Fenologia de Guapira opposita (Vell.) Reitz (Nyctaginaceae) em duas fitofisionomias no sul do Espírito Santo

Abstract

Phenological studies of one or more forest species is considered fundamental in any management plan, either with wildlife maintenance objectives, wood production or harvesting of non-timber forest products and other forest resources. Guapira opposita (Vell.) Reitz, belonging to Family Nyctaginaceae, is a Brazilian’s native forest species, which occurs in different forest formations, particularly in Mata Atlântica’s domain. Therefore, the present study had the objective of characterizing the phenology of the species Guapira opposite (Vell.) Reitz, as well as to verify the influence of some climatic factors in the different phenophases of the species in a Tropical Rainforest (TR) fragment and in a Semideciduous Forest (SF) in Southern Espírito Santo, as well as to compare and relate the phonologic parameters of the two areas. Data of flowering, fructification, leaf fall and budding were collected monthly from 36 individuals in the period between January and December of 2014. For the data analysis the methods used were the Activity Index and the Fournier’s Intensity Percentage. In the sampling period, there was observed reduction of 33% and 51,5% of annual precipitation for the TR and SF, respectively, when compared to the previous year of the study. The vegetation behavior of G. opposita in TR and SF did not vary much during the study period. The activity index of individuals producing new leafs and leaf buds showed itself seasonal, with the biggest percentage of individuals occurring between the corresponding months to the rainy season and with high temperatures. The peak leaf sprouting occurred in January, month in that there was the higher temperatures in both areas. A high sync step for the leaf budding in TR was observed; as for the SF population, it showed itself asynchronous. The leaf fall phenophase of Guapira opposita species was very discrete, where only 5% of sampled individuals in SF have expressed themselves and, only in the rainy season, being considered as low intensity percentage for this phenomenon, making it possible to infer that the precipitation wasn’t a limiting factor for it’s occurrence. As for TR there wasn’t demonstration for leaf fall by the individuals in the sampling period. Due to this the species was classified as evergreen. During the sampling period the reproductive phenophases for the species wasn’t observed, fact that may be related to the climatic factors, mainly precipitation. It can be concluded that de vegetation behavior of the species Guapira opposita in TR and SF had little variation; and that the limiting factor of reproductive phenophases in the sampling year was the drought.