MYRACRODRUON URUNDEUVA FR ALL. (AROEIRA TREE) POPULATION DYNAMICS, DIAMETER GROWTH RATE AND ITS POTENTIAL FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT IN SUCCESSIONAL TROPICAL DRY FORESTS OF BRAZIL

Abstract

ABSTRACT Myracrodruon urundeuva, better known in Brazil as “Aroeira”, is an arboreal species highly used for its commercial and pharmacological value. Despite the high commercial value in the timber market, this species lacks studies analyzing the recovery time and growth in different stages of succession in the Brazilian tropical dry forests. The main objective of this study was to determine growth rates of this species in three successional stages of a tropical dry forest in Mata Seca State Park, in Minas Gerais, Brazil. We measured all individuals (≥5cm of DBH) annually in 18 permanent plots in early, intermediate, and late successional stages over a period of 8 years (2006-2014). We calculated the annual diameter increments for each individual of this species, for each successional stage and by diameter class. We obtained the following mean annual increments by successional stage: early (10.53 mm/yr), intermediate (2.09 mm/yr), and late (2.90 mm/yr). Increment growth rates were similar between the intermediate and late successional stages. The highest incremental increase in diameter was obtained in the diameter classes 5-15 cm and 15-25 cm in the early stage, and for the intermediate stage, maximum increments were found in the 5-15 cm diameter class and 35-45 cm class for the late stage. Results from this study support the conclusion that this tree is not only a pioneering species but that it also tolerates the conditions of advanced successional stages. Given the fast and high diametric increments observed in the early stage of succession and the smaller diametric classes, this species demonstrates great potential for silvicultural management.