Composición florística y estructura del bosque y vegetación protectora Prosperina en la ciudad de Guayaquil

Abstract

The Prosperina Protective Forest and Vegetation, an area with diverse flora, is considered a semi-deciduous forest that lacks a thorough study of its plant component. This study aims to examine the composition and structure at different altitudes using three permanent plots, distributed in the lower, middle, and upper areas, considering the presence of species characteristic of dry forests. Trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants were included, recording tree species with a DBH (diameter at breast height) of 5 cm or greater. The ecological parameters were analyzed based on relative density (RD), relative dominance (DmR), and Importance Value Index (IVI), and for alpha diversity analysis, the Shannon-Weaver and Simpson indices were used to explain plant richness and species dominance. Sixteen botanical families were identified, with Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, and Bixaceae being the most abundant and frequent, hosting the dominant species in each plot. Structurally, the forest shows an aggregation of juvenile individuals in the lower diameter classes (5 to 15 cm of DBH), suggesting that it is in an ecological succession process, recovering from past disturbances in the forest. The composition, diversity, and structure of the flora of the Prosperina Forest are unique, providing an essential habitat for wildlife and offering valuable ecosystem services to the city of Guayaquil. Keywords: Biodiversity, ecology, conservation, ecological restoration, botany.