role of density dependence in the population dynamics of a tropical palm

• Published in: Ecology (Durham) Vol. 80; no. 8; pp. 2635 - 2650
• Main Authors: Silva Matos, D.M, Freckleton, R.P, Watkinson, A.R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Ecological Society of America 01.12.1999
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Atlantic Forest, Brazil; Biogeography; Biological and medical sciences; Botany; Demecology; density dependence; density dependence in tropical trees; edible palm; elasticity analysis; Euterpe edulis; Evaluation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; matrix analysis; Mortality; palmito; plant ecology; plant population dynamics; Plants; Plants and fungi; Population density; Population dynamics; Population ecology; Population growth; Population growth rate; population regulation; Population size; Rainforests; Seedlings; size structure; spatial dynamics; transition matrix in G–L–F space; Trees; Tropical Forests; tropics; Brazil; South America; America; United States; Population regulation; Monocotyledones; Life history; Forests; Edible species; Tropical zone; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Density dependence; Population dynamics; Palmae; Modeling

The role of density dependence in the population dynamics of tropical trees has been a subject of considerable debate. Here, we present data on the demography of the edible palm Euterpe edulis, classified into seven size categories and monitored over three years. On average, each adult palm contribu...