Spatial relationship between conspecifics
Only M. multiflora showed spatial associations, which were best explained by dispersal limitation for small in relation to large trees, and the combination of dispersal limitation and habitat filtering for medium in relation to large trees (Table 3). For M. brasiliensisand M. racemosa , small and medium trees were spatially independent of large trees, but for the small-large tree combination ofM. racemosa , the habitat filtering model received similar support as the independence model (Table 3). The parameter σ that resulted in the best fit for the models of dispersal limitation was 20 m forM. brasiliensis , 9 m for M. multiflora , and 15 m forM. racemosa .