Structural complexity and species composition of Potrero Grande and Santa Elena mangrove forests in Santa Rosa National Park, North Pacific of Costa Rica

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Auteur principal: Margarita Loría-Naranjo
Format: Artículo científico
Langue:en
Publié: Universidad de Costa Rica 2014
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author Margarita Loría-Naranjo
author_facet Margarita Loría-Naranjo
contents Structural complexity and species composition of Potrero Grande and Santa Elena mangrove forests in Santa Rosa National Park, North Pacific of Costa Rica Margarita Loría-Naranjo Jimena Samper-Villarreal Jorge Cortés Biología The Point Potrero Grande Santa Elena Bay Forest structure Centered Quarter Method The mangroves of the North Pacific of Costa Rica are among the most altered coastal ecosystems in the country. Scientific information about their physiology, ecology, structure, and geochemistry is limited. This study analyzed the structural complexity and species composition of Potrero Grande and Santa Elena mangrove forests. Two visits were carried out to each mangrove between May and June 2012. The Point-Centered Quarter Method was used to determine forest structure. Mangrove species, height, diameter at breast height, and canopy density were noted at multiple points along transects. Associated fauna and cover of epiphytic macroalgae were recorded when present. Interstitial water salinity was determined at each point. Basal area, dominance, importance value, and density were calculated for each mangrove species and complexity index for the forests. Rhizophora racemosa had the highest relative dominance and importance value at both sites. Santa Elena had the highest complexity index (CI=26.9), this could be due to the high density found. Potrero Grande mangrove is one of the best developed mangrove forests on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, given its structural characteristics (relatively tall trees and high tree trunk diameters) and species composition. While Pelliciera rhizophorae was known to have reached its northern limit at the Potrero Grande mangrove; this study extends its distribution further north for the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Unlike Potrero Grande, Santa Elena is not adjacent to a marine protected area, resulting in uncontrolled extraction and tourism activities within Santa Elena Bay. The creation of a marine protected area in Santa Elena Bay is recommended to provide enhanced protection to this ecosystem. 2014 artículo científico 0034-7744 https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=44958812004 en http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=449 Revista de Biología Tropical application/pdf Universidad de Costa Rica Revista de Biología Tropical (Costa Rica) Num.4 Vol.62
format Artículo científico
id redalyc_44958812004
institution Redalyc
language en
publishDate 2014
publisher Universidad de Costa Rica
spellingShingle Structural complexity and species composition of Potrero Grande and Santa Elena mangrove forests in Santa Rosa National Park, North Pacific of Costa Rica
Margarita Loría-Naranjo
Biología
The Point
Potrero Grande
Santa Elena Bay
Forest structure
Centered Quarter Method
Structural complexity and species composition of Potrero Grande and Santa Elena mangrove forests in Santa Rosa National Park, North Pacific of Costa Rica Margarita Loría-Naranjo Jimena Samper-Villarreal Jorge Cortés Biología The Point Potrero Grande Santa Elena Bay Forest structure Centered Quarter Method The mangroves of the North Pacific of Costa Rica are among the most altered coastal ecosystems in the country. Scientific information about their physiology, ecology, structure, and geochemistry is limited. This study analyzed the structural complexity and species composition of Potrero Grande and Santa Elena mangrove forests. Two visits were carried out to each mangrove between May and June 2012. The Point-Centered Quarter Method was used to determine forest structure. Mangrove species, height, diameter at breast height, and canopy density were noted at multiple points along transects. Associated fauna and cover of epiphytic macroalgae were recorded when present. Interstitial water salinity was determined at each point. Basal area, dominance, importance value, and density were calculated for each mangrove species and complexity index for the forests. Rhizophora racemosa had the highest relative dominance and importance value at both sites. Santa Elena had the highest complexity index (CI=26.9), this could be due to the high density found. Potrero Grande mangrove is one of the best developed mangrove forests on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, given its structural characteristics (relatively tall trees and high tree trunk diameters) and species composition. While Pelliciera rhizophorae was known to have reached its northern limit at the Potrero Grande mangrove; this study extends its distribution further north for the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Unlike Potrero Grande, Santa Elena is not adjacent to a marine protected area, resulting in uncontrolled extraction and tourism activities within Santa Elena Bay. The creation of a marine protected area in Santa Elena Bay is recommended to provide enhanced protection to this ecosystem. 2014 artículo científico 0034-7744 https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=44958812004 en http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=449 Revista de Biología Tropical application/pdf Universidad de Costa Rica Revista de Biología Tropical (Costa Rica) Num.4 Vol.62
title Structural complexity and species composition of Potrero Grande and Santa Elena mangrove forests in Santa Rosa National Park, North Pacific of Costa Rica
topic Biología
The Point
Potrero Grande
Santa Elena Bay
Forest structure
Centered Quarter Method
url https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=44958812004