Species distribution and structure of mangrove of the Benevente River, Anchieta, ES

Abstract

The structure of the mangrove forest of the Benevente River estuary, in Anchieta, ES, was analyzed by the plot method in order to evaluate the distribution of species along the river. The results indicated a trend of species distribution, in which Avicennia schaueriana Leechm ex Stapf & Moldenke and Rhizophora mangle L. exhibited the highest dominance and relative density in areas under greater marine influence, while Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn.f. and Avicennia germinans (L.) Stearn. showed higher dominance and relative density in areas under greater influence of fresh water. The density ranged from 700 to 7,866 stems.ha-1, the basal area from 10.3 to 72.2 m².ha-1, the average height from 2.0 to 16.4 m and average DBH (diameter at breast height) from 4.7 to 27.3 cm. Most forests exhibited distribution of trunks of the inverted iota type, with an absence of selective cutting. The contribution of the basal area was larger in diameter class ≥10 cm, indicating the high structural development of the forests studied. The forests studied exhibited good conservation.