Summary
It was found that population growth of seedlings of Pithecolobium racemosum followed an atypical inverted J distribution. This was explained on basis of the bienal crop size pattern and on the rapid initial growth of the seedlings. Population growth behaviour was found to be similar to that described for the majority of forest tree species. It was also shown that in primary forest conditions adults and seedlings are scarce or occasional, with high increases in frequency depending on the degree of disturbance. Seedlings growth seems to be highly correlated with light intensity, with different behaviour in the different areas amount of disturbance of the primary forest. Thus, the species can be considered as shade intolerante. The influence of different degrees of clearing on seedling survival was shown, as well as the influence of parental trees on the significant differences were found when comparing frequency, natality or mortality in areas with different degrees of disturbance. Thus it can be postulated that the behaviour of the species is independente, to a certain degree of external factors. P. racemosum is here suggested as an enrichment species for terra firme forests where the removal of trees induces formation of gaps or clearings.