Climatic Influences on Flowering Phenology of Tropical Trees

Knowledge of phenological patterns is basic to understand biological process of tropical trees and other organisms that interact with them. Phenological studies are as important to our understanding of species interactions and community function as the spatial aspects. This review deals mostly with the flowering phenophase in the life-cycle of plants and attempts to identify the selective forces (both abiotic and biotic) which may be responsible for the patterns encountered. As with all other genetically controlled characteristics, the timing of life history events may be largely influenced by evolutionary constraints, with selection merely modifying a predetermined underlying pattern. The phenology of tropical trees differs from temperate species because seasonal variation in temperature is more restricted and photoperiodic and no periodic adaptations are more limited. An understanding of the phenology of plants is crucial to understand the community function and diversity.