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Patterns of fruit-fall phenology in the Lopé Reserve, Gabon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Lee J. T. White
Lee J. T. White*
Affiliation:
Institute for Cell, Animal and Population Biology, Scottish Primate Research Group, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK& NYZS-The Wildlife Conservation Society
*
1 Address for correspondence: Dr L. White, S.E.G.C., B.P. 7847, Libreville, Gabon.
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Abstract

Patterns of fruit production were monitored over a 1-year period, from June 1990–May 1991, by counting the numbers of freshly fallen ripe and unripe fruits on five 5-km line transects located within 35 km of one another, in lowland tropical rainforest in the Lopé Reserve, central Gabon. A total of 195 species of fruit were found, representing at least 45 taxonomic families. The majority of fruits came from trees. Fruits were assigned to one of six categories which reflected their dispersal syndrome: succulent, arillate, dehiscent, fleshy pods, wind-dispersed, others. About three-quarters of all species had fruits characteristic of those dispersed by animals. There was a marked seasonal pattern to fruit production, with both the diversity and number of ripe fruits available peaking in January, and lowest immediately before and during the major dry season. The only climatic variable that showed a significant statistical correlation with fruit production was insolation. Candidates for the role of keystone fruit species were identified from species which fruited during the major dry season, and patterns of fruit production compared with other areas.

Keywords

fruit charactersGabonkeystone speciesphenologyrainforestseasonalityseed dispersal
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , August 1994 , pp. 289 - 312
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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