TY - JOUR AU - Lucas, F. M. F. AU - Silva, R. A. R. AU - Rocha, T. G. F. AU - Fajardo, C. G. AU - Vieira, F. A. PY - 2020/10/29 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Carnauba demography: analysis of the spatial pattern JF - Scientific Electronic Archives JA - Sci. Electronic Arch VL - 13 IS - 11 SE - Ciências Agrárias DO - 10.36560/131120201229 UR - https://sea.ufr.edu.br/SEA/article/view/1229 SP - 37 - 44 AB - <p>Studies of spatial patterns are important in the elaboration of hypotheses on the dynamics of plant populations. In this context, the research aimed to investigate the spatial pattern between different life stages (regenerating, young and adult) of the <em>Copernicia prunifera</em> an endemic palm from the Brazilian semiarid. The study was carried out on a plot present in a remaining area of the Caatinga biome. The second-order neighboring function (NDF) was used to determine the degree of aggregation (univariate analysis) and if there is an association between the life stages (bivariate analysis). The NDF spatial pattern analysis for all <em>C. prunifera</em> individuals showed significant levels of aggregation up to a radius of 6 m and random pattern at higher distances. The bivariate analysis resulted in aggregation with a radius of 8 m between regenerating individuals and reproductive adults, indicating spatial association. Factors such as limited seed dispersal around the maternal plant and intra-species competition in the early stages of <em>C. prunifera</em> life are possibly responsible for the changes observed in the spatial pattern between the life stages of the species.</p> ER -