Dispersal of mahogany seeds and seedlings (Swietenia macrophylla) in open ombrophilous forest with palm trees from southeastern Pará, Brazil

Resumen

We performed a study of dispersal of mahogany seeds and seedlings (Swietenia macrophylla King, Meliaceae) in open ombrophilous forest with palm trees from southeastern Pará. For this study, we placed four transects of 2x50m, each subdivided in 25 blocs of 2x2m, in the directions N, S, E, W of four mahogany matrices. We found that: seeds dispersed according to the direction of prevailing winds that favored higher density and dispersal distance in the W - N direction; the intact seeds have reached greater dispersal distances than the aborted ones and can be dispersed beyond the matrix tree 50 m distance in the west direction; the greatest abundance of seeds and seedlings was found between 10 and 20 m distance from the matrices; seedling density was considered low, however, it increases from the east to west direction of the matrices, and can be found beyond the 50m distance in the N and W directions; the size of mahogany seeds is more important in determining the weight than width, which is a more conservative variable; the recruitment and growth of seedlings seem to be associated with clearings - where the highest heights were observed - which are quite disturbed sites with a higher incidence of light and other environmental seasonality. The information provide here may contribute to enhance the management actions for the use of the species included in the Appendix II of CITES.