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Biogeographical Areas of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic, Republic of Haiti) By Ana Cano Ortiz, Carmelo María Musarella and Eusebio Cano
Carmona
The island of Hispaniola is located between parallels 17 and 19 N and forms part of the Greater Antilles group in the Caribbean region. It covers an area of 76,484 km2 and has the highest altitudes in the whole Caribbean region. The island consists of two countries: the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti. The flora of both countries has been studied in depth by Liogier and several authors from the Dr. Rafael Ma. Moscoso National Botanical Garden in Santo Domingo; this has enabled us to examine the distribution of 1582 endemic species in 19 areas and several important endemic habitats for conservation: Lepotogono buchii‐Leptochloopsietum virgatae;Crotono astrophori‐Leptochloopsietum virgatae;Melocacto pedenalensi‐Leptochloopsietum virgatae and Solano microphylli‐Leptochloopsietum virgatae pine forests on serpentine belonging to the association Leptogono buchii‐Pinetum occidentalis and high‐mountain pine forests: Dendropemom phycnophylli‐Pinetum occidentalis and Cocotrino scopari‐Pinetum occidentalis. Some dry forest communities are of interest, including Chrysophyllo oliviformi‐Sideroxyletum salicifolii and Zamio debilis‐Metopietum toxiferi. Based on the floristic analysis and the vegetation study, a biogeographical typology for the island, in which we propose 19 biogeographical areas (BA) has been established.
Part of the book: Plant Ecology
Advances in the Knowledge of the Vegetation of Hispaniola (Caribbean Central America) By Ana Cano-Ortiz, Carmelo Maria Musarella, Carlos José Piñar
Fuentes, Carmen Bartolomé Esteban, Ricardo Quinto-Canas, Carlos
José Pinto Gomes, Sara del Río and Eusebio Cano
The vegetation types and floristic diversity in the Dominican Republic are analysed, a territory with a tropical climate and ombrotypes that range from dry to humid-hyperhumid, due to the Atlantic winds and the phenomenon known as rain shadows. The presence of high mountains and different substrates have led to a rich flora, and as a result, a high diversity of habitats, among which two large forest types are particularly notable: (1) the dry forest with 81 endemic species, of which 10 are trees, 65 shrubs, 5 climbers and 1 herbaceous species, and an absence of epiphytes and (2) the cloud forest with 19 trees, 20 shrubs, 8 climbers, 4 epiphytes, and 6 herbaceous species. In all cases, these plant communities are regarded as endemic due to their high rate of endemic species. In spite of their importance for conservation, these habitats are highly deteriorated due to deforestation for agriculture, to obtain timber, and even to add to tourism infrastructures.
Part of the book: Vegetation
Analysis of the Conservation of Central American Mangroves Using the Phytosociological Method By Ana Cano-Ortiz, Carmelo Maria Musarella, José Carlos Piñar
Fuentes, Carlos Jose Pinto Gomes, Sara Del Rio, Ricardo Quinto
Canas and Eusebio Cano
Our study of mangrove swamps revealed a total of 120 species, of which 13 are characteristics of mangrove swamps, and 38 of flooded areas with low salt. All the others are invasive species which have taken advantage of the degradation of these natural ecosystems. The scenario is not very different in Laguna de Tres Palos in Mexico. The frequent fires in the low-growing semi-deciduous rainforest (dry forest) have caused intense erosion, with the consequence that the site has silted up. As a result, the first vegetation band of Rhizophora mangle is extremely rare. Instead, Laguncularia racemosa and Conocarpus erectus are dominant, along with a band of Phragmito-Magnocaricetea with a high occurrence of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin., which acts as an indicator of sediment silting. It is extremely frequent for several reasons: as it is the decrease of the salinity of the water, the scarce depth due to the accumulation of sediments and the contamination by the entrance of residual waters of the nearby populations. When the depth and salinity of the water are suitable, the dominant species are Rhizophora mangle, Laguncularia racemosa, and Avicennia germinans.
Part of the book: Mangrove Ecosystem Ecology and Function
Learning in Nature: Protected Spaces as Scenarios for Environmental Education By Ana Cano Ortiz and Eusebio Cano Carmona
Natural disasters are becoming a serious global problem due to climate change and environmental pollution. This problem is causing a loss of biological diversity, social conflicts, economic crisis and damage to the health of the population. For all these reasons, we propose a new paradigm for education and research, since research and education must go hand in hand, as they are fundamental pillars for mitigating environmental problems. This study highlights a new educational model by using natural areas as teaching spaces, with very positive results in learning after practical teaching in the natural environment. A learning success rate of 100% was obtained for items 6, 7, 10, 12 and 13 related to Biosphere Reserves, while questions 1, 8, 11 and 17 show values close to 100, which are questions related to Natural and National Parks and Biosphere Reserves.
Part of the book: Island Ecology
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