The predommant life-forms in a deciduous forest of northem Venezuela are found to be phanerophytes lianas and chamaephytes. The dispersal mechanisms in this forest are anemochory (42%) zoochory (30%) barochory (19%) and autochory (9%). The distribution of dispersal mechanisms is a function of topography and the stratification of vegetation; anemochory dominates at higher elevations and in the upper strata of vegetation whereas zoochory is most common at lower elevations and in lower levels of the forest.