Survival and growth of Iryanthera hostmannii seedings and juveniles in the tropical rainforest of French Guiana

In the humid tropical forests, some species may be shade-tolerant, continuing growth after germination only when light conditions improve, while others are incapable of germinating without sufficient light. Species able to germinate in the darkness of the undergrowth are generally those having a rapid germination capability, without dormancy. Given their abundance, but also their high mortality, seedlings and juvenile phases are crucial states in the regeneration strategies and dynamics of tropical tree populations. Although contributions to the understanding of these stages are numerous, long-term studies are much rarer. For this reason we have studied the regeneration of an understorey treelet (Iryanthera hostmannii (Benth.) Warb., Myristicaceae), through analysis of seedling establishment, density, growth and mortality over an 8 y period from 1986 to 1994.