2012 EJRNL PP C.P. Kushwaha 1.pdf?
Terbatas Irwan Sofiyan
» ITB
Terbatas Irwan Sofiyan
» ITB
Recent phenological studies in tropical deciduous forests revealed a mosaic of vegetation composed of
several pheno-phases that are evolved as an adaptation by the species to overcome seasonal drought
in different ways. These pheno-phases represent extent of annual deciduousness (leaflessness) and triggering
factors for buds break (e.g. vegetative and flower). Thus, studying patterns of various phenophases
(phonological diversity) in tropical forest have been thought to provide a potential tool to address
critical questions related to climate change modeling and monitoring. In tropics, tree species represent a
gradient of deciduousness (from leaf-exchanging species to >6 months deciduous species) and flowering
initiation (breaking of flower buds in various part of annual cycle). Both processes are mostly triggered by
variation in day length and/or temperature during late dry season/autumn, and/or first significant rain
during rainy season. In addition, few factors like drought induced leaf fall and sporadic winter rains
are supposed to affect these processes temporarily. Besides, the abundances of pheno-phases (i.e. leafing
and flowering) also vary among tropical deciduous forest trees. Presence of such variations in tropical
tree pheno-phases and their abundances are reported to vary due to micro-climatic variables and has
specific implications in tropical forests. Present paper discusses the existing information on various
pheno-phases and their abundances in tropical forests and role of climatic factors on tree phonological
diversity. Further, we emphasized the need to develop predicting understanding of impending climatic
change (i.e. precipitation and temperature) on diversity of pheno-phases by collecting long-term data
on tree pheno-phases through a network of phonological stations in dry tropics.