Floristic composition and mangrove structure from the Miskito Cays, 10 years after Felix Hurricane

Abstract

This study characterizes the floristic composition and horizontal structure of the mangrove forest from the Miskito Cays Biological Reserve, on the North Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, during the first half of 2018. A sampling of 18 points were located, where 73 circular plots of 12.60 m of radius were placed, registering all the individuals rooted inside with a diameter greater than or equal to 5.0 cm. The results show that the forest is colonized by four mangrove species R. mangle L., A. germinans L., L. racemosa Gaertn and C. erectus L, where R. mangle L., is dominating the site with more than 80 % of individuals and C. erectus L. is very scarce. On average we can find 424 individuals per hectare that accumulate 6.54 m² of basal area and 47.11 m³ of volume, where more than half of the individuals are in the diametric class of 5.0 to 9.9 cm of dap, so the forest is considered young and in full growth and development, maintaining its ecological value for the existing biodiversity on the site.