Characterization of a fragment of mangrove forest in the cove of La Coloma, Pinar del Río

Abstract

The objective of this research has been to characterize the biophysical and spatiotemporal state of a fragment of mangrove forest in the cove of La Coloma Pinar del Río, before and after the passage of Hurricane Ian. 484 ha were calculated using Sentinel 2A images and 15 10x10 m square plots were selected using the randomly run average method. The four species reported for Cuba were identified, the average values ​​of diameter (4.84 cm), height (4.09 m), stem height (2.20 m), foliage height (1.56 m), crown area (310 m²/ha), crown volume (780 m³/ha), density and height of pneumatophores (556/m² and 8-18 cm), basal area (10.21 m²/ha), live trees (8.90 m²/ha), dead trees (1.75 m²/ha ) and total trees (4347 arb/ha). Avicennia was the species with the highest density, absolute frequency and relative frequency (0.54 arb/m², 0.37 and 37 %), reported the highest volume (22.28 m³/ha) followed by Rhizophora (10.32 m³/ha). (61%) of the individuals were leaning, dead (15%) and broken (24%). The pests and diseases recorded were termites and cankers. The normalized difference vegetation index before and after the passage of Hurricane Ian showed severe damage to 100% of the mangroves. It turned out that the most affected variables were crown area and volume, basal area, number of dead, broken and leaning individuals, natural regeneration, soil salinity and interior lagoons, as well as the degree of ecosystem conservation.