Abstract

CASTELL-PUCHADES, Miguel Ángel; ALMARALES-CASTRO, Abel; ACOSTA-CANTILLO, Félix  and  LAFARGUE-HECHAVARRIA, Sandra. Floristic diversity of the Protected Natural Landscape, "Estrella-Aguadores", Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. Caldasia [online]. 2016, vol.38, n.2, pp.314-332. ISSN 0366-5232.  https://doi.org/10.15446/caldasia.v38n2.61209.

The Protected Natural Landscape "Estrella-Aguadores'' is considered one of the floristically richest areas on Cuba's southeastern coast, however, local floristic studies do not provide sufficient information for technical professionals and local decision makers to undertake appropriate actions for conservation and management. In order to address this deficit, we conducted a study of the floristic diversity of this protected area. Preferential sampling was employed with no fixed orientation, but taking into account the physical and geographic characteristics of the area and the ecology of the species. Field work was conducted using the rapid biological inventory method. We identified 266 angiosperm species, of which 112 are new records for the Protected Natural Landscape "Estrella-Aguadores". Of the total, 38 species are endemic and six categorized as threatened, while 48% have some use or value according to the residents of the local community. The present study demonstrates that the Protected Natural Landscape "Estrella-Aguadores" is among the biological reserves with the highest levels of angiosperm diversity on the Cuban coast, which highlights its importance for plant conservation.

Keywords : Angiosperms; endemic species; floral richness; plant diversity.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )