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Fruit-frugivore interactions in a Malagasy littoral forest - Universiteit ...

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Chapter 1<br />

Fig 4. Comparison of data from the phenological transect and fruit trail is shown with <strong>in</strong>dication of<br />

the number of species with overall ripe fruits present as well as the dist<strong>in</strong>ction between life forms.<br />

DISCUSSION<br />

Abiotic factors<br />

A pronounced island-wide environmental seasonality is said to characterise Madagascar<br />

(Morland 1993). This is true <strong>in</strong> particular for the ambient temperature that appears to vary<br />

<strong>in</strong> consistent, seasonal cycles throughout Madagascar, which corresponds with data from<br />

our study site. On the contrary, ra<strong>in</strong>fall does vary widely among regions <strong>in</strong> Madagascar<br />

24<br />

25<br />

<strong>Fruit</strong> trail (N=113 sp)<br />

N sp large trees others all trees<br />

20<br />

15<br />

10<br />

5<br />

0<br />

35<br />

N sp<br />

30<br />

25<br />

20<br />

15<br />

10<br />

5<br />

0<br />

Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan<br />

Phenological transect (N=95 sp)<br />

large trees others all trees<br />

Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan

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