This work compared two methods of plant phenological evaluation along with their graphical representation. The study was conducted at the Núcleo Picinguaba, Ubatuba, São Paulo State (23º22' S and 44º48' W), Brazil, in three Atlantic forest types: coastalplain, lowland, and premontane forest. Observations on flowering, fruiting, leaf fall and leaf flushing tree phenology were carried out monthly from November/1994 to April/1996. We compared i) the Fournier's percent index of intensity - the intensity of phenological events was estimated according to an interval scale varying from 0 to 4, with a 25% interval between classes; and ii) index of activity or percent of individuals. The index of activity and the Fournier's percent index of intensity provided distinct and complementary information, optimizing the data collection and making the analysis and interpretation of phenological patterns more simple and straightforward. We suggest the combined use of the two methods in the estimation and representation of species-level phenological data, and the proper differentiation between peak of activity and peak of intensity.
Atlantic forest; phenology; methods; tropical forest; synchrony
