimate. Flowering periodicity has evolved as an adaptation to an annual leafless period and the time required for the fruit to develop. The direct relationship between leafless period (inverse of growing period) and time lag between onset of vegetative and reproductive phases reflects the partitioning of resource use for supporting these phases. Predominance of summer flowering coupled with summer leaf flushing seems to be a unique adaptation in trees to survive under a strongly seasonal tropical climate.     

Reproductive phenology of Melastomataceae species with contrasting reproductive systems: contemporary and historical drivers

• Flowering and fruiting are key events in the life history of plants, and both are critical to their reproductive success. Besides the role of evolutionary history, plant reproductive phenology is regulated by abiotic factors and shaped by biotic interactions with pollinators and seed dispersers. In Melastomataceae, a dominant Neotropical family, the reproductive systems vary from allogamous with biotic pollination to apomictic, and seed dispersal varies from dry (self‐dispersed) to fleshy (animal‐dispersed) fruits. Such variety in reproductive strategies is likely to affect flowering and fruiting phenologies.
• In this study, we described the reproductive phenology of 81 Melastomataceae species occurring in two biodiversity hotspots: the Atlantic rain forest and the campo rupestre. We aim to disentangle the role of abiotic and biotic factors defining flowering and fruiting times of Melastomataceae species, considering the contrasting breeding and seed dispersal systems, and their evolutionary history.
• In both vegetation types, pollinator‐dependent species had higher flowering seasonality than pollinator‐independent ones. Flowering patterns presented phylogenetic signal regardless of vegetation type. Fruiting of fleshy‐fruited species was seasonal in campo rupestre but not in Atlantic rain forest; the fruiting of dry‐fruited species was also not seasonal in both vegetation types. Fruiting showed a low phylogenetic signal, probably because the influence of environment and dispersal agents on fruiting time is stronger than the phylogenetic affinity.
• Considering these ecophylogenetic patterns, our results indicate that flowering may be shaped by the different reproductive strategies of Melastomataceae lineages, while fruiting patterns may be governed mainly by the seed dispersal strategy and flowering time, with less phylogenetic influence.

     

Are mismatches the norm? Timing of flowering,fruiting, dispersal and germination and their fitness effects in Frangula alnus (Rhamnaceae)

The close morphological and temporal links between phases of plant growth and reproduction call for integrated studies incorporating several reproductive phases from flowering to recruitment, and associated plant‐animal interactions. Phenological strategies, as well as plastic phenological response to climate change, incorporate complex interactions between developmental constraints, pollination and seed dispersal. Relationships between reproductive phenology and components of fitness were studied for two years in the north‐temperate, self‐incompatible, insect‐pollinated, and bird‐dispersed shrub Frangula alnus (Rhamnaceae). Fruit set, dispersal, germination and juvenile survival, as well as seed mass and juvenile size were measured in relation to flowering, fruiting and germination time. The results suggest that effects of flowering and fruiting time prevailed in subsequent phases, to some extent as far as to the juvenile phase, but effects of timing were complex and had partly opposing effects on different fitness components. Early flowers had higher fruit‐set and experiments indicated that synchronous peak flowering increased fruit‐set, but later flowers had higher seed mass. Peak fruiting was not associated with peak dispersal. Late fruits derived from late flowers promoted dispersal. Juvenile recruitment was enhanced by increasing seed size. We conclude that the phenology of flowering and fruiting in F. alnus comprises several features, each with different and sometimes counteracting effects on fitness components. From a general perspective, this result implies that we should not expect to find finely tuned matches in timing specifically between flowering and pollinators, and fruiting and seed dispersing birds.     

Independent effects of warming and nitrogen addition on plant phenology in the Inner Mongolian steppe

Background and Aims

Phenology is one of most sensitive traits of plants in response to regional climate warming. Better understanding of the interactive effects between warming and other environmental change factors, such as increasing atmosphere nitrogen (N) deposition, is critical for projection of future plant phenology.

Methods

A 4-year field experiment manipulating temperature and N has been conducted in a temperate steppe in northern China. Phenology, including flowering and fruiting date as well as reproductive duration, of eight plant species was monitored and calculated from 2006 to 2009.

Key Results

Across all the species and years, warming significantly advanced flowering and fruiting time by 0·64 and 0·72 d per season, respectively, which were mainly driven by the earliest species (Potentilla acaulis). Although N addition showed no impact on phenological times across the eight species, it significantly delayed flowering time of Heteropappus altaicus and fruiting time of Agropyron cristatum. The responses of flowering and fruiting times to warming or N addition are coupled, leading to no response of reproductive duration to warming or N addition for most species. Warming shortened reproductive duration of Potentilla bifurca but extended that of Allium bidentatum, whereas N addition shortened that of A. bidentatum. No interactive effect between warming and N addition was found on any phenological event. Such additive effects could be ascribed to the species-specific responses of plant phenology to warming and N addition.

Conclusions

The results suggest that the warming response of plant phenology is larger in earlier than later flowering species in temperate grassland systems. The effects of warming and N addition on plant phenology are independent of each other. These findings can help to better understand and predict the response of plant phenology to climate warming concurrent with other global change driving factors.     

Non‐continuous reproductive phenology of animal‐dispersed species in young forest restoration plantings

Tree species that produce resources for fauna are recommended for forest restoration plantings to attract pollinators and seed dispersers; however, information regarding the flowering and fruiting of these species during early growth stages is scarce. We evaluated the reproductive phenology of animal‐dispersed tree species widely used in Atlantic Forest restoration. We marked 16 animal‐dispersed tree species in 3‐ to 8‐year‐old forest restoration plantings in Itu‐São Paulo, southeast Brazil. We noted the age of the first reproductive event, flowering and fruiting seasonality, percentage of trees that reached reproductive stages, and intensity of bud, flower, and fruit production for each species. Flowering and fruiting are seasonal for most species; only two, Cecropia pachystachya and Ficus guaranitica, exhibited continuous flowering and fruiting throughout the year; we also identified Schinus terebinthifolia and Dendropanax cuneatus fruiting in the dry season during resource scarcity. Therefore, we recommend all as framework species, that is, species that are animal‐dispersed with early flowering and fruiting potential, for forest restoration. Further, we recommend identifying and planting similar animal‐dispersed tree species that produce fruits constantly or in the dry season to maximize fauna resource availability throughout the year in tropical forest restoration plantings. Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material     

Seasonal differentiation — a conservative reproductive barrier in two grasslandGentianella (Gentianaceae) species

18 populations of the grassland biennialsGentianella amarella andG. campestris were cultivated to clarify the genetical vs. environmental components of the flowering phenology, and the reproductive isolation caused by seasonal differentiation. The influence of some environmental factors was tested. The seasonal variation persisted in cultivation, and the plants could normally be assigned to distinct aestival or autumnal groups, with no reproductive contact. Flowering phenology was affected by environmental factors, but not to such an extent that the reproductive isolation was broken. The observed phenological variation was not reflected by a corresponding variation in present management practices. Management history and possible non-anthropogenic factors are discussed as alternative explanations.