Biomass Allocation in the Dioecious Tropical Palm Chamaedorea tepejilote and Its Life History Consequences

Abstract The patterns of resource allocation are described for a dioecious tropical palm, Chamaedorea tepejilote. Resource allocation was measured by harvesting fifteen plants of C. tepejilote. The relative allocation of biomass in the stem increased with the size of the plant; that in the leaves decreased and that in the other structures remained roughly constant. Female plants showed a greater total reproductive effort, though male plants produced more inflorescences during the flowering season. Both male and female plants allocated more resources to prop root than to hypogeal roots. The annual productivity of reproductive and vegetative parts of C. tepejilote was estimated using allometric relationships for different plant structures and from demographic data obtained from the field. Annually, female plants allocated significantly more resources to leaves than male plants. Yearly productivity of inflorescences was higher for male plants, while female plants had greater total reproductive productivity (inflorescences and fruits). Correlation analysis showed an increase in reproductive effort with plant size, and an inverse relationship between fecundity and probability of survival, fecundity and residual reproductive value, and reproductive effort and life expectancy; these relationships suggested a cost in reproduction. Additionally, mature plants with different growth rates exhibited differences in fecundity: tall plants (>2.5m height) that grew more than 40 cm in height in four years had lower values of fecundity in comparison to plants of slower growth. These data were discussed in the context of the implications in the life history of a dioecious tropical plant.     

Age,reproduction and biomass allocation in Rhopalostylis sapida(Nikau Palm)

Estimates of age, seed production and the pattern of biomass allocation are presented for New Zealand's only native palm species Rhopalostylis sapida. The age at which palms show above-ground stem development is uncertain, but appears to be in the vicinity of 40–50 years. Palms showing above-ground stems shed two fronds per year, on average. By counting the number of frond scars an approximate age can be determined. Seed production increases continuously with size (and age) for palms which exceed a maturity threshold determined by stem height. Although the percentage of total plant biomass represented by reproductive structures is low, seeds may account for over 50% of nikau palm net production in a year.     

Reproductive and post‐reproductive life history of wild‐caught Drosophila melanogaster under laboratory conditions

The life history of the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) is well understood, but fitness components are rarely measured by following single individuals over their lifetime, thereby limiting insights into lifetime reproductive success, reproductive senescence and post‐reproductive lifespan. Moreover, most studies have examined long‐established laboratory strains rather than freshly caught individuals and may thus be confounded by adaptation to laboratory culture, inbreeding or mutation accumulation. Here, we have followed the life histories of individual females from three recently caught, non‐laboratory‐adapted wild populations of D. melanogaster. Populations varied in a number of life‐history traits, including ovariole number, fecundity, hatchability and lifespan. To describe individual patterns of age‐specific fecundity, we developed a new model that allowed us to distinguish four phases during a female's life: a phase of reproductive maturation, followed by a period of linear and then exponential decline in fecundity and, finally, a post‐ovipository period. Individual females exhibited clear‐cut fecundity peaks, which contrasts with previous analyses, and post‐peak levels of fecundity declined independently of how long females lived. Notably, females had a pronounced post‐reproductive lifespan, which on average made up 40% of total lifespan. Post‐reproductive lifespan did not differ among populations and was not correlated with reproductive fitness components, supporting the hypothesis that this period is a highly variable, random ‘add‐on’ at the end of reproductive life rather than a correlate of selection on reproductive fitness. Most life‐history traits were positively correlated, a pattern that might be due to genotype by environment interactions when wild flies are brought into a novel laboratory environment but that is unlikely explained by inbreeding or positive mutational covariance caused by mutation accumulation.     

Life in 3-D: life history strategies in tunas, mackerels and bonitos

The scombrids (tunas, bonitos, Spanish mackerels and mackerels) sustain some of the most important fisheries in the world and their sustainable management depends on better understanding of their life history strategies. Here, we first assemble life history information on maximum size, growth, longevity, maturity, fecundity and spawning duration and interval for all scombrid species. Second we characterize their life history patterns and trait co-variation and evaluate how many principal axes of trait variation underlie scombrid life history strategies. Most of their life history variation can be explained along three axes or dimensions: size, speed, and reproductive schedule. Body size governs the first axis ranking species along a small-large continuum. The second axis was mostly influenced by time-related traits, such as longevity, growth rates, spawning duration, time between spawning events, ranking species along a slow-fast continuum of life histories. Scombrid species with the slowest life histories such as Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus and Atlantic mackerel Scomber scombrus tend to inhabit more temperate waters while species with faster life histories such as yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares and short mackerel Rastrelliger brachysoma are typically found in more tropical waters. The third axis comprises the negative relationship between number of eggs produced at length of maturity and rate in gain of fecundity with size describing the schedule of reproductive allocation which reflects a fundamental trade-off between reproduction and growth. Finally, in addition we show that the life history strategies of scombrids conform more closely to the Periodic and Opportunistic strategists within the triangular model of fish life histories.     

Reproductive bionomics and life history traits of three gammaridean amphipods, Cymadusa filosa Savigny, Ampithoe laxipodus Appadoo and Myers and Mallacoota schellenbergi Ledoyer from the tropical Indian Ocean (Mauritius)

The reproductive bionomics and life history traits of two corophiid amphipods (Ampithoe laxipodus, Cymadusa filosa) and one melitid (Mallacoota schellenbergi) were studied in Mauritius (Indian Ocean) for the period March 1999 to February 2000. Results on the population structure, monthly size class variations, sex ratio, female reproductive states and fecundity are presented. The study demonstrates multivoltinism and continuous reproduction in the three species. Increase in number of juveniles was observed in warmer months for C. filosa and A. laxipodus. Sexual maturity was attained at smaller sizes in warmer months in the three species. Linear relationship on body length and number of eggs in brood pouch are presented. Size-independent analysis of egg number revealed a decrease in number of eggs in cooler months. Sex ratio is male skewed in M. schellenbergi and female skewed in C. filosa and A. laxipodus. Some of the plausible explanations for the reproductive strategies adopted by these three species in a tropical system are discussed.     

Fruit production of the Ungurahua Palm (Oenocarpus bataua subsp.Bataua, Arecaceae) in an Indigenous Managed Reserve

The ungurahua palm (Oenocarpus bataua subsp.bataua) is widely used throughout the Amazon Basin for its thatch, fibers, wood, and edible fruits. The fruits of this species are especially important to indigenous peoples and yield a high quality oil. This study examines the use of this species by the Siona people of the Ecuadorian Amazon in the Cuyabeno Faunistic Reserve. The reproductive phenology, fruit production, and relationship between vegetative characteristics and fruit production is explored here. Fruit production varies greatly from palm to palm with a range of approximately 500–7000 fruits biennially. This amounts to approximately 700 kg/ha every two years. Height, diameter breast height (dbh), and number of leaves on an individual are poor predictors of tree productivity. Reproductive histories of individual palms are examined. The economic potential of this species and the implications of overharvesting are discussed.     

Female fecundity traits in wild populations of African annual fish: the role of the aridity gradient

The evolution of life history is shaped by life expectancy. Life‐history traits coevolve, and optimal states for particular traits are constrained by trade‐offs with other life‐history traits. Life histories contrast among species, but may also diverge intraspecifically, at the level of populations. We studied the evolution of female reproductive allocation strategy, using natural populations of two sympatric species of African annual fishes, Nothobranchius furzeri and Nothobranchius orthonotus. These species inhabit pools in the Mozambican savanna that are formed in the rainy season and persist for only 2–10 months. Using 207 female N. furzeri from 11 populations and 243 female N. orthonotus from 14 populations, we tested the effects of genetic background (intraspecific lineage) and life expectancy (position on the aridity gradient determining maximum duration of their temporary habitat) on female fecundity traits. First, we found that variation in female body mass was small within populations, but varied considerably among populations. Second, we found that fecundity was largely defined by female body mass and that females spawned most of their eggs in the morning. Third, we found that the trade‐off between egg size and egg number varied among lineages of N. furzeri and this outcome has been confirmed by data from two separate years. Overall, we demonstrate that local conditions were important determinants for Nothobranchius growth and fecundity and that eggs size in arid region was less limited by female fecundity than in humid region.     

Reproductive strategies of a temperate Australian sciaenid (teraglin,Atractoscion atelodus)

Worldwide there have been declines in stocks of exploited sciaenids. Despite a long history of exploitation, there has been no study of the life history characteristics of the fishery-important sciaenid, teraglin, Atractoscion atelodus. This study describes the reproductive characteristics of A. atelodus within the major area of its distribution and fishery, New South Wales (NSW) Australia. Characteristics studied included the size and age at maturity, fecundity, spawning mode and season, and these are compared to congeneric species. Atractoscion atelodus displays year-round batch spawning behaviour with asynchronous oocyte development and indeterminate fecundity. This is unusual for sciaenids, which typically display spring-summer spawning and only over a few months. The length and age at which 50% of the population matures for both males and females is 36 cm fork length (FL) and 1 year, a smaller size compared to other closely related sciaenids. While the species displays resilient reproductive characteristics such as protracted year-round spawning, constant supply of vitellogenic oocytes and relatively small/young age at maturity, there are also characteristics that make it susceptible to over-exploitation. These include highly female skewed sex ratios, as well as their schooling and voracious feeding behaviour leading to the potential for high catch rates.     

Reproductive cycle,sexual maturity and longevity of Odontophrynus americanus (Anura: Odontophrynidae) in South Brazil

Studies on the reproductive biology and age of amphibians provide primary information about the life history and population demographic parameters of species. Here, we describe the reproductive cycle, size–fecundity relationships, reproductive effort, sexual dimorphism and sexual maturity of Odontophrynus americanus, the flood frog, from South Brazil. A total of 96 individuals were analysed. The reproductive cycles of males and females were described through morphoanatomical analysis of testis and ovary. Age at onset of sexual maturity and estimated longevity were determined by skeletochronology. Individuals of O. americanus presented a potentially continuous reproductive cycle with a peak of reproductive activity in the warmer months. Females presented a higher reproductive investment than males. Sexual maturity was reached at around one year of age for both sexes while longevity differed between the sexes, with females living up to six years and males up to ten years. No evidence of sexual size dimorphism was found. This study is among the few that have assessed age at sexual maturity and longevity in a Neotropical anuran. Basic aspects of life history are of paramount importance because they allow comparisons and test of hypotheses to be made, which can help to build generalizations about the evolutionary meaning of ecological strategies.     

Variation in fecundity and other reproductive traits in freshwater mussels

1. Life histories of the highly diverse and endangered North American freshwater mussel fauna are poorly known. We investigated reproductive traits of eight riverine mussel species in Alabama and Mississippi, U.S.A.: Amblema plicata, Elliptio arca, Fusconaia cerina, Lampsilis ornata, Obliquaria reflexa, Pleurobema decisum, Quadrula asperata and Q. pustulosa, and compare our results with existing life history information for other species. 2. These eight species had reproductive traits characteristic of large, outcrossing populations: hermaphrodites were rare, we found no evidence of protandry, and sex ratios were even or slightly male‐biased. 3. Age at sexual maturity varied among species, ranging from <1 to 2 years for L. ornata to 3–9 years for Q. asperata. In all species, most mature females participated in reproduction and fertilisation success was high. 5. Fecundity was related positively to both length and age, but length was the best predictor. In six species, fecundity increased exponentially with increasing size; in two species the rate of increase in fecundity declined in larger animals. In four species, fecundity declined in older animals. These latter results indicate weak reproductive senescence; however, in all species, older individuals continued to produce large numbers of offspring. Mean annual fecundity differed widely among species ranging from 9647 to 325 709. Within‐species differences in fecundity were found among rivers and among populations within a river. 6. The wide variation in reproductive traits among species indicates the existence of widely divergent life history strategies in freshwater mussels.     

Effect of resource gradient on age and size at maturity and their influence on early‐life fecundity in the predatory Asian lady beetle,Harmonia axyridis

Variation in food availability impacts the performance of insects in terms of their size and age to maturity and fecundity. Age at maturity determines how quickly individuals in a population can start to reproduce and how much they can reproduce. Results from studies on various insect species show that food availability influences the size and fecundity of adult females. It is predicted that under poor growth conditions, variation in size is low, but variation in age at maturity is considerable. This prediction was examined in a widely distributed lady beetle species, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a predator of aphids and coccids. Using a food gradient from low to high aphid prey density, performance of females that were reared on excess food was recorded for pre‐reproductive duration, size at reproductive maturity, number of aphids consumed, and fecundity in the first 10 days of their reproductive period. Results suggested that female H. axyridis that were reared on surplus food when kept at low prey density (poor growth condition) took, on average, three times longer to attain maturity and produced, on average, 14 times fewer eggs than females that were also reared on surplus food, but kept at high prey density (good growth condition). Females performed best at a prey density of 30 aphids per female per 150 cm². Results suggested that the current food availability significantly influenced the age and size of females at maturity and their fecundity. Age and size at maturity of female lady beetles showed non‐linear responses to prey density as well as the occurrence of a minimum size of females, below which H. axyridis females fail to mature. The steep slope recorded at lower prey densities suggests relatively high variation in age at maturity but low variation in size.     

Female Fecundity Is Dependent on Substrate, Rather Than Male Abundance, in the Wind-Pollinated, Dioecious Understory Palm Chamaedorea radicalis

We examined the impact of substrate, population density, and sexual composition on female reproductive success in harvested populations of the tropical understory palm Chamaedorea radicalis . Leaf harvest for the international floral greenery trade does not kill palms, but has been shown to reduce flowering frequency and has been projected to reduce population growth. Because C. radicalis is dioecious and wind-pollinated, a reduction in flowering density from leaf harvest or other anthropogenic factors may lower pollen movement between flowering conspecifics and lower fruit production. Such reduced fecundity in harvested populations can contribute to an Allee effect, where the per capita rate of population growth declines at low density. We tested for these effects by sampling C. radicalis along transects in ten populations, spanning a range of densities, during May (flowering peak) and August (fruiting peak) 2002. We applied path analysis using structural equation modeling (SEM) to test a set of hypothesized relationships between substrate, female size, several population parameters, and female fecundity. SEM models revealed that female fecundity was not dependent on any measure of population density or sexual composition, providing no evidence for an Allee effect. The strongest model ( R ²= 92.9%) related C. radicalis reproductive output only to substrate, female size, flower number, and proportional fruit set. This model revealed that palms on rock outcrops were larger, produced more flowers, and had higher proportional fruit set than palms on the forest floor. This finding suggests that protection of females on outcrops should enhance population growth and viability.     

Neighbourhood analysis in the savanna palm Borassus aethiopum: interplay of intraspecific competition and soil patchiness

Abstract. A previous study of the spatial patterns of Borassus aethiopum (a humid savanna palm tree) led to the following predictions: H1. Trees and termite mounds positively influence all developmental stages; H2. There is intense competition between B. aethiopum juveniles; H3. Juvenile and seedling survival and growth rates are higher away from mother plants; H4. Mound positive effect overwhelms the effect of intra‐specific competition for very young B. aethiopum individuals, the reverse applies to older, non‐reproductive individuals. To test for these hypotheses the potential positive and negative neighbourhood effects were analysed. Progression of seedlings into the juvenile stage and juvenile growth were analysed through logistic regression models including the effects of four neighbourhood indices designed to model the respective influence of B. aethiopum juveniles and adults, trees and termite mounds. Statistical results explain the observed spatial pattern and reveal two main neighbourhood effects that influence both B. aethiopum juveniles and seedlings: a positive effect of mounds due to the fact that they constitute nutrient‐rich soil patches, and a negative effect of juveniles due to intraspecific competition. Seedlings would be mostly affected by the mound positive effect, whereas juveniles would be mostly affected by competition.     

Early reproductive investment,senescence and lifetime reproductive success in female Asian elephants

The evolutionary theory of senescence posits that as the probability of extrinsic mortality increases with age, selection should favour early‐life over late‐life reproduction. Studies on natural vertebrate populations show early reproduction may impair later‐life performance, but the consequences for lifetime fitness have rarely been determined, and little is known of whether similar patterns apply to mammals which typically live for several decades. We used a longitudinal dataset on Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) to investigate associations between early‐life reproduction and female age‐specific survival, fecundity and offspring survival to independence, as well as lifetime breeding success (lifetime number of calves produced). Females showed low fecundity following sexual maturity, followed by a rapid increase to a peak at age 19 and a subsequent decline. High early life reproductive output (before the peak of performance) was positively associated with subsequent age‐specific fecundity and offspring survival, but significantly impaired a female's own later‐life survival. Despite the negative effects of early reproduction on late‐life survival, early reproduction is under positive selection through a positive association with lifetime breeding success. Our results suggest a trade‐off between early reproduction and later survival which is maintained by strong selection for high early fecundity, and thus support the prediction from life history theory that high investment in reproductive success in early life is favoured by selection through lifetime fitness despite costs to later‐life survival. That maternal survival in elephants depends on previous reproductive investment also has implications for the success of (semi‐)captive breeding programmes of this endangered species.     

Size- and density-dependent reproductive success of bagworms, Metisa plana

A study conducted in a Malaysian plantation of oil palm over 5 consecutive generations of bagworms, Metisa plana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Psychidae), evaluated extent and causes of variability for 3 components of reproductive success: pupal mortality, mating success and fecundity. The population of M. plana in the experimental site exhibited cycles of 70–80 days with discrete generations. Females emerged before males during all generations. Relatively large proportions of M. plana did not reproduce, either because they did not survive as pupa or (for females) mate as adult. Occurrence of unmated female bagworms may be attributed to complex mating procedure, short lifespan of females, limited mating capacity of males, protogyny inducing female-biased operational sex-ratio, and/or flightlessness per se constraining mating success of females. Size attained at pupation is a significant component of reproductive success, with large individuals having greatest survival during pupal stage, mating success and fecundity. Population density also influenced reproductive success of M. plana: female and (to a lesser extent) male larvae on crowded palms attained small size at pupation; survival of pupae was density-dependent during 2 generations for females and density-independent during 5 generations for males; mating success of females was inverse density-dependent during 4 generations. Size- and density-dependent mating success of females may be attributed to mate choice by males, size-dependent pheromone production by and longevity of females, and/or disorientation of mate-seeking males around heavily infested palms. Long-term studies are needed to determine whether and to what extent attributes of oil palm, seasonal fluctuations of abiotic factors and inter-generational variations of reproductive success influence population dynamics of M. plana.     

The role of fecundity and reproductive effort in defining life‐history strategies of North American freshwater mussels

Selection is expected to optimize reproductive investment resulting in characteristic trade‐offs among traits such as brood size, offspring size, somatic maintenance, and lifespan; relative patterns of energy allocation to these functions are important in defining life‐history strategies. Freshwater mussels are a diverse and imperiled component of aquatic ecosystems, but little is known about their life‐history strategies, particularly patterns of fecundity and reproductive effort. Because mussels have an unusual life cycle in which larvae (glochidia) are obligate parasites on fishes, differences in host relationships are expected to influence patterns of reproductive output among species. I investigated fecundity and reproductive effort (RE) and their relationships to other life‐history traits for a taxonomically broad cross section of North American mussel diversity. Annual fecundity of North American mussel species spans nearly four orders of magnitude, ranging from < 2000 to 10 million, but most species have considerably lower fecundity than previous generalizations, which portrayed the group as having uniformly high fecundity (e.g. > 200000). Estimates of RE also were highly variable, ranging among species from 0.06 to 25.4%. Median fecundity and RE differed among phylogenetic groups, but patterns for these two traits differed in several ways. For example, the tribe Anodontini had relatively low median fecundity but had the highest RE of any group. Within and among species, body size was a strong predictor of fecundity and explained a high percentage of variation in fecundity among species. Fecundity showed little relationship to other life‐history traits including glochidial size, lifespan, brooding strategies, or host strategies. The only apparent trade‐off evident among these traits was the extraordinarily high fecundity of Leptodea, Margaritifera, and Truncilla, which may come at a cost of greatly reduced glochidial size; there was no relationship between fecundity and glochidial size for the remaining 61 species in the dataset. In contrast to fecundity, RE showed evidence of a strong trade‐off with lifespan, which was negatively related to RE. The raw number of glochidia produced may be determined primarily by physical and energetic constraints rather than selection for optimal output based on differences in host strategies or other traits. By integrating traits such as body size, glochidial size, and fecundity, RE appears more useful in defining mussel life‐history strategies. Combined with trade‐offs between other traits such as growth, lifespan, and age at maturity, differences in RE among species depict a broad continuum of divergent strategies ranging from strongly r‐selected species (e.g. tribe Anodontini and some Lampsilini) to K‐selected species (e.g. tribes Pleurobemini and Quadrulini; family Margaritiferidae). Future studies of reproductive effort in an environmental and life‐history context will be useful for understanding the explosive radiation of this group of animals in North America and will aid in the development of effective conservation strategies.     

A review of the reproductive bionomics of aquatic gammaridean amphipods: variation of life history traits with latitude,depth, salinity and superfamily

Life history traits (mean and maximum body length of females, number of embryos per brood = brood size, embryo diameter, number of broods per female, lifespan of females) for 302 populations of aquatic gammaridean amphipods, representing 214 species in 16 superfamilies, were reviewed. The variation of these traits, of lifetime potential fecundity (i.e. the number of embryos produced per female lifespan) and of reproductive potential (i.e. the number of embryos produced per female per year), with temperature (latitude), depth, salinity and superfamily, was investigated by various univariate and multivariate methods. Gammaridean amphipods comprise semelparous and iteroparous populations and species, with semiannual, annual, biannual or perennial life cycles. However, most gammarideans studied so far are iteroparous annuals. Body length explains most of the variation in brood size and embryo diameter. The reproductive potential may be increased by increasing body size for a constant breeding frequency, by increasing brood size at the expense of smaller embryos, by increasing breeding frequency for a constant lifespan at the expense of smaller individual broods and/or embryos, and by increasing longevity for a constant breeding frequency and brood size. Combinations of these different options constitute the life history patterns of gammarideans, which vary across superfamilies, latitude and depth, and cannot simply be explained by variations in body length. High latitude species were generally characterized by biannual or perennial life histories, large body size, delayed maturity, and single or few broods with many, relatively large embryos; converse sets of traits characterized low latitude species. Deep-living species had relatively smaller broods and embryos than their shallow-living relatives, yet did not produce more broods. However, different superfamilies dominated in different habitats. The importance of natural selection relative to phylogenetic (historical) and physiological constraints in the forging of these patterns is discussed.     

Phenotypic plasticity of life history traits in relation to reproductive strategies in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Boa constrictor occidentalis</Emphasis>

The close connection between reproductive ecology and life history in snakes leads to trade-offs between reproductive and other life-history traits. Optimal energy allocation to growth and reproduction is a key factor to determine life history structure. Therefore, elucidating the relationship between body size variations and reproductive characters is essential for a better understanding of life-history plasticity. The aim of this work was to determine to what extent life-history differs among populations of Boa constrictor occidentalis and to identify possible life-history trade-offs between morphological and reproductive traits. We compared two populations from areas that are separated latitudinally, with different climatic conditions and vegetation landscape structure. Reproductive and morphological data of specimens were recorded. Although populations had a similar mean length of mature snakes, the frequency of some size classes tended to be different. Size at sexual maturity differed between populations for females, generating variations in the proportion of mature individuals. Reproductive threshold and follicular size also varied, but female reproductive frequency was similar between populations. Reproductive frequency of males varied between populations although their body condition was similar. We discussed two major issues: (1) implications of size at sexual maturity for body size and fecundity; (2) trade-offs in reproductive characters.     

Effects of food variability on growth and reproduction of Aedes aegypti

Despite a large body of knowledge about the evolution of life histories, we know little about how variable food availability during an individual's development affects its life history. We measured the effects of manipulating food levels during early and late larval development of the mosquito Aedes aegypti on its growth rate, life history and reproductive success. Switching from low to high food led to compensatory growth: individuals grew more rapidly during late larval development and emerged at a size close to that of mosquitoes consistently reared at high food. However, switching to high food had very little effect on longevity, and fecundity and reproductive success were considerably lower than in consistently well‐fed mosquitoes. Changing from high to low food led to adults with similar size as in consistently badly nourished mosquitoes, but even lower fecundity and reproductive success. A rapid response of growth to changing resources can thus have unexpected effects in later life and in lifetime reproductive success. More generally, our study emphasizes the importance of varying developmental conditions for the evolutionary pressures underlying life‐history evolution.     

Leaf production,reproductive patterns,field germination and seedling survival in Chamaedorea bartlingiana,a dioecious understory palm

Summary Chamaedorea bartlingiana is a dioecious palm that grows in the cloud forest understories of the Venezuelan Andes. Age and sexual differences in phenology and reproductive patterns were studied in labelled individuals of all age categories. This species has long-lived leaves and low leaf production, both characteristic of understory plants. Growth rates are lower in juveniles than in adults and in females than in males, as in other palms. Male and female individuals show different reproductive patterns. Male inflorescences are always produced at the same rate and the probability of surviving until anthesis is constant. Females produce reproductive buds at the same rate as males, but these buds have a 35% probability of becoming a ripe infrutescence if the plant has infrutescences already growing, and 70% if it does not. This pattern and the slow growth of inflorescences (1 year for males from bud to flowers, 2 years for females from bud to ripe fruits) cause a pluriannual reproductive pattern at the population level. Field germination does not follow this pattern, but shows one annual peak probably related to environmental conditions.