Abstract

BLANCO-LIBREROS, Juan F; ORTIZ-ACEVEDO, Luis F  and  URREGO, Ligia E. Above-ground biomass and carbon reservoirs in Urabá Gulf mangroves (Colombian Caribbean). Actu Biol [online]. 2015, vol.37, n.103, pp.131-141. ISSN 0304-3584.  https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.acbi.v37n103a02.

Mangroves are the major aboveground biomass (AB) and carbon (C) stocks among the tropical coastal and marine ecosystems. In this study, we estimated the AB and C stocks from the four largest mangrove areas in the Urabá Gulf, by using published allometric equations in combination with field-obtained forest structure data. The Atrato River Delta exhibited the largest AB and C stocks (165 and 83 t/ha, respectively) due to the dominance of large-diameter Rhizophora mangle trees (> 15 cm), followed by Rionegro Cove (115 and 58 t/ha, respectively), also dominated by the same species. In the Southeastern coast of the Gulf, the largest AB and C stocks were observed in the Puerto César-Punta Coquito sector (85 and 43 t/ha, respectively), followed by the Turbo sector (76 and 38 t C/ha, respectively), both dominated by Avicennia germinans. In the Turbo sector, there was a high density of thin diameter (< 5 cm) R. mangle and Laguncularia racemosa trees, as a consequence of the high logging pressure. The AB and C stocks of these species in the Turbo sector were lower than those observed in the Puerto César-Punta Coquito, located far from the urban area of the Turbo City. The biomass stocks of mangroves in the Urabá Gulf lay within the range observed worldwide, but the Atrato River Delta was one of the largest. This study concluded that mangroves in the Urabá Gulf are significant C stocks, mainly those within conservation areas. The size of the stocks is inversely correlated with distance to the two main population centers.

Keywords : Antioquia Expedition 2013; Avicennia germinans; deforestation; Laguncularia racemosa; Rhizophora mangle; selective logging.

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