Resumen:
The fruits of Euterpe precatoria are an important economic resource in Amazonian
countries such as Brazil, Bolivia and Colombia. In the Ecuadorian Amazonia, an area that
needs market alternatives for sustainable production, there is an underutilization of this
resource. In order to generate basic knowledge for the development of sustainable use and
management plans for the species, we studied the population structure, reproductive
phenology and fruit productivity, as well as their relationship with the climate and
microtopography. All individuals were registered in an area of 3300m2 within a 1-hectare
plot located in a swamp in Misahuallí, Napo. The phenology of 60 adult individuals was
monitored monthly, for two years. 17 infructescences were collected to quantify fruit
production. A raster microtopography model of the plot was made in relation to the
location of the individuals. The total density of individuals (1197 ind / ha) and adults (40
ind / ha) was lower compared to records from other countries. The population structure
showed a higher percentage of young individuals (69%) indicating that the development of
the population is stable. Synchronous peaks of flowering occurred annually between May
and September, and fruiting between October and April, correlated with the rainiest and
least rainy months of the year, respectively, contrary to most studies in other parts of the
Amazon. On average, there was a production of 3.1 infructescences per individual and an
average of 4310 (954 - 8140) fruits produced per fruit. The estimated production potential
per unit area was 907 ton / ha. These values exceed the majority of records in Brazil and
Bolivia. The microtopography of the swamp, in relation to flooding, suggests a higher
concentration of individuals in higher places within the plot, although this pattern does not
show influence on fruit productivity as has been seen in other studies. Our results will serve
as a baseline for authorities and communities interested in the management of this species.
