Reproductive phenology differs between evergreen and deciduous species in a Northeast Brazilian savanna

Dinnie Michelle Assunção Lacerda,Davi Rodrigo Rossatto,Éville Karina Maciel Delgado Ribeiro-Novaes,Eduardo Bezerra De Almeida Jr

doi:10.1590/0102-33062017abb0343

Dinnie Michelle Assunção Lacerda, Davi Rodrigo Rossatto + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-33062017abb0343

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Evergreen (EG) and deciduous (DEC) species exhibit distinct strategies to overcome dry periods and achieve adequate water status for reproduction and growth. Such particularities may result in distinct reproductive strategies between these groups. Thus, we evaluated the phenology of EG and DEC groups, comparing and differentiating their reproductive phenophases in an area of Brazilian savanna (cerrado sensu stricto), located in Mirador State Park, Maranhao State, by associating these patterns with leaf fall and flushing. Leaf fall, leaf flushing, flowering and fruiting data were monitored between April 2014 and March 2016 for 12 EG and 13 DEC species. To assess differences in flowering and fruiting patterns between EG and DEC, we compared phenological time, activity and intensity, and the duration of phenophases. We found earlier occurrence and longer duration of flowering for EG than for DEC; for fruiting, EG differed from DEC in activity throughout the year, with the intensity being greater for the EG group. These responses may reflect the distinct water-use strategies adopted by the EG and DEC groups, and confirm that differences in their ecophysiological strategies may exert an influence on their reproductive phenology.

Highlights

We evaluated the phenology of EG and DEC groups, comparing and differentiating their reproductive phenophases in an area of Brazilian savanna, located in Mirador State Park, Maranhão State, by associating these patterns with leaf fall and flushing
We found earlier occurrence and longer duration of flowering for EG than for DEC; for fruiting, EG differed from DEC in activity throughout the year, with the intensity being greater for the EG group
These responses may reflect the distinct water-use strategies adopted by the EG and DEC groups, and confirm that differences in their ecophysiological strategies may exert an influence on their reproductive phenology

Summary

Introduction

The classification of plant species as deciduous (DEC) and evergreen (EG) was developed as a manner to better understand ecophysiological strategies related to water acquisition, storage and transport to overcome the scarcity of this resource in ecosystems with a well-defined drought period (Eamus & Prior 2001). Many studies conducted in seasonal tropical ecosystems explored this functional classification to understand how marked seasonality directly influences vegetative and reproductive strategies (Franco et al 2005; Ishida et al 2006; Lenza & Klink 2006; Rossatto 2013; Vico et al 2015; Méndez-Alonzo et al 2013; Tomlinson et al 2014; Álvarez-Yépiz et al 2017). According to such studies, evergreen species maintain high crown cover throughout the year (Fu et al 2012), and possess leaves with a long life span and elevated shoot growth (Rossatto 2013). Functional differences in leaves between DEC and EG species have been well documented over the past few decades (Takashima et al 2004; Franco et al 2005; Goldstein et al 2008; Rossatto 2013; Vico et al 2015; Tomlinson et al 2014, Scalon et al 2017), how distinct canopy maintenance strategies affect the occurrence and duration of aspects of reproduction have not been sufficiently explored

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