Abstract
This paper is a floristic and phytosociological study of the dry forest communities of the Dominican Republic. A total of 69 relevés in dry forest biotopes were carried out. The samples were subsequently subjected to Detrended Correspondence Analysis for the determination and study of possible groupings. The study does not cover tree formations growing on serpentines, nor the so-called semideciduous forests, peculiar to areas with higher rainfall. A total of nine phytocoenoses were identified. The most significant results led to the description of six new phytosociological associations: Simaroubetum berteroani (thorny dry forest on coastal dunes), Phyllostylo rhamnoidis-Prosopidetum juliflorae (southern Dominican disturbed dry forest), Consoleo moniliformis-Camerarietum linearifoliae (dry forest on hard limestones), Lemaireocereo hystricis-Prosopidetum juliflorae (northern Dominican disturbed dry forest), Lycio americani-Prosopidetum juliflorae (disturbed dry forest on saline soils) and Guettardo ellipticae-Guapiretum discoloris (dry forest on flat-topped hillocks in Montecristi). This is an important step forward in the phytosociological and floristic studies of the Caribbean territories.
Highlights
About 40% of the tropical mass of the planet Earth is covered by forest
Their latitudinal range is from Florida in the north to Bolivia and Paraguay in the south, including both continental and oceanic areas (Pennington et al 2006, Galán de Mera and Vicente Orellana 2007)
They can be divided into nine areas, one of which is the area of Central America and the Caribbean where this study was carried out
Summary
About 40% of the tropical mass of the planet Earth is covered by forest. According to Holdridge (1967), 42% of that area is made up of dry forests. Neotropical dry forests are found in Mesoamerica and South America following a disjunct pattern Their latitudinal range is from Florida in the north to Bolivia and Paraguay in the south, including both continental and oceanic areas (Pennington et al 2006, Galán de Mera and Vicente Orellana 2007). They can be divided into nine areas, one of which is the area of Central America and the Caribbean where this study was carried out. These forests are fragmented and frequently isolated by hundreds of kilometres of tropical wet forests (Pennington et al 2000)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
