Composición florística y etnobotánica de los manglares de la Comuna Isla Las Casitas Parroquia Jambelí en la provincia de El Oro

Abstract

Abstract: Mangrove ecosystems are scenarios that provide important goods and services to local people. The present study on floristic composition, structure and ethnobotany of the mangroves of the island "Las Casitas" of the Jambelí archipelago, was carried out with the purpose of contributing to the knowledge of the mangroves of the area. An inventory was made through transects of 500 m2. Patterns of floristic composition such as abundance, dominance and IVI were determined at the level of families and species, as well as the diversity indices of Shannon and Simpson. Information was collected on the main uses of the different local inhabitants, the fidelity indexes and the informants' consensus factor were determined. 104 botanical species are recorded, comprised of 45 families, 92 genera, 77 useful species that correspond to the low deciduous forest of the Jama - Zapotillo lowlands, mainly comprised of Caesalpinia glabrata, Cordia lutea, Prosopis pallida and Colicodendron scabridum. Rhizophora mangle, R. racemosa, Avicennia, Laguncularia and Conocarpus erectus predominate in the mangroves. The main uses of these species are ornamental, food, medicinal, energy and protection.