Resumen

TELLEZ-GARCIA, Citlalli P.  y  VALDEZ-HERNANDEZ, Juan I.. Structural characterization of the mangrove forest in the estero Palo Verde, Cuyutlán lagoon, Colima. Rev. Chapingo ser. cienc. for. ambient [online]. 2012, vol.18, n.3, pp.395-408. ISSN 2007-4018.  https://doi.org/10.5154/r.rchscfa.2010.11.101.

In the Estero Palo Verde, located in section IV of the Cuyutlán Lagoon, state of Colima, 48 sample units (SU) were established on three types of mangrove stands: 10 SU on pure stand of Laguncularia racemosa, 25 SU on pure stand of Rhizophora mangle and 13 SU on mixed forest stand of L. racemosa-R. mangle. Canopy height, trunk diameter, density of adults and natural regeneration were recorded, also basal area and tree volume were calculated. Results indicated that density, basal area and tree volume for diameter category (DC) of 5 cm were significantly (P < 0.05) different between the pure stands of R. mangle (2500 trees·ha¹, 4.2 m²·ha^-1, 22 m³·ha^-1) and L. racemosa (700 trees·ha¹, 1.9 m²·ha^-1, 10 m³·ha^-1). In the case of DC of 20 to 30 cm, the basal area was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the pure stand of L. racemosa (1.6 - 3.8 m²·ha^-1) than in the mixed forest stand of L. racemosa-R. mangle (0.5 - 2.5 m²·ha^-1). Natural regeneration was more abundant in the stand of R. mangle (138 -270 individuals·ha^-1) than in the stand of L. racemosa (70 - 80 individuals·ha¹). The highest structural values were reached for canopy height (10 m) in the stand of L. racemosa, for trunk diameter (40 cm) and basal area (14.1 m²·ha^-1) in the stand of L. racemosa-R. mangle, and for natural regeneration (624 individuals·ha^-1) in the stand of R. mangle.

Palabras llave : Pure and mixed forest stands; Laguncularia racemosa; Rhizophora mangle; forest characteristics; natural regeneration; diameter.