Pioneer species Cecropia is a major pioneer tree genus in regions of the Neotropics with wet lowland and montane forest. These trees are characteristic features of many American tropical rainforest ecosystems and may be among the dominant tree species in some places. Being aggressive, rapid-growth trees, whose succulent fruits are readily sought by various animals, they tend to be among the first pioneer species to occupy former forest areas cleared for pasture or altered by human activity.Backes & Irgang (2004), pg.168 C. hololeuca, known in Brazil as "silver cecropia", has broad, silver-hued leaves that make it desirable as an ornamental plant for landscaping projects, as is the case with the similar species C. pachystachya.Backes & Irgang (2004), pgs.170 & 171 Greenhouse experiments have been performed with some species of Cecropia indicating them as “gap” and “pioneer” species under different light regimens and nutrient treatments. Some species (C. maxima, C. tacuna, C. teleabla, and C. telenitida) do not show the traits of pioneer species, though, as they occur evenly in the forest. The pioneer Cecropia species have a higher demand for light, occur in open habitats, relatively rapid growth rates, and short-lived leaves. According to McKey's theory, these pioneer species tend to invest more heavily in pearl bodies and less heavily in Mullerian bodies than more shade-tolerant species with slower intrinsic growth rates and longer leaf lifespans. In the small light gaps (which are more shaded than normal), the most distinctive myrmecophytic Cecropia spp, are found.
pioneer sPeCIes cecROpia Is A maJoR PIonEer TrEE GenuS In Regions of tHe NeotrOpICs with WET lowland anD mONTaNe fORest. tHese trees aRE characterisTic fEatUrES of maNY ameriCaN trOPIcal rainfoRest eCosYsTeMs and MaY be AMOng thE dominant tREe sPeCIeS iN some plaCeS. being AGgReSsive, Rapid-GrOwth TREeS, wHOse SucCuLeNt fruiTs are REaDIlY soUgHt by Various aNImals, ThEy TEnd To be aMoNG THe first pIoneEr speCiEs to occupy fOrmeR forEst arEas cleaReD for PAsTuRe or Altered By HUman activiTy.BAckes & iRganG (2004), Pg.168 c. hololeUCA, knoWN in bRazIl as "sIlveR Cecropia", has brOAd, siLveR-hUed leaveS ThAt MakE It dEsiRable as aN oRnaMental PLaNt fOR laNDscapinG prOjeCts, As iS thE case wIth the simiLar Species c. PacHYstachYa.bACKeS & irgAng (2004), pGs.170 & 171 greEnhoUSE ExPErImeNts have BEeN perFormEd witH some sPeCIEs of CEcRoPIA inDIcatIng THem as “gAp” aNd “pIONeeR” specIes unDer Different LiGht regimEns AnD nutrient trEAtments. sOme SPeCieS (c. MAxIMA, c. TaCUna, C. TeleaBla, and C. telenitIda) Do Not sHOw the traIts of piOneEr spECies, ThOugh, as theY OCcUr eVenlY in the forest. thE piOnEer cecRoPiA speCIes havE A HigHeR dEmanD fOR light, OCcUr in opeN haBitAtS, relatIVely RApid GrowTH RateS, aNd SHort-lived leAVEs. accoRdiNg to MckeY's tHeoRy, these piONeER specIes tend to INVest more hEaviLy in peaRl boDIES anD lEsS heAvILY in muLlErian BodiEs than morE shadE-tOlerant spECies wItH slower intrinSiC gRowTH rAteS aNd longer Leaf lIFespAns. In the smAll ligHt gaps (WHiCh aRe mOrE shAded than NormAl), the Most distIncTiVe mYrmEcophytIc cecroPia spp, aRe fOUnd.