The objective of this research was to study the population structure of Hymenaea courbaril in two fragments of non-flooded gallery forests with different degrees of human impact. The research hypothesis was that populations present different size classes and number of individuals between fragments and that recruitment is related to understory light. As a climax species that requires light, and a species that is adapted to a variety of environments, there would probably be a higher abundance and regeneration of H. courbaril in a fragment that has more light. Twenty-five plots (10 x 20 m) were set in two fragments using transects between the forest edge and the stream bank. The seedlings were recorded within each plot by means of four subplots (2 x 2 m) in a central line along the plots. Within the understory the photosynthetic active radiation was determined and the transmittance values (T%) were calculated by measuring the sunlight in an open field. In both fragments, more individuals were concentrated in the smaller size classes. However the population sizes in both fragments were not adjusted to the negative exponential distribution (reversed J curve). A linear regression analysis indicated that both the diameter and height of young individuals were related to transmittance (T%) (F=11,58-14,82(1,40); p<0,01). The lower abundance of juvenile individuals in the disturbed fragment might be due to recent and frequent fires. In spite of the higher abundance of young individuals in the preserved fragment, which has more undisturbed canopy and lower light conditions, in the understory these young individuals had size classes similar to the seedlings. This result suggests that H. courbaril is able to regenerate and to recruit in shaded environments. However, the growth of H. courbaril might be constrained by these lower light conditions.
gallery forests; jatobá-da-mata; population ecology
