Mauritia flexuosa fruit production increases with increasing palm height in the Peruvian Amazon

Abstract

Societal Impact Statement Fruit number, size, and allometric relationships were evaluated in the Peruvian Amazon for Mauritia flexuosa, a socioeconomically important palm with conservation concerns due to destructive harvest. Significant relationships were found between total fruit number and both palm height and fruit volume. Taller palms experience more crown illumination and bear more and larger fruit, which potentially suggests that greater time investment produces larger harvests and gives a justification for preserving existing stands by preventing destructive harvest. Understanding fruiting patterns is critical for developing successful management and conservation plans, though long‐term studies are needed to fully understand M. flexuosa fruiting patterns and responses to climatic change.

Keywords

• aguaje
• livelihoods
• Mauritia flexuosa
• Peru
• tropical wet forest