GROWTH, RECRUITMENT AND MORTALITY IN THE GAMA GALLERY FOREST IN CENTRAL BRAZIL OVER A 6-YEAR PERIOD (1985-1991)

Diameter increments, recruitment and mortality were studied over a six -year period in a 3.02 ha sample in an area of 64 ha of undisturbed ga llery forest alongside the Gama stream. The study site is located in F azenda Agua Limpa in Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil. Trees greater than or equal to 31 cm gbh (10 cm dbh) were measured every three year s from 1985 in 151 (10 m x 20 m) permanent plots in Gama forest. The m ean annual diameter increment for trees greater than or equal to 10 cm dbh was 0.25 cm y(-1). Variability was high with coefficients of vari ation c. 100% or more. Light-demanding and large upper storey species tended to grow faster than shade-tolerant and lower storey species. Me an increments for the community increased with increasing diameter cla sses. The mean annual mortality rate for the community was 3.5% y(-1) while the recruitment was 2.7%. The community was dynamic with 86% of all species either suffering mortality or gaining recruits or both dur ing the six years. The net difference between recruitment and mortalit y was zero for 55 species. The recruitment compensated for the mortali ty of most of the abundant species.