The objective of this study was to better understand the populational structure of juçara palm (Euterpe edulis Mart.) in the Southern Bahia Atlantic Forest, in the Ecoparque de Una, Una, BA, Brazil. The plants in the population were classified into one of six size classes: Seedlings, Juvenile I, Juvenile II, Immature I, Immature II, and Adult. For each size class, the following data were gathered: density and distributions of frequency class of height at leaf insertion, number of leaves, diameter at breast height (DAP), and diameter at soil level (DAS). Comparisons were made among these values through Pearson correlation. The population revealed a demographic structure similar to that found in studies of E. edulis in South and Southeast Brazil, except seedlings density, with a large number of immature individuals and few individuals in the largest size classes. The population density was found to be relatively low, leaving open the possibility that these populations should be treated as an ecotype different from other already studied. The variables showed positive correlations with the exception of number of leaves and DAS in the adult size class.
Euterpe edulis; juçara; population structure; sustainable management
