Influencia de la etapa de sucesión, fragmentación y exposición a la extracción en la estructura poblacional de Euterpe precatoria (Arecaeae)

Euterpe precatoria, a neotropical palm prized for its edible palm heart, exhibits higher seedling densities in secondary forests and extracted primary forests compared to continuous primary forests or fragments. This finding suggests that while the species benefits from disturbance, historical over-extraction has led to local loss of traditional consumption practices. The study analyzed population structure across four sites in Costa Rica—Braulio Carrillo National Park (BCNP), La Selva Biological Station (LSBS), Manú Center, and Finca El Progreso (FEP)—during 2007–2008, assessing successional stages, fragmentation, and extraction exposure. Results showed that palms under 5 meters accounted for 50–90% of total individuals, with higher densities in disturbed areas. These insights are critical for designing sustainable management strategies that integrate community participation.

Avalos, G., Fernández Otárola, M., & Engeln, J. T. (2013). Influencia de la etapa de sucesión, fragmentación y exposición a la extracción en la estructura poblacional de Euterpe precatoria (Arecaeae). Revista de Biología Tropical, 61(3). https://doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v61i3.11968