Abstract

VERA, Antonio; VILLAREAL, Ángel  and  MARTINEZ, Maritza. Floristic composition of four environments in La Palmita swamp, Zulia State, Venezuela. Acta Bot. Venez. [online]. 2010, vol.33, n.1, pp.23-32. ISSN 0084-5906.

The floristic composition of four environments in La Palmita swamp, Zulia State, Venezuela was studied: inlet, sandy bar, mangrove forest and ecotone. Sampling (n = 16) was bimonthly, from October 2007 to May 2008, in both rainy and dry seasons, and done in a waterland (west-east) direction. Forty-eight species, 43 genera and 32 families were identified, including 17 trees, seven shrubs, 14 grasses, three hemiparasites, and seven vines. Twelve species were observed in the inlet, 24 in the sandy bar, 28 in the mangrove forest and 22 in the ecotone. Number of species was higher than reported in previous studies. In the inlet, tidal zone, non-halophytic vegetation was observed whereas in sandy bar, salt resistant pioneer grasses and other uncommon oportunistic species were present. In mangrove forest, the four mangrove species known to occur in the Maracaibo system as well as associated vegetation, were identified. The ecotone area comprised “salinas” and halophytic grass communities. Salinity values suggested a low-high gradient (from 3,9 ± 0,8 to 20,6 ± 2,3 ppm) from inlet to ecotone zone. This study contributes to the knowledge of the estuarine wetland flora of the region.

Keywords : Berm; ecotone; estuarine wetland; inlet; Lake Maracaibo; mangrove; protected areas; swamp; Venezuela.