Abstract
Palm Swamp Forests in the Caribbean region have been little studied although they are found in many countries. In Trinidad, they are an important component of the vegetation in the Nariva Swamp, a Ramsar site. The distribution and ecology of plants inRoystonea oleracea Palm Swamp Forest was studied using selected study plots. The forest had an open canopy with palms up to 26 m tall and a density of trees ≥10 cm dbh of 380 per hectare. TheRoystonea palm contributed 55.8% of individuals and was the most important of seven tree species ≥10 cm dbh. Seventy-four species were found, with most being understory shrubs and herbs. Peak ripe fruit availability was from August to November and was correlated with rainfall. The palm forest canopy appears to be relatively even aged, with lower non-palm trees giving an all-aged height and dbh distribution in the forest. The forest developed in conditions of low water levels, low salinity, and a hydroperiod that allows seed germination and seedling establishment during the early wet season. However, the forest undergrowth seems to be becoming dominated by terrestrial vegetation with palm seedlings unable to survive.
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Bonadie, W.A. The ecology ofRoystonea oleracea palm swamp forest in the Nariva Swamp (Trinidad). Wetlands 18, 249–255 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03161660
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03161660