A study was carried out to compare the phenological patterns of nine tree species from three contiguous Atlantic forest types: "restinga" forest, coastal-plain forest and Atlantic (premontane) rain forest. The study was conducted at Núcleo Picinguaba, Ubatuba Municipality, São Paulo State (23º22' S and 44º48' W), Brazil, from November/1994 to April/1996. The intensity of phenological events was estimated for each tree according to a scale ranging from 0 to 4, with a 25% interval between the classes. The species presented the same phenological patterns across the forest types in the study area, except for two species (Guatteria australis St.-Hill. and Didymopanax calvum Decne. & Planch.). The heterogeneity of individual patterns exhibited by these species may be related to structural differences among the forest types, such as canopy height and soil humidity.
Atlantic forest; phenology; flowering; fruiting; leafing
