Floristic and structural composition of three ecosystems associated with wetlands in El Morro farm, Rio San Juan, Nicaragua

Abstract

The study was conducted in El Morro farm, located in the municipality of San Miguelito, Rio San Juan, with the objective of analyzing the fl oristic composition, silvicultural status within the area of the forest, fallow area and scattered trees in paddocks. The methodology was developed by fi rst, a recognition of the area of the farm, and later a systematic forest inventory for the collection of trees samples 10 cm of normal diameter. The sample size in the area of the forest is 1.32 hectares; in the fallow area it is 0.54 hectares and scattered trees in pasture it is 0.77 hectares. The fl oristic composition of the forest consists of 29 arboreal species and 18 botanical family, the ones that stand out are Mimosaceae (6 species), Fabaceae (3 species), Caesalpinaceae (3). In the fallow area 26 species were found, represented in 20 botanical families, Mimosaceae and Tiliaceae stand out with 3 species and Bixaceae with 2 species. In the paddock area, trees with less than 10 cm in diameter were grouped into 33 species and 20 botanical families. The families that stand out are Mimosaceae with the species Pithecellobium saman (genízaro), Inga vera (guaba) and Enterolobium clyclocarpun (black guanacaste). The forest presents a diametric distribution in the shape of an inverted “J”, which indicates a normal development of a natural forest. The silvicultural state of the forest and fallow area, shows a pattern of predominate stems with an arch, the balance between healthy trees and those damaged by insects does not make an obvious diff erence. The majority of the trees receive sunlight during the day.