The Amazon flood plain forest tree Maquira coriacea (Karsten) C.C. 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, >10 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) were observed, corresponding to a basal area of 2 m/ha and a volume of 38 m/ha. The primary period of fruiting coincided with the annual flooding, but fruits were also produced in other parts of the year. Seedlings with densities up to 150/m were concentrated around mother trees, and the stocks fluctuated much over the year due to mortality caused by flooding and wilting in dry periods. Growth data mainly from nine 1 ha permanent sample plots were used to develop models of the height-diameter relationship and diameter increment. These relationships indicated that the optimal felling limit for maximum volume production was 120-130 cm DBH, which can be obtained in 150-260 years. Since seed production has been observed in much smaller individuals, such diameter limits should not be detrimental to regeneration.