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Abstract:
Senna reticulata ('matapasto') is a woody pioneer which colonizes Amazonian whitewater floodplains.
In open areas, especially those which have suffered a strong anthropogenic impact, Senna reticulata
dominates over other woody and herbaceous species forming large, apparently monospecific stands. In the
present study, stands of Senna reticulata which were two and six years old were inventoried in order to
describe differences of species dominance and physiognomy. Senna reticulata dominated in the first years
after establishment, representing 86.4 % of all individuals in the two year old plots and forming the canopy
at 4-5 m height. In the six year old plots, Senna reticulata had only 28.4 % of all individuals, and the
canopy at 7-8 m height was formed by 12 species. The vitality of Senna reticulata was low in the six year
old stands. The trees had higher stems but very small crowns with few leaves, enabling the co-occurring
slow growing, long-lived species to take over dominance. This study shows that Senna reticulala, although
considered a noxious woody weed by the local people, has a restricted period of dominance and represents
the initial phase of a successional sequence that leads to a diversity comparable to that of areas which have
not suffered anthropogenic impact.
