Aporte de hojarasca y renovación foliar del manglar en un sistema estuarino del Sureste de México

Abstract

The pattems of mangrove lítter production were studied in Pom-Atasta, a estuarine system linked to Terminos Lagoon, Campeche coast, Mexico. Four samplíng sites with contrasting conditions of tidal influence were selected. Ten litter baskets placed randomly in each site for Iitter fall evaluation, were emptied monthly during an annual cycle (1995-1996). Litter material was classified, dried and weighed. The flowering season for Avicennia germinans was from June through September; Rhizophora mangle had flowers and hypocotyls year round. The most productive site was riverine forest dominated by A. germinans in the area with least tidal influence and hypohaline conditions, low annual salinity variation and lime-c1ay soils. Average litter production varied between 1.8 and 4.5 g m-2 day-l and was closely related to regional climatic periods. In October 1995, two hurricans: Roxane and Opal, blew in ¡he region and caused an extraordinary defoliation with litter production between 8 a 12 g m-2day-l These figures greatly exceed !he amounts registered for mangroves in the Gulf of Mexico, !he Caribbean and the Equator. The leaf renewal rate was 129-392 days.