THE STRUCTURE AND PRODUCTIVITY OF RELICT STANDS OF PITAYA (STENOCEREUS-QUERETAROENSIS CACTACEAE), JALISCO, MEXICO

Pitaya fruit commercialized in southern Jalisco comes primarily from a nthropogenic populations. These populations are associated with archae ological sites dating between 300 B.C. and A.D. 1200. Stand structure and productivity of five anthropogenic stands contrast sharply with th at of natural and cultivated stands. Individuals from a natural stand have smaller-diameter trunks and canopies and produce less fruit than anthropogenic stands. Structure and productivity of one stand may corr elate with the associated archaeological occupation. Individual produc tivity is highly correlated with diameter of the canopy. Both men and women participate in the harvest and sale of pitaya fruit earning the same or as much as three times that paid as wage laborers. Conservatio n of these stands and the associated archaeological sites would requir e land purchase and protection but the sale of pitaya fruits could sus tain the efforts necessary to protect mid manage these populations ove r the long term.