Characterization of the structure of the Swamp Forest Zonal Conservation Unit "Cauto Sur"

• Main Authors: Karell Chala Arias, José Luis Rodríguez Sosa, Dayami Sánchez Pino
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidad de Pinar del Río "Hermanos Saíz Montes de Oca" 2017-12-01
• Series: Revista Cubana de Ciencias Forestales
• Subjects: Biodiversidad; Bosque de Ciénaga; Flora; Estructura.
• Online Access: http://cfores.upr.edu.cu/index.php/cfores/article/view/279

The study was carried out in the Swamp Forest in the Zonal Conservation Unit "Cauto Sur", refuge of delta of Cauto fauna, with the objective of characterizing the vascular flora. A random sampling was carried out with 15 plots of 100 m², where all individuals with more than 7 cm of d1.30 were recorded. Sampling was validated with the method of the area-species and distance curve, in addition the parameters of the horizontal structure were determined: relative abundance, relative frequency and relative dominance, the diametric structure and the vertical structure were also studied. The diversity of the swamp forest was low, represented by 27 families, 40 genera, 40 species and 673 individuals, the most diverse families were Leguminosae and Combretaceae. According to the phytogeographic origin, 61 % of the flora were native species, 7 % of endemic species and 32 % of exotic species. The presence of the threatened category taxa Pictetia mucronata (Griseb.) Beyra & Lavin, Catesbaea gamboana Urb and Thespesia cubensis (Britton & P. Wilson) J.B. Hutch. The dominant arboreal stratum between 5 and 13 m high, was represented by latizales, which denoted the state of regeneration in which the forest is located. They were Bucida subinermis Bisse and Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg, the best acclimated species to the site conditions of the Swamp forest.