Estrutura da vegetação de mangue associada ao gradiente de inundação no litoral norte do espírito santo, Brasil

Abstract

The mangrove is an ecosystem of great complexity that occurs at the interface between the marine and terrestrial environments. Consequently, it has low richness of vegetables species, adapted to their different physical and chemical conditions. The objectives of this study were to assess the structure and distribution of vegetation in the mangrove river Piraquê-açu/ES, associated with abiotic parameters along a flooding gradient. Three hundred and six alive individuals and one dead were recorded in six 100m2 plots. The plants belong to the following species: Laguncularia racemosa, Rhizophora mangle, Avicennia schaueriana, Terminalia catappa and four undetermined. L. racemosa was the species with the highest density, dominance, basal area and IVI. The average height of the trees was 4.2 m (SD±1.9 m) and CBH (circumference at breast height) was 12.4 cm (SD±9.5), with the majority of individuals in CBH class of 10 cm. The mangrove forest studied is in juvenile stage, with minor structural development. A significant difference was found in the distribution of the species in the area, with associated species occurring in the plot on higher altitudes and lower soil water content. Although all abiotic variables differed among the plots, only substrate moisture showed significant relationship with the abundance of individuals and circumference of the trunks.