Demography, phenology and sex of Calophyllum brasiliense (Clusiaceae) trees in the Atlantic forest

Abstract

Further studies on growth and reproduction of many tree species are needed to know the regeneration patterns of tropical forests (Clark & Clark 1987, Heideman 1989). Thus, the need for studies on the c. 3% of Atlantic forest that remains in Brazil is acute, particularly in the rarely studied swamp habitats (Scarano et al. 1997). We studied the canopy tree species Calophyllum brasiliense Camb. (Clusiaceae) in flooded and unflooded habitats of a coastal lowland rain forest, in order to describe demography, sexual expression, phenology and flower and fruit production. We report the differences of such traits among three contiguous habitats found in the lowlands - unflooded forest, freshwater-flooded forest and mangrove.