DIVERSIDAD DE ÁRBOLES Y ARBUSTOS EN FRAGMENTOS DE BOSQUE SECO TROPICAL EN RÍO HATO, PANAMÁ

Abstract

The floristic composition of trees and shrubs in tropical dry forest fragments in Rio Hato, Panama was studied. We established 61 plots of 100 m 2 distributed randomly, totaling 0.61 hectares. In each sampling unit we measured all individuals above 5.0 cm DAP. We found a total of 52 tree species represented in 25 families, of which Fabaceae, Burseraceae, Myrtaceae and Rubiaceae account for 35% of the species. The species Sloanea terniflora was found in more than 60.6% of the quadrants. This species also proved to be the one with the highest relative dominance (23%) followed by Anacardium excelsum , with only 15 individuals of large diameters, showing a relative dominance of 10%. Mean diversity indices revealed intermediate values (Shannon index 3.13). While the number of tree species is relatively low when compared to other tropical dry forests in the region, the fragments in Rio Hato preserve floristic elements of ecological importance for the conservation of tropical dry forests. Garcinia madruno , the most abundant species is a key species in fruit production for wildlife and other species have been overexploited as timber resources, e.g. , Manilkara sapota and Copaifera aromatica . Establishing conservation strategies to safeguard these fragments as a source of tropical dry forest species and as wildlife refuges should be a priority for Panama.