Abstract
The study was conducted at the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve. The occurrence and abundance of the adult palms Attalea attaleoides (Barb. Rodr.) W Boer, A. microcarpa Mart., Euterpe precatoria Mart., Geonoma aspidiifolia Spruce, Iriartella setigera (Mart.) H. Wendl, Oenocarpus bacaba Mart., O. bataua Mart., O. minor Mart., Socratea exorrhiza (Mart.) H. Wendl were observed in 40 50 x 50 m plots and the seedlings in two 50 x 2 m plots located inside the 40 plots demarcated to register the adults. The topographical gradient was divided into swamp valley, slope and plateau based on the altitudes and characteristics of these environments. Occurrence and abundance data were used as dependent variables in the models of Analysis of Variance to verify differences in the topographical gradient. Changes in species composition were evaluated using multivariate analysis of ordination. The distribution and abundance of the seedling and adult phases varied with the topographical gradient. The variation in species composition in different topographic levels probably occurs due to the different responses of the species to the variation in forest heterogeneity, produced by the spatial variation of the structural components of the forest. Key words: palms, Central Amazon, topography, distribution, “Terra Firme” forest.
Highlights
Studies of changes in population and community composition are of great importance to the comprehension of interactions among species and how these species are influenced by ecological factors, determining the local and regional biodiversity (Ricklefs and Schluter, 1993)
The study of populations can reveal more clear distribution patterns in relation to the niche occupied by species than the more complex studies performed to the community
We analyzed the populations at only one micro basin of the reserve, separating a priori the potential effect in a spatial mesoscale that different micro basins can produce in palm distribution and abundance
Summary
Studies of changes in population and community composition are of great importance to the comprehension of interactions among species and how these species are influenced by ecological factors, determining the local and regional biodiversity (Ricklefs and Schluter, 1993). The distribution of populations of more abundant palm species can be influenced by several components of the forest structure, like litter quantity, canopy opening, tree density, soil types, etc (Cintra et al, 2005). This study differs from previous studies performed at Ducke Reserve because it evaluates the distribution and abundance of palms, including some less abundant, considering seedling and adult phases. Since palms are relatively abundant and distributed all over the Reserve, our prediction is that community composition is relatively homogeneous along the variation of the topographical gradient (plateau, slope, valley). Palm species differ in the capacity to occupy more complex environments and some more direct relations are expected, for example, changes in species composition with concomitant changes in soil type or topographical gradients
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
