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Stand Structure and Aboveground Biomass of a Pelliciera rhizophorae Mangrove Forest, Gulf of Monitjo Ramsar Site, Pacific Coast, Panama

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Abstract

Mangroves provide several ecosystems services including carbon storage. Aboveground biomass as a proxy for carbon storage and stand structure were investigated in nine plots located in a riverine Pelliciera rhizophorae forest, Gulf of Montijo Ramsar Site, Pacific Coast, Panama. Aboveground biomass for all trees above 2 cm was estimated using common pan-tropical mangrove biomass regression models. Despite a comparatively low tree species diversity there was a considerable variation in stand structure and biomass among the plots. P. rhizophorae dominated the river and center plots with tree densities between 1,275 and 10,075 trees ha−1. Further inland, species composition shifted towards a Rhizophora racemosa dominated forest. Lower density of larger trees in the inland plots may be due to small-scale cutting of trees at the forest margin. Across all plots, P. rhizophorae was smaller in diameter and height than R. racemosa. Aboveground biomass ranged from 76 Mg ha−1 to 335 Mg ha−1 (average: 176 Mg ha−1) and was closely related to stem density and basal area. Compared to other neotropical mangrove forests this riverine P. rhizophorae forest stores substantial amounts of biomass. Conservation strategies have to be put in place to maintain the threatened P. rhizophorae forest in Central America.

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Acknowledgments

This work would not have been possible without the assistance of Rosa Montañez from CREHO (Centro Regional Ramsar para la Capacitación y la Investigación en Humedales para el Hemisferio Occidental), and staff from ANAM (Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente) and ARAP (Autoridad Nacional de los Recursos Acuáticos de Panamá). We also thank Prof Carlos Seixas and his research group (Universidad de Panamá, Centro Regional de Veraguas). Special thanks to our field assistants Angela Medina Kaeslin, Alvaro Espinosa and Samuel Mojica. We also thank two anonymous referees who provided helpful comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. JG was supported by a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

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  1. Jessica Gross

    Present address: , 385A South Chalan Antigo, Talafofo, Guam, 96915, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tropical Silviculture and Forest Ecology, University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany

    Jessica Gross

  2. Ramsar Regional Center for Training and Research in the Western Hemisphere (CREHO), Building 131 A, City of Knowledge, Clayton, Republic of Panama

    Eric E. Flores

  3. Asociación Amigos del Parque Nacional Santa Fe (AMIPARQUE), PO Box 0923-00123, Santa Fe, Republic of Panama

    Eric E. Flores

  4. School of Environment, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand

    Luitgard Schwendenmann

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Correspondence to Luitgard Schwendenmann.

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Gross, J., Flores, E.E. & Schwendenmann, L. Stand Structure and Aboveground Biomass of a Pelliciera rhizophorae Mangrove Forest, Gulf of Monitjo Ramsar Site, Pacific Coast, Panama. Wetlands 34, 55–65 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-013-0482-1

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