Leaf flushing phenology and herbivory in a tropical dry deciduous forest,southern India

Patterns of leaf-flushing phenology of trees in relation to insect herbivore damage were studied at two sites in a seasonal tropical dry forest in Mudumalai, southern India, from April 1988 to August 1990. At both sites the trees began to flush leaves during the dry season, reaching a peak leaf-flushing phase before the onset of rains. Herbivorous insects emerged with the rains and attained a peak biomass during the wet months. Trees that flushed leaves later in the season suffered significantly higher damage by insects compared to those that flushed early or in synchrony during the peak flushing phase. Species whose leaves were endowed with physical defenses such as waxes suffered less damage than those not possessing such defenses. There was a positive association between the abundance of a species and leaf damage levels. These observations indicate that herbivory may have played a major role in moulding leaf flushing phenology in trees of the seasonal tropics.     

Patterns of tree phenological diversity in dry tropics

Recent phenological studies in tropical deciduous forests revealed a mosaic of vegetation composed of several pheno-phases that are evolved as an adaptation by the species to overcome seasonal drought in different ways. These pheno-phases represent extent of annual deciduousness (～leaflessness) and triggering factors for buds break (e.g. vegetative and flower). Thus, studying patterns of various pheno-phases (phonological diversity) in tropical forest have been thought to provide a potential tool to address critical questions related to climate change modeling and monitoring. In tropics, tree species represent a gradient of deciduousness (from leaf-exchanging species to >6 months deciduous species) and flowering initiation (breaking of flower buds in various part of annual cycle). Both processes are mostly triggered by variation in day length and/or temperature during late dry season/autumn, and/or first significant rain during rainy season. In addition, few factors like drought induced leaf fall and sporadic winter rains are supposed to affect these processes temporarily. Besides, the abundances of pheno-phases (i.e. leafing and flowering) also vary among tropical deciduous forest trees. Presence of such variations in tropical tree pheno-phases and their abundances are reported to vary due to micro-climatic variables and has specific implications in tropical forests. Present paper discusses the existing information on various pheno-phases and their abundances in tropical forests and role of climatic factors on tree phonological diversity. Further, we emphasized the need to develop predicting understanding of impending climatic change (i.e. precipitation and temperature) on diversity of pheno-phases by collecting long-term data on tree pheno-phases through a network of phonological stations in dry tropics.     

Cascading effects of climate extremes on vertebrate fauna through changes to low‐latitude tree flowering and fruiting phenology

Forest vertebrate fauna provide critical services, such as pollination and seed dispersal, which underpin functional and resilient ecosystems. In turn, many of these fauna are dependent on the flowering phenology of the plant species of such ecosystems. The impact of changes in climate, including climate extremes, on the interaction between these fauna and flora has not been identified or elucidated, yet influences on flowering phenology are already evident. These changes are well documented in the mid to high latitudes. However, there is emerging evidence that the flowering phenology, nectar/pollen production, and fruit production of long‐lived trees in tropical and subtropical forests are also being impacted by changes in the frequency and severity of climate extremes. Here, we examine the implications of these changes for vertebrate fauna dependent on these resources. We review the literature to establish evidence for links between climate extremes and flowering phenology, elucidating the nature of relationships between different vertebrate taxa and flowering regimes. We combine this information with climate change projections to postulate about the likely impacts on nectar, pollen and fruit resource availability and the consequences for dependent vertebrate fauna. The most recent climate projections show that the frequency and intensity of climate extremes will increase during the 21st century. These changes are likely to significantly alter mass flowering and fruiting events in the tropics and subtropics, which are frequently cued by climate extremes, such as intensive rainfall events or rapid temperature shifts. We find that in these systems the abundance and duration of resource availability for vertebrate fauna is likely to fluctuate, and the time intervals between episodes of high resource availability to increase. The combined impact of these changes has the potential to result in cascading effects on ecosystems through changes in pollinator and seed dispersal ecology, and demands a focused research effort.     

Patterns of tree phenological diversity in dry tropics

Recent phenological studies in tropical deciduous forests revealed a mosaic of vegetation composed of several pheno-phases that are evolved as an adaptation by the species to overcome seasonal drought in different ways. These pheno-phases represent extent of annual deciduousness (～leaflessness) and triggering factors for buds break (e.g. vegetative and flower). Thus, studying patterns of various pheno-phases (phonological diversity) in tropical forest have been thought to provide a potential tool to address critical questions related to climate change modeling and monitoring. In tropics, tree species represent a gradient of deciduousness (from leaf-exchanging species to >6 months deciduous species) and flowering initiation (breaking of flower buds in various part of annual cycle). Both processes are mostly triggered by variation in day length and/or temperature during late dry season/autumn, and/or first significant rain during rainy season. In addition, few factors like drought induced leaf fall and sporadic winter rains are supposed to affect these processes temporarily. Besides, the abundances of pheno-phases (i.e. leafing and flowering) also vary among tropical deciduous forest trees. Presence of such variations in tropical tree pheno-phases and their abundances are reported to vary due to micro-climatic variables and has specific implications in tropical forests. Present paper discusses the existing information on various pheno-phases and their abundances in tropical forests and role of climatic factors on tree phonological diversity. Further, we emphasized the need to develop predicting understanding of impending climatic change (i.e. precipitation and temperature) on diversity of pheno-phases by collecting long-term data on tree pheno-phases through a network of phonological stations in dry tropics.     

漆树胚,胚乳发育及花果生长的相关性研究

漆树为倒生胚珠,双珠被,厚珠心,具承珠盘及拟珠孔塞,胚囊发育为蓼型,核型胚乳,胚发育为柳叶菜型,后历经棒状形胚、心形胚、鱼雷形胚和成熟胚各期。花和果实生长与胚及胚乳发育有密切的相关性,胚内具原始的乳汁道系统为重要特征。一些胚珠内无胚或胚乳早期退化引起胚败育是造成种子空籽原因之一。     

Deciduousness in a seasonal tropical forest in western Thailand: interannual and intraspecific variation in timing, duration and environmental cues

Seasonal tropical forests exhibit a great diversity of leaf exchange patterns. Within these forests variation in the timing and intensity of leaf exchange may occur within and among individual trees and species, as well as from year to year. Understanding what generates this diversity of phenological behaviour requires a mechanistic model that incorporates rate-limiting physiological conditions, environmental cues, and their interactions. In this study we examined long-term patterns of leaf flushing for a large proportion of the hundreds of tree species that co-occur in a seasonal tropical forest community in western Thailand. We used the data to examine community-wide variation in deciduousness and tested competing hypotheses regarding the timing and triggers of leaf flushing in seasonal tropical forests. We developed metrics to quantify the nature of deciduousness (its magnitude, timing and duration) and its variability among survey years and across a range of taxonomic levels. Tree species varied widely in the magnitude, duration, and variability of leaf loss within species and across years. The magnitude of deciduousness ranged from complete crown loss to no crown loss. Among species that lost most of their crown, the duration of deciduousness ranged from 2 to 21 weeks. The duration of deciduousness in the majority of species was considerably shorter than in neotropical forests with similar rainfall periodicity. While the timing of leaf flushing varied among species, most (∼70%) flushed during the dry season. Leaf flushing was associated with changes in photoperiod in some species and the timing of rainfall in other species. However, more than a third of species showed no clear association with either photoperiod or rainfall, despite the considerable length and depth of the dataset. Further progress in resolving the underlying internal and external mechanisms controlling leaf exchange will require targeting these species for detailed physiological and microclimatic studies.     

Reproductive phenology of a wet forest understorey in the Western Ghats, South India

The reproductive phenology of 60 understorey species was monitored at monthly intervals for 20 months in a medium elevation wet evergreen forest in the Southern Western Ghats. The life forms monitored were herbs (including terrestrial orchids), shrubs and small trees. Flowering and fruiting were non‐uniform with a dry season flowering peak and wet season fruiting peak. Flowering in the understorey correlated negatively with rainfall. No significant correlation was detected for fruiting. Life forms had flowering and fruiting peaks at different times of the year.     

Changes in autumn senescence in northern hemisphere deciduous trees: a meta-analysis of autumn phenology studies

Background and Aims Many individual studies have shown that the timing of leaf senescence in boreal and temperate deciduous forests in the northern hemisphere is influenced by rising temperatures, but there is limited consensus on the magnitude, direction and spatial extent of this relationship.Methods A meta-analysis was conducted of published studies from the peer-reviewed literature that reported autumn senescence dates for deciduous trees in the northern hemisphere, encompassing 64 publications with observations ranging from 1931 to 2010.Key Results Among the meteorological measurements examined, October temperatures were the strongest predictors of date of senescence, followed by cooling degree-days, latitude, photoperiod and, lastly, total monthly precipitation, although the strength of the relationships differed between high- and low-latitude sites. Autumn leaf senescence has been significantly more delayed at low (25° to 49°N) than high (50° to 70°N) latitudes across the northern hemisphere, with senescence across high-latitude sites more sensitive to the effects of photoperiod and low-latitude sites more sensitive to the effects of temperature. Delays in leaf senescence over time were stronger in North America compared with Europe and Asia.Conclusions The results indicate that leaf senescence has been delayed over time and in response to temperature, although low-latitude sites show significantly stronger delays in senescence over time than high-latitude sites. While temperature alone may be a reasonable predictor of the date of leaf senescence when examining a broad suite of sites, it is important to consider that temperature-induced changes in senescence at high-latitude sites are likely to be constrained by the influence of photoperiod. Ecosystem-level differences in the mechanisms that control the timing of leaf senescence may affect both plant community interactions and ecosystem carbon storage as global temperatures increase over the next century.     

Contrasting leaf phenology of woody species of dry tropical forest

We studied selected leaf traits [leaf area (LA), leaf water content (LWC), leaf fresh weight (LFW), leaf dry weight (LDW), specific leaf area (SLA) and chlorophyll content] of eight woody species (Shorea robusta, Buchanania lanzan, Diospyros melanoxylon, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Lannea coromandelica, Terminalia tomentosa, Holarrhena antidysenterica and Lantana camara) dominant at four sites in a dry tropical deciduous forest over complete two annual cycles (2008–2010). Our results showed that leaf traits varied across species (1.7–11.5 fold), months (1.2–1.5 fold) and sites (1.1–1.3 fold). However, leaf traits showed smaller variation between sites than between species. Leaf lifespan varied from 7 months (L. coromandelica) to 12 months (S. robusta). On the same sites, species differed in the length of deciduous period. The maximum LA, LDW, LFW and LWC were recorded for the semi-evergreen species, SLA for long-deciduous species and chlorophyll content for short-deciduous species, respectively. The coefficient of variation was maximum for LDW and minimum for chlorophyll content. Among the eight woody species, T. tomentosa exhibited the greatest LA, LDW, LFW and LWC. LA, LWC, LFW, LDW, SLA, LD, SD, MD & SE confirm.     

西安4种落叶乔木物候期对气候变化的响应

以西安1979—2018年的气候资料和植物物候观测资料为基础,采用分段回归和趋势倾向率等方法,分析了毛白杨(Populus tomentosa)、杜梨(Pyrus betulifolia)、七叶树(Aesculus chinensis)和灯台树(Bothrocaryum controversum)4种落叶乔木展叶盛期和叶全变色期的生长趋势,使用偏相关分析探讨了气温、降水和日照时数与物候期的关系并通过偏最小二乘回归(Partial Least Squares, PLS)判断气候变量对物候期的综合影响。结果表明：(1)1979—2018年,4种乔木的生长季长度延长,整体表现为春季物候期提前,秋季物候期推迟;(2)展叶盛期物候指标与叶全变色期物候指标,转折均发生在1982年;转折后,物候特征变化显著,春季物候的提前速率和秋季物候的推迟速率加快,展叶盛期平均提前3.8d/10a,叶全变色期平均推迟4.7d/10a;(3)展叶盛期与春季气温表现为极显著负相关,叶变色期与秋季气温表现为显著正相关;降水对植物物候的影响不显著;春季物候与日照时数呈现极显著负相关关系,秋季物候期与日照时数呈不显著正相关...     

Shoot growth phenology of co-existing evergreen and deciduous species in an oak forest

Shoot growth phenology was compared for the saplings of evergreen and deciduous woody species sharing the same microsite. Growth initiation occurred earlier in evergreens (among co-stratal species) while deciduous species completed their growth earlier. Shoot growth rate was significantly greater (P<0.01) for deciduous trees than evergreen trees. The amount of shoot elongations and shoot diameter was also significantly greater (P<0.01) for deciduous trees than evergreens. On the other hand, among shrubs the amount of shoot elongation and shoot diameter was greater for evergreens but the rate of elongation and diameter was more or less similar for both. The duration of shoot elongation and shoot diameter was significantly longer in evergreens than the deciduous species. Leaf packing (number of leaves per shoot) was significantly more dense in evergreen trees (P<0.01) than in deciduous tree species. Leaf packing was more dense in evergreen than deciduous shrubs but the difference was not significant. Leaf area (per individual leaf) at full expansion was significantly greater (P<0.01) in deciduous species. Leaf dry mass and specific leaf mass in the initial stage was significantly greater for evergreen species than for deciduous species. The number of buds/10 cm of shoot was higher in evergreens. However, the per cent mortality was also higher in them.     

Flowering and fruiting phenology of Normanbya normanbyi (W. Hill) L. H. Bailey (Arecaceae), a palm endemic to the lowland tropical rainforest of north‐eastern Australia

Abstract Normanbya normanbyi (W. Hill) L. H. Bailey (Arecaceae) is a monoecious, arborescent palm with a very small distribution area within the Daintree rainforest in north‐eastern Australia. Our 2‐year study was focused on the reproductive phenology at the individual and population level. At the population level flowering peaked in the dry season, whereas fruiting was confined to the wet season. Each palm can bear up to three inflorescences/infructescences at the same time. Flowering of each inflorescence is separated from each other by a couple of weeks. A single inflorescence consists of about 1900 staminate and 800 pistillate flowers. The flowering of N. normanbyi is protandrous with a staminate phase lasting 40 days and a pistillate phase of approximately 2 weeks. Between both phases is a non‐flowering phase of about 9 days. Fruit ripening takes 21 weeks, with an average of about 280 ripe fruit per tree. Comparison of three study plots revealed a moderate synchrony of flowering and fruiting initiation in this species of palm. The male phase of flowering shows a higher degree of synchrony than the female phase at the population level. Seasonal regularity of flowering and fruiting peaks appears to be predictable. The general flowering and fruiting phenology of N. normanbyi follows a subannual pattern with a strong tendency towards a continual pattern.     

Phenology of temperate trees in tropical climates

Several North American broad-leaved tree species range from the northern United States at 47°N to moist tropical montane forests in Mexico and Central America at 15–20°N. Along this gradient the average minimum temperatures of the coldest month (T _Jan), which characterize annual variation in temperature, increase from –10 to 12°C and tree phenology changes from deciduous to leaf-exchanging or evergreen in the southern range with a year-long growing season. Between 30 and 45°N, the time of bud break is highly correlated with T _Jan and bud break can be reliably predicted for the week in which mean minimum temperature rises to 7°C. Temperature-dependent deciduous phenology—and hence the validity of temperature-driven phenology models—terminates in southern North America near 30°N, where T _Jan>7°C enables growth of tropical trees and cultivation of frost-sensitive citrus fruits. In tropical climates most temperate broad-leaved species exchange old for new leaves within a few weeks in January-February, i.e., their phenology becomes similar to that of tropical leaf-exchanging species. Leaf buds of the southern ecotypes of these temperate species are therefore not winter-dormant and have no chilling requirement. As in many tropical trees, bud break of Celtis, Quercus and Fagus growing in warm climates is induced in early spring by increasing daylength. In tropical climates vegetative phenology is determined mainly by leaf longevity, seasonal variation in water stress and day length. As water stress during the dry season varies widely with soil water storage, climate-driven models cannot predict tree phenology in the tropics and tropical tree phenology does not constitute a useful indicator of global warming.     

Soil respiration and microbial population in a tropical deciduous forest soil of Orissa, India

An investigation was carried out to estimate soil respiration rate and its relationship with microbial population in natural tropical forest soil, deforested soil and deforested-and-cultivated soil of Orissa, India. Soil respiration measurements and microbial isolation were performed following standard procedures. Monthly variation of soil respiration was observed to be governed by soil moisture. Considering respiration as a function of microbial population a regression analysis was made. The microfungal population showed positive relationship with the rate of soil respiration. The study revealed that conversion of natural forest led to a reduction of soil microbes and rate of soil respiration. Considering the importance of the microbial component in soil, we conclude that the conversion of natural forests to different land uses leads to the loss of biological stability of the soil.     

Solar irradiance as the proximate cue for flowering in a tropical moist forest

We compared flowering times predicted by six possible proximate cues involving seasonal changes in rainfall and irradiance and flowering times observed over 30 years of weekly censuses for 19 tree and liana species from Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama. Hypotheses concerning variation in the timing and intensity of rainfall failed to predict flowering times in any species. In contrast, 10 to 12 weeks of consistent high levels of irradiance predicted flowering times well for eight species, and six or seven weeks of rapidly increasing levels of irradiance predicted flowering times well for two species. None of the six possible proximate cues predicted flowering times adequately for the nine remaining species. We conclude that high and increasing levels of irradiance are the proximate cues for flowering in many BCI species. The seasonal movements of the Intertropical Convergence Zone cause strong seasonal changes in cloud cover, atmospheric transmissivity, and irradiance reaching the BCI forest. Inter‐annual variation in the timing of movements of the Intertropical Convergence Zone is the most likely cause of inter‐annual variation in the timing of flowering in these species. Much work remains to be done as the physiological mechanisms linking flowering and irradiance are unknown and the proximate cues for flowering remain to be identified for many other BCI species.     

Phenology of Ficus variegata in a seasonal wet tropical forest at Cape Tribulation, Australia

Abstract. We studied the phenology of 198 mature trees of the dioecious fig Ficus variegata Blume (Moraceae) in a seasonally wet tropical rain forest at Cape Tribulation, Australia, from March 1988 to February 1993. Leaf production was highly seasonal and correlated with rainfall. Trees were annually deciduous, with a pronounced leaf drop and a pulse of new growth during the August-September drought. At the population level, figs were produced continually throughout the study but there were pronounced annual cycles in fig abundance. Figs were least abundant during the early dry period (June-September) and most abundant from the late dry season (October-November) through the wet season (December-April). The annual peak in reproduction actually reflected two staggered peaks arising from gender differences in fig phenology. In this dioecious species, female and male trees initiated their maximal fig crops at different times and flowering was to some extent synchronized within sexes. Fig production in the female (seed-producing) trees was typically confined to the wet season. Male (wasp-producing) trees were less synchronized than female trees but reached a peak level of fig production in the months prior to the onset of female fig production. Male trees were also more likely to produce figs continually. Asynchrony among male fig crops during the dry season could maintain the pollinator population under adverse conditions through within- and among-tree wasp transfers.     

Flowering phenology of a palm community in a central Amazon forest

The flowering phenology of 27 taxa of palms in a lowland moist forest in the central Amazon was recorded over a 40 month period. Phenological data were transformed into measures, of synchrony, regularity, and duration. Flowering was observed at all times of year and there was no correlation with rainfall either for the current month or for any monthly lag interval. The 27 taxa were divided into three pollination groups—weevil, bee/fly, or beetle—based on their behavior at anthesis. Phenology was significantly correlated with pollination groups. Weevilpollinated palms had higher synchrony and shorter duration of flowering than other groups. Bee/fly-pollinated palms had lower synchrony and longer duration of flowering. The beetle-pollinated palms were intermediate between the two other groups. Seasonal regularity of flowering was similar in all three groups. We suggest that, at least inBactris, taxa exhibit staggered flowering.     

Differences between airborne pollen and flowering phenology of urban trees with reference to production, dispersal and interannual climate variability

Annual totals of daily arboreal pollen concentrations were analysed in Mar del Plata (Argentina) during 1993 and 1994. Flowering patterns were associated with timing and intensity of pollen appearing in the air. Seasonal climatic parameters before the start of flowering and current weather conditions during dispersion were considered.Flowering showed a regular pattern between years and it could be defined by cumulated pollen percentages. Arboreal pollen counts were higher in the first year and is probably due to 1) better climatic conditions connected with pollen productivity and 2) lower precipitation after pollen emission. Betula and Q. ilex showed an opposite behaviour that appears to be caused by a biennial fluctuating rhythm of pollen production.     

浙江古田山亚热带常绿阔叶林开花物候:气候因素、系统发育关系和功能性状的影响

植物的开花物候受气候因素、植物系统发育关系和功能性状的影响。然而当前植物开花物候研究中未见同时考虑这3个因素的报道。为了解它们相互之间的影响, 本研究利用中国东部地区浙江省古田山国家级自然保护区亚热带常绿阔叶林24 ha大样地(GTS; 118°03′50′′-118°11′12.2′′ E, 29°10′19′′-29°17′41′′ N)设置的130个种子雨收集器5年的开花数据检验这3个因素对开花的影响。结果表明, 古田山植物的开花高峰期集中在5月, 群落开花格局明显受温度和降雨的影响。利用植物DNA条形码数据研究发现, 植物间系统发育关系对古田山植物开花时间有显著影响, 亲缘关系近的物种开花时间更相近。植物的平均开花时间受最大树高的影响, 但不受传粉方式、花色、种子质量和扩散方式的影响。该研究结果说明气候因素、植物系统发育关系和功能性状都可能影响植物开花物候格局, 同时考虑这3个因素能够帮助我们更好地理解开花物候格局。