The Amazon flood plain forest tree Maquira coriacea (Karsten) CC Berg: aspects of ecology and management

Maquira coriacea is a commercial tree species growing throughout the Amazon flood plain forests. Densities up to 14/ha of individuals, greater than or equal to 10 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) were observed, correspondin g to a basal area of 2 m(2)/ha and a volume of 38 m(3)/ha. The primary peri od of fruiting coincided with the annual flooding, but fruits were also pro duced in other parts of the year. Seedlings with densities up to 150/m(2) w ere concentrated around mother trees, and the stocks fluctuated much over t he year due to mortality caused by flooding and wilting in dry periods. Gro wth data mainly from nine 1 ha permanent sample plots were used to develop models of the height-diameter relationship and diameter increment. These re lationships indicated that the optimal felling limit for maximum volume pro duction was 120-130 cm DBH, which can be obtained in 150-260 years. Since s eed production has been observed in much smaller individuals, such diameter limits should not be detrimental to regeneration. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scienc e B.V All rights reserved.