Relationships between minimum temperature and fruit production in some tropical forest trees in Gabon

摘要: It has been difficult to identify the environmental cues that trigger, and thus synchronize, reproductive events in tropical plants (Borchert 1983, Longman & Jenik 1987). The production of fruit forests varies seasonally (Baker et al. Frankie 1974, Janzen 1967, Tutin 1991 b) inter-annual variation flowering fruiting can be great but, with few exceptions, trigger have not identified. climate areas is relatively constant but both increased rainfall temperature (also hours sunlight, a measure likely correlated temperature) suggested as signals (Corlett 1990, Fleming Williams Lieberman 1982, Wycherley 1973). Evidence for more complex mechanism implicated 'mast' south-east Asian forests: an interaction between years elapsed since previous mast season daily sunlight seemed determine quantity degree synchrony range tree species (van Schaik 1986). advantages synchronous within species, terms cross-pollination, are obvious, physiologically demanding many seasonal individual trees do flower every year (Bullock Bawa 1974). Interactions internal factors external confound analyses causality phenology 1983). Fruit or seeds major components diets eight diurnal primate living forest Lope Reserve central Gabon (0? 10' S, 11? 35' E). Fruits eaten by primates show morphological adaptations encourage dispersal intact seeds, play role