How old are large Brazil-nut trees (Bertholletia excelsa) in the Amazon?

Camargo, Plínio Barbosa de; Salomão, R. de P.; Trumbore, Susan E.; Martinelli, L. A.

doi:10.1590/s0103-90161994000200028

Cited by 28 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…For Cedrela, quite similar ages were found for a close congener (Cedrela lilloi) in subtropical Argentina (Grau 2000). Age determinations of Tachigali and Bertholletia are in accordance with estimates based on matrix models for these species (Zuidema & Boot 2002;Worbes et al 2003;Poorter et al 2005b) and with one radiocarbon dated Bertholletia tree in Brazil (440 ± 60 years for a tree of 225 cm diameter, Camargo et al 1994).…”

Section:     supporting

confidence: 80%

Lifetime growth patterns and ages of Bolivian rain forest trees obtained by tree ring analysis

2005

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Summary1 Growth patterns and ages of tropical forest trees are strongly governed by temporal variation in light availability. Periods of high growth after canopy disturbances (releases) are necessary for successful canopy regeneration, but their importance cannot be studied without lifetime data. The recent detection of annual rings in tropical forest trees enables such analyses. 2 We used tree ring analysis to study lifetime growth patterns and age variation in six Bolivian rain forest species. Our aims were to evaluate the magnitude and sources of age variation of canopy trees, to analyse the frequency of suppression and release events, and to analyse the relation between temporal growth changes and tree age. 3 The average age of trees of 60 cm diameter differed threefold between species and by two-to threefold even within species. This variation was mainly explained by variation in passage time through the juvenile categories. 4 We used strong relative growth changes to detect release and suppression events. On average, canopy trees experienced 0.8-1.4 releases, with a maximum of 4. 5 We distinguished four canopy accession patterns by which trees have attained the canopy (growth without major growth changes, one release event, one suppression event, or several release and suppression events), with increasing time required to attain the canopy. The distribution of trees over categories of canopy accession is therefore closely related to the average age of canopy trees and its variation. 6 There were clear differences among species in how trees attained the canopy and in the length of slow-growth periods they experienced, suggesting differences in shade tolerance and growth responses to gaps, which are indicative of life-history differences among non-pioneer tree species. 7 Canopy attainment of tropical rain forest trees does not occur by steady growth, but rather by irregular patterns of growth spurts and stand-stills, probably mostly caused by temporal variation in light. Differences in these patterns may largely explain differences in the ages of large tropical rain forest trees.

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Section:     supporting

confidence: 80%

Lifetime growth patterns and ages of Bolivian rain forest trees obtained by tree ring analysis

2005

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“…Our age estimates are supported by the only 14 C-dated Bertholletia individual (Camargo et al 1994). This tree of 225 cm dbh was estimated to be 440 ± 60 y (mean ± 1 SD), suggesting a life-long dbh growth of 0.6 cm y −1 for this tree.…”

Section: Bertholletia Demographysupporting

confidence: 69%

Demography of the Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa) in the Bolivian Amazon: impact of seed extraction on recruitment and population dynamics

2002

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ABSTRACT. A demographic study was carried out on Bertholletia excelsa, the Brazil nut tree, in two primary forest sites in Northern Bolivia where Brazil nuts have been harvested for several decades. In spite of the large proportion (93%) of seeds that are harvested, reasonable densities of recently emerged seedlings were found. Seeds of Bertholletia are contained in woody fruits that are primarily opened by agoutis. Most fruits are left untouched on the forest floor for 1-2 y before they are opened, possibly due to high energetic costs of fruit opening just after fruit fall. However, the proportion of viable seeds is strongly reduced in older fruits.Growth in diameter at breast height (dbh) was low for pole-sized trees (< 15 cm dbh) and adult trees (> 100 cm dbh) and peaked for intermediate-sized trees (30-60 cm). These trees often attained a growth rate of > 1.5 cm y −1 , which is high compared with other non-pioneer tropical trees. This, and the strong growth response to increased light availability found for seedlings and saplings, suggest that Bertholletia excelsa can be classified as a gap-dependent species. Matrix population models were constructed for both study populations. Population growth rates (λ) were close to one, and were most sensitive to persistence in one size category. Age estimates revealed that age at first reproduction (at dbh > 60 cm) amounts to over 120 y, and age in the last category (dbh > 160 cm) to almost 300 y. Given the continuous rejuvenation of the population, the stable population size, the high age at maturity and the long reproductive period, it is concluded that current levels of Brazil nut extraction may be sustained at least for several decades and perhaps for even longer periods.

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“…Seeds of C. guianensis are larger (25 g per seed, Ferraz et al 2002) than those of B. excelsa, 4 to 10 g per seed (Tonini and ArcoVerde 2004), which may contribute the faster growth of C. guianensis seedlings. Growth rates reported in this study concur with those observed previously, either for B. excelsa (0.5 mm month -1 , Camargo et al 1994) or C. guianensis (0.95 to 2.2 mm month -1 , Bauch andDunisch 2000, Camargo and.…”

Section: Growth In Diameter and Heightsupporting

confidence: 93%

Photosynthetic parameters and growth in seedlings of Bertholletia excelsa and Carapa guianensis in response to pre-acclimation to full sunlight and mild water stress

Azevedo

2014

Acta Amaz.

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Light and water are important factors that may limit the growth and development of higher plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate photosynthetic parameters and growth in seedlings of Bertholletia excelsa and Carapa guianensis in response to pre-acclimation to full sunlight and mild water stress. I used six independent pre-acclimation treatments (0, 90 (11h15-12h45), 180 (10h30-13h30), 360 (09h00-15h00), 540 (07h30-16h30) and 720 min (06h00-18h00)) varying the time of exposure to full sunlight (PFS) during 30 days, followed by whole-day outdoor exposure for 120 days. Before PFS, the plants were kept in a greenhouse at low light levels (0.8 mol m -2 day -1). The PFS of 0 min corresponded to plants constantly kept under greenhouse conditions. From the beginning to the end of the experiment, each PFS treatment was submitted to two water regimes: moderate water stress (MWS, pre-dawn leaf water potential (Ψ L ) of -500 to -700 kPa) and without water stress (WWS, Ψ L of -300 kPa, soil kept at field capacity). Plants under MWS received only a fraction of the amount of water applied to the well-watered ones. At the end of the 120-day-period under outdoor conditions, I evaluated light saturated photosynthesis (A max ), stomatal conductance (g s ), transpiration (E) and plant growth. Both A max and g s were higher for all plants under the PFS treatment. Stem diameter growth rate and A max were higher for C. guianensis subjected to MWS than in well-watered plants. The contrary was true for B. excelsa. The growth of seedlings was enhanced by exposure to full sunlight for 180 minutes in both species. However, plants of B. excelsa were sensitive to moderate water stress. The higher photosynthetic rates and faster growth of C. guianensis under full sun and moderate water stress make this species a promissory candidate to be tested in reforestation programs. KEYWORDS: Amazonia, forest tree species, photosynthesis, stomatal conductanceParâmetros fotossintéticos e crescimento em mudas de Bertholletia excelsa e Carapa guianensis em resposta a pré-aclimatação a pleno sol e estresse hídrico moderado RESUMO A luz e a água são importantes fatores que limitam o crescimento e o desenvolvimento das plantas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os paâmetros fotossintéticos e o crescimento em mudas de Bertholletia excelsa e Carapa guianensis em resposta a pré-aclimatação à luz solar plena e estresse hídrico moderado. Foram usados seis independentes tratamentos de pré-aclimatação a pleno sol (PFS), sendo estes de (0, 90 (11h15-12h45), 180 (10h30-13h30), 360 (09h00-15h00), 540 (07h30-16h30) e 720 min (06h00-18h00)) durante 30 dias seguidos por um período de exposição a pleno sol de 120 dias durante o dia todo. Antes da PFS, as plantas foram mantidas em casa de vegetação a baixos níveis de luz (0,8 mol m -2 dia -1 ). O PFS de 0 min correspondeu às plantas mantidas constatemente na casa de vegetação. Cada tratamento de PFS foi submetido desde o início até o final do experimento a dois regimes hídricos, denominado de estresse híd...

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How old are large Brazil-nut trees (Bertholletia excelsa) in the Amazon?

Abstract: The age of a large Brazil-nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa) is measured by radiocarbon dating, and a discussion is made about their importance in the Amazon rain-forest ecosystem.

Cited by 28 publications

References 4 publications

Lifetime growth patterns and ages of Bolivian rain forest trees obtained by tree ring analysis

Lifetime growth patterns and ages of Bolivian rain forest trees obtained by tree ring analysis

Demography of the Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa) in the Bolivian Amazon: impact of seed extraction on recruitment and population dynamics

Photosynthetic parameters and growth in seedlings of Bertholletia excelsa and Carapa guianensis in response to pre-acclimation to full sunlight and mild water stress

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