The ontogenetic and spatial structure of ten palm species that occur in the Serra do Mar, Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil, were analyzed for three vegetation physiognomies dense rain forest of lowland, lower montane and montane regions. At twelve 1-ha plots (four plots in each vegetation physiognomy) three transects, 10 × 100m each, divided into subplots of 10 ×10m, and 0.3 hectare in each plot was surveyed. All palms were identified and the biometrics of all palm species determined. Spatial distribution of populations was analyzed using the aggregation index (Ia) proposed by Perry. Changes in species richness and abundance were observed associated with elevation. Seedlings predominated in Astrocaryum aculeatissimum, Euterpe edulis, Geonoma gamiova, Geonoma pohliana and Syagrus pseudococos; juveniles had higher frequency in Attalea dubia, Bactris hatschbachii and Geonoma schottiana; Geonoma elegans had more adults and Bactris setosa had similar frequencies of seedlings and saplings. Most of the ontogenetic stages were not correlated with altitude and the aggregate pattern was predominant in palm species. Therefore, it was concluded that altitude did not influence the spatial distribution pattern of palm populations, but it affected the composition of the community in the dense rain forest in the Serra do Mar.
Arecaceae; Atlantic Rainforest; Spatial pattern
