Effects of ENSO events on the intensity, seasonality, and diversity of reproductive phenology of Miconia (Melastomataceae) species in tropical rainforest

• Published in: Brazilian journal of biology 2023, Vol.83, p.1-13
• Main Authors: Barros, A. G., Costa, J. S., Lima, M. R. O., Souza, I. P., Miranda, L. A. P., Couto-Santos, A. P. L., Funch, L. S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal reproduction; Annual variations; BIOLOGY; Climate change; climatic changes; Drought; El Nino; El Niño; Evaluation; Flowers & plants; Forests; Fruits; Global climate; La Nina; La Niña; Megachile holosericea; Melastomataceae; Miconia; Miconia prasina; Mountains; Periodic variations; Periodicity; phenological diversity; Phenology; Phonology; Plant populations; Pollinators; Rain; Rainforests; Rainy season; Seasonal variations; sequential flowering; Species; Species diversity; Sympatric populations; Time series; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 1519-6984; 1678-4375; 1678-4375
• DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.277897

Abstract We evaluated the phenology and reproductive phenological diversity of three sympatric species of Miconia in a gallery forest in the Chapada Diamantina mountains, Bahia, Brazil. The reproductive phenophases (bud, flower, immature fruit, and mature fruit) of M. alborufescens (N=38), M. holosericea (N=46), and M. prasina (N=44) were evaluated monthly, between June/2008 and June/2015. The Fournier index was used to assess the intensities of the reproductive phenophases; synchrony and seasonality were analyzed using circular statistics and the Rayleigh (Z) test. The Frideman and Wilcoxon tests were used to verify interannual variations in phenological patterns. Reproductive phenological diversity was measured by calculating the Shannon-Wiener index; ANOVA tested possible differences in the means of diversity among the different years. The reproductive phenophases of the studied Miconia species occurred sequentially (M. alborufescens, then M. holoserica, followed by M. prasina), in the transition between the dry and rainy seasons, with little overlap between them. In general, the species showed seasonal and synchronic phenological patterns, with some variations that coincided with El Niño and/or La Niña events, e.g., demonstrating changes in the periodicity, synchrony, and intensity of their phenophases. The intensity of fruiting, for example, showed increases during La Niña years. Reproductive phenological diversity appears to respond to climate changes resulting from El Niño events and periods of prolonged drought, with high Shannon-Wiener index values. The results also suggest that the effects of global climatic phenomena (El Niño and La Niña) that alter regional climatic seasonality can also cause variations in the reproductive phenological rhythms of the Miconia species studied. Resumo Neste estudo, avaliamos a fenologia e a diversidade fenológica reprodutiva de três espécies simpátricas de Miconia em uma floresta de galeria da Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brasil. As fenofases reprodutivas (botão, flor, fruto imaturo e fruto maduro) de M. alborufescens (N=38), M. holosericea (N=46) e M. prasina (N=44) foram avaliadas mensalmente, entre junho de 2008 e junho de 2015. O índice de Fournier foi utilizado para avaliar a intensidade das fenofases reprodutivas; a sincronia e a sazonalidade foram analisadas por meio de estatística circular e do teste de Rayleigh (Z). Os testes de Frideman e Wilcoxon foram empregados na verificação de variações interanuais do