Abstract
This study analyzes the population dynamics of Copaifera pubiflora (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae) in the Venezuelan central savanna. The annual periodicity of shoot production, associated with xylematic rings, is an estimate of age. Shoot production occurs during the dry season. Average shoot production per apical meristem was 1.001 annually, as recorded during two uninterrupted years. Correlations between age, diameter at cotyledonal level, height and leaf number were significant. The growth rate, calculated as a linear regression of diameter versus age, showed an increment of 0.2595 cm/year for all age classes. The age structure of juveniles associated with parent trees showed a high proportion of juveniles among two and nine years old. In contrast, the age structure of juvenile plants not associated with parent trees showed a high proportion of juveniles among three and six years old. A decreasing stepped-down distribution is only found when age classes are grouped in five-years range. The variation in the proportion of the age of juvenile plants could be associated with the interannual five years flowering-fructification pattern recorded. The age structure of reproductive trees is markedly irregular and a stepped down distribution is only reached clustering by 15 year age groups. The power function analysis for all age classes in ten year age groups showed a J reverse form.
Published Version
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