Mauritia flexuosa (Buriti) forest description: hydro-edaphic effects on tree species distribution in western Amazon

Resumen

Abstract This study addresses the lack of knowledge about the buritizais of the western Brazilian Amazon, filling critical gaps for their conservation and management. Buritizais -permanently flooded palm forests dominated by Mauritia flexuosa- are widespread but rarely described in ecological inventories. These formations are key components of wetland mosaics, influencing carbon storage and local hydrology. Conducted in the Javari-Buriti Area of Relevant Ecological Interest, the study aimed to (i) describe floristic composition and forest structure, (ii) evaluate variation along hydro-edaphic gradients, and (iii) identify environmental factors most strongly associated with M. flexuosa distribution. A floristic inventory was carried out in three sampling areas (T1, T2, T3), and statistical analyses, including Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) and a regression tree, were used to assess vegetation–environment relationships. Two main phytophysiognomies were distinguished: várzea alta (T1) and buritizal (T3), with T2 representing a transition. This differentiation was driven by soil attributes and flooding. M. flexuosa was associated with high organic-matter and phosphorus contents and longer inundation, whereas species such as Carapa guianensis and Zygia latifolia occurred in less flooded areas. These findings highlight the ecological importance of the ARIE Javari-Buriti and the need to consider habitat heterogeneity in conservation strategies.