Abstract

CORTES-CASTILLO, DENISSE VIVIANA  and  RANGEL-CH., J. ORLANDO. Mangrove forests in a salinity gradient at Cispata bay - Boca Tinajones, department of Córdoba-Colombia. Caldasia [online]. 2011, vol.33, n.1, pp.155-176. ISSN 0366-5232.

Following the phytosociological school of Braun-Blanquet, the vegetation along a salinity gradient, from Cispatá Bay to Boca Tinajones at department of Córdoba (Colombia), was characterized. Floristic richness is represented by 40 species, 38 genera, and 23 families. The most important family was Fabaceae with eleven species. Vegetation was classified in three (3) alliances, one of them new: Fico dendrocidae-Rhizophorion manglis all.nov.; six (6) associations: Pelliciero rhizophorae-Rhizophoretum manglis ass.nov., Lagunculario racemosae-Conocarpodetum erecti Peinado et al. 1995, Lagunculario racemosae-Rhizophoretum manglis Peinado et al. 1994, Rhizophoretum manglis Cuatrecasas 1958, Priorio copaiferae-Rhizophoretum manglis ass.nov., and Annono glabrae-Ficetum dendrocidae ass.nov. The differential distribution of the species indicates that salinity of water and soil stability are the main factors influencing the establishment and development of vegetation. In this sense, vegetation of the Lagunculario racemosae-Rhizophorion manglis alliance is located in places with high salinity and stable soil, while Fico dendrocidae-Rhizophorion manglis and Rhizophorion occidentalis alliances are found in places with low salinity and soils permanently flooded.

Keywords : Mangrove forests; biodiversity; Caribbean region; salinity gradient; phytosociology.

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