The Atlantic Rain Forest is widely distributed in Brazilian coast, and due to environmental differences among sites, ecological processes in plant communities may be different. To test for local and regional effects on plant phenology, we studied during two years the phenology of 55 canopy and understory plant species in two Coastal Plain Forests (Flooded and Unflooded) in Ilha do Mel island one of the most Southern Atlantic Forest area. The study site is one of more southern Atlantic Forest and regional rainfall in the wetter season (September to May) is similar to that of the less wet season (June to August). Flooded and Unflooded Forests showed very similar phenological patterns in which leaf fall (October to December), flushing (December to January), flowering (December to January), and fruiting (March to April) occurred during the wetter season. Almost all phases were correlated with daylength and temperature. Canopy and understory species did not share phenological patterns, and canopy species had a synchronous pattern. The phenology of Coastal Plain Forests of Ilha do Mel is very similar to other ecosystems of Atlantic Rain Forest in Brazil, reflecting floristic links among these areas.
Atlantic Rain Forest; daylength; flowering; fruiting; leaf-flushing
