Intraspecific Variation in Phenology in Relation to Flooding Duration in Eschweilera parvifolia (Lecythidaceae) in Central Amazonian Floodplain Forest

Abstract

Studies in the tropics have shown that temporal patterns of tree flowering and fruiting in seasonally flooded forests can often be related to the variation in abiotic factors such as precipitation, temperature, and river-level fluctuations. In this study the flowering and fruiting phenology of Eschweilera parvifolia were analyzed in relation to two different flooding regions, in a black water floodplain forest in central Amazonian, in order to determine whether flooding duration affects its flowering and fruiting phenology. Eschweilera parvifolia trees presented significant differences in the duration and timing of flowering and fruiting periods in relation to the two regions. Trees in the low region had significantly longer flowering and fruiting. In addition, all the trees at the low region commenced flowering from May-July, while all trees at the upper region began flowering several months later, in September. These results demonstrate a clear intraspecific variation in the reproductive phenology of Eschweilera parvifolia in relation to the position of trees in the two regions of this floodplain forest. In conclusion, variation in tree position along two regions results in variation in the period of annual flooding which is associated with differences in tree phenology of Eschweilera parvifolia.