This study was carried out in the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve, on north of Manaus. Phenological observations on five species of Chrysobalanaceae, Licania heteromorpha, L. longistyla, L. octandra, Couepia longipendula and C. robusta were analyzed in relation to meteorological data over 25 years. The monthly mean percentages of occurrence, frequency, regularity, date, duration of the phenophases, and the synchrony among individuals and in the population for flowering (F2), mature fruits (F5) and new leaves (F8), were calculated. L. heteromorpha showed maximum flowering in the transition to the wet season (Nov.-Jan.); L. longistyla (June) and L. octandra (July) in the transition to the dry season (May-July); C. longipendula and C. robusta in the dry season (Oct.). The species showed annual to supra annual frequency of phenophase occurrence and an irregular flowering pattern, except for L. octandra supra annual and very irregular pattern. The mean duration of the flowering (all species) was 4.8 months and 5.5 months for the fruiting. The synchronism index of flowering in the population was high in L. octandra (0.79), medium in C. longipendula (0.56) and low in L. heteromorpha, L. longistyla and C. robusta (0.32). All the species showed characteristics of evergreen plants. A principal components analysis of three phenological phases (F2, F5 Fs) and meteorological variables showed that flowering (F2) had a negative linear correlation with rainfall and relative humidity (r = -0.34), and a positive correlation with insolation (r = 0.29), maximum temperature (r = 0.26) and evaporation (r = 0.31); mature fruits (F5) showed a positive correlation with rainfall (r = 0.27) and a negative correlation with minimum temperature (r = -0.35) and insolation (r = -0.27); the new leaves phase (Fx) had correlations similar to those found for flowering (F2).
Phenology; synchrony; climate; tropical rain forest