Abstract

CEJUDO, Eduardo  and  HERRERA-CAAMAL, K. Geraldine. Sinkhole wetlands of the north of Quintana Roo, Mexico: ecosystems barely known. Ecosistemas y recur. agropecuarios [online]. 2019, vol.6, n.17, pp.207-218. ISSN 2007-901X.  https://doi.org/10.19136/era.a6n17.1827.

Wetlands are the most productive ecosystems in the world, yet the most endangered. The wetlands established in limestone-dominated areas are referred to as karstic wetlands; a special type of karstic wetlands are sinkhole wetlands. The objective of this study was to characterize sinkhole wetlands of the north of the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. We used descriptors of the micro-relief, edaphic parameters, water chemistry and tree standing biomass. The results show that sinkhole wetlands are primary units of the type P/b/h, swamp depressions from seasonally to intermittently flooded, shape from round to ovoid, dominated by trees tolerant to flooding, established on rocky bottoms with unconsolidated sediments. Surface and interstitial water measurements suggest mineralization of organic matter, soil with high water retention capacity and elevated calcium and silica. Estimated tree standing median biomass was from 0.01 to 0.3 kg of carbon per tree.

Keywords : Classification; physicochemistry; micro-relief; soil; timber volume.

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