IMPACTS OF STEM HARVESTING ON POPULATIONS OF IRIARTEA-DELTOIDEA (PALMAE) IN AN EXTRACTIVE RESERVE IN ACRE, BRAZIL

Population projection matrices were used to explore the population stability of Iriartea deltoidea in an extractive reserve in Acre, Brazil. Palm population structure at 5 sites was described using height class distributions; projections were based on survival probability estimates derived from the size class distributions, growth rates calculated from leaf production rates and leaf scar records, and fecundity estimates obtained from seedling densities. Matrix analyses suggested all 5 populations were stable under recent (1989) harvesting intensities; the dominant latent roots (lambda) of the five transition matrices ranged from 0.989 to 1.017. Elasticity analyses indicated that population stability was most sensitive to changes in survival probabilities of palms 10-15 m tall. Lambda values were relatively insensitive to changes in fecundity and growth.