Flowering phenology and pollination syndromes in species with different growth forms in a Neotropical temperate forest of Mexico

Abstract

This study, conducted over a period of 2 years (2007–2009), analyzes the relationship of abiotic factors with the flowering phenology of 143 species in a Neotropical temperate forest; these forests are similar to those of temperate latitudes in terms of physiognomy and temperature regime, but differ in terms of the biogeographic origins of part of the flora and greater seasonality in patterns of rainfall. To visualize the range of possible flowering responses within a community, we examined flowering phenological behavior and pollination syndromes in species with different growth forms. At the community level, rainfall was positively related to flowering phenology. However, environmental variables had different effects on flowering phenology in species with different growth forms. Specifically, variation in rainfall is the most important factor in flowering in herbaceous species, while day length has a greater impact on the response of flowering in woody plants. Pollination syndrome showed a close relatio...