We aimed to analyze pollination and dispersal syndrome distribution among strata and between edge and interior of semideciduous montane forest fragments at Fazenda Bela Vista (46º52'W; 22º47'S, 750-850 m a.s.l.), Pedreira municipality, São Paulo state, SE Brazil. During weekly visits from August/1997 to October/1998 we classified the pollination and dispersal syndromes of 151 tree and shrub species with dbh > 3 cm in the upper (height > 9 m), intermediate and lower (height < 4.5 m) strata and at the edge (50 m strip) and interior of three forest fragments (100 ha). The bee-pollination syndrome (melittophily) predominated, followed by non-specialized syndromes, phalaenophily, myiophily, psycophily, chiropterophily, ornithophily, cantharophily, and anemophily. Anemophilous, chiropterophilous and ornithophilous species were more frequent in open environments, and melittophilous species tended to occur in the upper stratum. Zoochoric syndromes predominated, followed by anemochoric and autochoric syndromes. Anemochoric and autochoric species were more frequent in open environments and predominated in the upper strata in the forest interior. Different pollination and dispersal syndromes are associated with different environments and forest strata.
pollination and dispersal syndromes; forest strata; edge vs. interior; semideciduous montane forest
