Sutdy On Plant Phenology Of Representative Plant Communities In Macau

Plant Phenology is demonstrated when a series of plant life history strategy occur to dealwith climate change. Recently, spring and autumn phenological change caused by globalwarming have been proven in many areas. Macau, as a special geographical position of region,its climate monitoring had a long history more than hundred years. Regional climate change isalso studied. But at the same time, plant phenology research was in a state of blank.In this paper, we selected three representative plant communities in Macau, they wereseparately located in the Guia Hill, Big Taipa Hill and Ka-Ho Hill. We used the methods ofobservation on designated plant and in designated time, and took phenological pictures at thesame time. We analysed the phenological data from2011.10~2013.10, drawed thephenograms, divided phenology type, and analysed the correlation between plant phenologyand climate factors. The results showed that:1. There were116species in the monitoring plots, belonging to98genera and54families. The seed plants belong to90genera and pan-tropical distribution was the dominantfloristic composition. The phanerophyte was the main life-form. The community appearancewas determined by spring or autumn leaves, and flowers and fruits had little effect on thecommunity appearance.2. According to plant phenograms, you can see the relations among different phenologyphrases and the growth rule. The phenology phrases of most species had overlappingphenomenon, especially the evergreen species, their bud and leaf stage can throughout thewhole growing season.3. The selected38respresentative species were studied by hierarchical clustering, theresult showed that38species were divided into10kinds of phenological type, in which the "annual bud type—spring flowering type—summer and autumn fruit ripening type" wasdominant.4. The method of principal component analysis was used to analyze the correclationbetween plant phenology and climate factors. In the bud and leaf stage, the number ofaccumulated sunshine was the most important factor, the water-related indicators such asrainfall and relative humidity were the secondary factor. In the flowering stage, the number ofaccumulated sunshine and average temperature had the substantially equal importance. Thelight and temperature regulate flowering stage at the same time. The climate factors on thefruit stage of different species were very different. This paper aimed to lay the foundation for the phenology study of Macau or neignboringareas with similar climate. It can also provide a scientific basis for strategic decision-makingand technology consulting to the Macau government, including urban development planning,environmental foreign policy, and economic, resource and environmental sustainability.