Phenology of herbaceous species in cerrado: comparisons between intact, burnt, and reforested areas

Abstract

Vegetative and reproductive phenology was described for a sample of herbaceous species at sites covered by intact and disturbed cerrado in Southeastern Brazil. Herbaceous species showed three flowering strategies – continual, episodic and seasonal – as well as three fruiting strategies – continual, lengthy and seasonal. The phenological patterns were largely influenced by meteorological variables, but some differences between intact, reforested and burnt sites were recorded. Recent studies pointed out the major importance of the herbaceous component in cerrado community studies as well as the lack of substantial data on this stratum that could lead to generalizations. The present study pointed out the existence of some phenological differences of herbs growing in disturbed and undisturbed cerrado, and the need of carrying out comparative studies to verify if these differences are due to the site conditions or the species composition.