scholarly journals Composition, structure and diversity of coastal vegetation in the northeastern of Cozumel, Mexico

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 135
Author(s):  
Alejandro Collantes-Chávez-Costa ◽  
Eduardo Alanis-Rodríguez ◽  
Oscar Yam-Uicab ◽  
Cruz López-Contreras ◽  
Tania Sarmiento-Muñoz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Communities ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Coastal Dunes ◽  
Sandy Beaches ◽  
Coastal Vegetation ◽  
Conservation Priorities ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Importance Value Index ◽  
Importance Value

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cozumel island, Mexico has one of the best preserved and threatened coastal vegetation in the Mexican Caribbean. Increasing the ecological knowledge about these communities can help to establish conservation priorities.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Question: </strong>How are the structure and composition of well-preserved coastal vegetation communities in the Island of Cozumel?<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Study site and dates: </strong>The study was conducted in the northeastern coast of the island of Cozumel, at the Municipality of Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico, from July 2014 to November 2014.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Five interception lines of 80 m were randomly established along environmental gradient, perpendicular to the coastal line, in each three different environments: rocky beaches, sandy beaches, and coastal dunes. Species richness, diversity, and importance value index of the species in the community were computed, and floristic composition recorded.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We recorded 23 families, 35 genera and 37 species. The most representative families are Poaceae with four species, Rubiaceae and Asteraceae with three species each; <em>Sideroxylon</em> and <em>Euphorbia</em> were the richest genera, with two species each. The three coastal environments presented no statistical differences in its relative density, coverage and diversity, but differed in species composition and richness (higher in rocky beaches and coastal dunes).<strong></strong></p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Two dissimilar coastal plant communities can be recognized into the halophilous vegetation type, which are established in sandy and rocky environments respectively. The floristic composition and the species association of the rocky beaches reveal the relationship between the Island of Cozumel coastal vegetation and plant communities in other Caribbean islands.

scholarly journals Fitossociologia de manguezais em zonas urbanas: um estudo de caso em Aracaju, Sergipe

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2103
Author(s):  
Jose Paulo Santana ◽  
Eduardo Vinícius Da Silva Oliveira ◽  
Túlio Vinícius Paes Dantas ◽  
Myrna Friederichs Landim ◽  
Patrício Adriano da Rocha
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Rhizophora Mangle ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Laguncularia Racemosa ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Importance Value Index ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Conocarpus Erectus ◽  
Avicennia Schaueriana

O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a composição florística e a estrutura fitossociológica dos bosques de manguezais de áreas urbanas em Aracaju, estado de Sergipe, com diferentes tempos de regeneração e intensidades de impacto antrópico. Para o levantamento fitossociológico, foi adotado o método de parcelas múltiplas, sendo seis ou sete parcelas distribuídas equitativamente em dois transectos paralelos em quatro bosques de manguezais nos bairros 13 de julho, Porto Dantas, São Conrado e Mosqueiro. Destes, somente o bosque do Mosqueiro não apresentava tensores antrópicos contínuos como descarga de esgotos domésticos, retirada de madeira ou contribuição alóctone de sedimento. Para caracterizar a estrutura dos manguezais foram calculados os parâmetros densidade, frequência, dominância e o índice de valor de importância de cada espécie. Procedeu-se com a comparação estatística entre os bosques avaliados pelo teste de Kruskal-Wallis quanto a densidade geral e por espécie, diâmetro e altura geral dos indivíduos. Foram identificadas quatro espécies: Laguncularia racemosa, Avicennia schaueriana, Rhizophora mangle e Conocarpus erectus, que apresentaram diferenças de abundância e dominância entre os bosques analisados. De maneira geral, L. racemosa foi à espécie mais abundante e dominante nos bosques mais impactados, porém no bosque do Mosqueiro, R. mangle foi a mais dominante. Não houve diferenças significativas na densidade, diâmetro e altura geral dos indivíduos, porém a densidade de A. schaueriana e R. mangle diferiu entre os bosques. Em relação à altura, os bosques da 13 de julho e São Conrado apresentaram os maiores valores, ainda que possuíssem o menor tempo de regeneração pós-distúrbios.Phytosociology of mangroves in urban areas: a case study in Aracaju city, Sergipe stateA B S T R A C TThe aim of this paper was to compare the floristic composition and the phytosociological structure of the mangrove forests in urban areas with different levels of regeneration and intensities of anthropic impact. The study was performed in the municipality of Aracaju, Sergipe state, Brazil Northeast. For the phytosociological survey, the multiple plots method was adopted; so six or seven plots were equally distributed in two parallel transects in four mangrove forests in the neighborhoods 13 de Julho, Porto Dantas, São Conrado and Mosqueiro. Of these, only the Mosqueiro mangrove did not have continuous anthropic tensors such as discharge of domestic sewage, removal of wood or allochthonous contribution of sediment. To characterize the structure of the mangroves, the parameters density, frequency, dominance and the importance value index for each species were calculated. Statistical comparison was made among the mangroves evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis test between general density and by species, diameter and general height of individuals. Four species were identified: Laguncularia racemosa, Avicennia schaueriana, Rhizophora mangle and Conocarpus erectus, which showed differences in abundance and dominance between the mangroves evaluated. In general, L. racemosa was the most abundant and dominant species in the most impacted mangrove, but in the Mosqueiro mangrove, R. mangle was more dominant. There were no significant differences in the density, diameter and general height of the individuals; however the density of A. schaueriana and R. mangle differed between mangroves. In relation to height, the forests of 13 de Julho and São Conrado presented the highest values, even though they had the shortest time of regeneration after disturbances.Keywords: ecotone, mangrove, forest structure, coastal zone, Brazil northeast.

scholarly journals Aspectos estructurales, composición florística y caracterización ecológica del bosque de oyamel de la Sierra de Zapalinamé, Coahuila, México

2017 ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan A. Encina-Domínguez ◽  
Francisco J. Encina-Domínguez ◽  
Efrén Mata-Rocha ◽  
Jesús Valdes-Reyna
Keyword(s):  
State Government ◽  
Chihuahuan Desert ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
The State ◽  
Spruce Forest ◽  
Ecological Value ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Climate Conditions

The sierra de Zapalinamé lies at the southeastern portian of the State of Coahuila, in a transitional area between the Chihuahuan Desert Region and the Sierra Madre Oriental. lt has the status of a protected natural area by the state government. The Chihuahuan desert scrub is the most common vegetation type; however, spruce forest grows where the climate conditions are cold and temperate. Ten circular plots of 1,000 m2 were established to determine the floristic composition, structure of the forest and other ecological variables. Diameter and height were measured for every tree and shrubs and herbs were recorded. Seedlings were evaluated in five plots of 2 m2 per site. Attributes of the vegetation like density, basal area and the importance value of the tree species were estimated. The spruce forest of the sierra de Zapalinamé is found between 2,668 to 3,025 m of elevation where the annual average precipitation rain varies from 560 to 600 mm and with a temperature of 12.5ºC, over litosol soils with a slope of 34% to 70%. The forest is dominated by Abies vejarii, species which grows at elevated places and another important species is Pseudotsuga menziesii. Regeneration is of a few seedlings; nevertheless, due to microclime and soil sorne regeneration is successful. A total 73 species were recorded in these forests, being the most diverse Asteraceae (15 species), Pinaceae (4) and Poaceae (4). Conservation of the spruce forest is important due to its ecological value; in addition Abies vejarii is listed under status of conservation in the Mexican red list, and also because a number endemic species of plants are in this protected area.

Structure and floristic composition of a tropical evergreen forest in south-west India

1996 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Pierre Pascal ◽  
Raphael Pelissier
Keyword(s):  
Western Ghats ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Evergreen Forest ◽  
Systematic Sampling ◽  
Importance Value Index ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Tropical Evergreen Forest ◽  
Western Ghats Of India ◽  
The Western Ghats

ABSTRACTA permanent plot of 28 ha was established in a dense wet evergreen forest in the Western Ghats of India to study the functioning of the ecosystem. Since April 1990, 1981 trees of ≥30 cm gbh have been enumerated in a systematic sampling of five strips totalling 3.12 ha. This paper describes the main structural and floristic characteristics of the plot.The density (635 trees ≥30 cm gbh per hectare) and basal area (39.7 m2 ha−1) are high. Despite the high diversity (Simpson's D = 0.92 and Shannon's H' = 4.56), four species are distinctly, dominant in terms of an importance value index (relative density + relative basal area). Each of these four species occupies a different layer in the ecosystem: Humboldtia brunonis Wall. (Fabaceae) dominates the undergrowth, Myristica dactyloïdes Gaertn. (Myristicaceae) the intermediate strata, Valeria indica L. (Dipterocarpaceae) the higher canopy level and Dipterocarpus indicus Bedd. (Dipterocarpaceae) the emergents. This pronounced species hierarchy is one of the most important characteristics of the evergreen forests of the Western Ghats. The two dipterocarps account for 20.1% of the total number of trees and contribute 40.9% to the total basal area. This formation can, therefore, be considered as the westernmost lowland dipterocarp forest of Asia.Analysis of the spatial variations in the floristic composition and in the structure of the main species populations shows that two kinds of mature phases can be identified: where the topography is raised and gently sloping, the vertical structure of the stand is discontinuous, with Dipterocarpus indicus and Vateria indica forming an emergent layer above a dense undergrowth; on slopes, the stand is lower, vertically continuous and saturated with Valeria indica and Myristica dactyloïdes. The link between the structure of the stand and dynamic processes is discussed.

scholarly journals Vegetation and seed bank of an open-scrub bush restinga formation in the Southeastern coast of Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Campanhã Bechara ◽  
Lívia Zocatelli Salvador ◽  
Raquel Almeida Ventura ◽  
Larissa Regina Topanotti ◽  
Dionatan Gerber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Seed Bank ◽  
Similarity Index ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Average Diameter ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Importance Value Index ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Topsoil Layer

Introduction: Restingas are coastal plain ecosystems located along Eastern Brazil, corresponding to about 5 000 km. The restinga vegetation is associated with the Atlantic rainforest biome and comprises four distinct main formation zones: coastal grasslands, shrublands, open-forests and marsh zones. Especially due to coastal urbanization, this is a threatened ecosystem that, through its different shrub formations, exhibits a unique mosaic as a result of the vegetation distribution in nuclei of different covering, physiognomy and floristic composition. Objective: We aimed to characterize the above and belowground composition of a conserved, non-flooded, open-scrub, nuclei (patches of bushes) formation of restinga in Linhares, ES, southeastern Brazil. Methods: The vegetation survey was conducted using the line intercept method. Diameter and height of the first six nuclei were measured in five transects separated by 50 m, totaling 30 nuclei up to 350 m away from the shore line. The phytosociology and Shannon Index of the aboveground vegetation community were calculated. In the same 30 nuclei, leaf litter and topsoil layer (15 x 15 x 10 cm) samples were collected to survey the viable seed bank, which was later placed in a greenhouse for germination and seedling identification. The Sørensen Similarity index (SSi) was used to compare the floristic composition between the leaf litter and topsoil layer seed banks. Nuclei volume and number of species were calculated as well. Results: In the aboveground vegetation, 54 plant species belonging to 32 families were identified, totaling 1 098 individuals. The nuclei showed a diversity (H') of 3.08 nats, and an average diameter of 11.5 m (s = 9.1), area of 526.4 m2 (s = 1 081.7), and height of 2.9 m (s = 1.1). Davilla flexuosa, followed by Smilax rufescens, presented the highest IVI (Importance Value Index). A total of 1 839 seedlings from 32 species and 19 families were identified in the seed bank. Enydra sessilis (Asteraceae) had the highest seed density (544), while the family with highest species richness was Cyperaceae. A low similarity between the vegetation surveyed and the seed bank composition was found (only 5 species in common, SSi = 0.10). Conclusions: The results indicate that a post-disturbance early community, established from the seed bank, would have a substantially different species composition, but with other potential species to restore vegetation over the long-term succession.

scholarly journals Species diversity, composition, and heterospecific associations of trees in three altitudinal gradients in Bird's Head Peninsula, Papua, Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sepus Marten Fatem ◽  
Dony Aristone Djitmau ◽  
Antoni Ungirwalu ◽  
Alfredo Ottow Wanma ◽  
Victor Immanuel Simbiak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Importance Value Index ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Vegetation Diversity ◽  
Elevation Gradients ◽  
Altitudinal Gradients ◽  
Bird's Head

Abstract. Fatem SM, Djitmau DA, Ungirwalu A, Wanma AO, Simbiak VI, Benu NMH, Tambing J, Murdjoko A. 2020. Species diversity, composition, and heterospecific associations of trees in three altitudinal gradients in Bird's Head Peninsula, Papua, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 3596-3605.  The region of Bird's Head Peninsula, West Papua, Indonesia has a high level of vegetation diversity distributed from coastal to mountain areas. Yet, the information regarding this diversity is limited. We studied species diversity, composition, and heterospecific association of trees in three altitudinal gradients in Bird's Head Peninsula to reveal the biotic phenomenon in the region. Systematic random sampling was applied during data collection in three locations representing lower, middle, and upper altitudes of natural tropical forest. We applied diversity indices to investigate taxonomic diversity, importance value index (IVI) to reveal floristic composition and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) for heterospecific associations. In total, we recorded 30 families, 44 genera, and 66 species in the three locations. There were 20 families in lower area and each 15 families in middle and upper areas while the genera per site were 29 in lower, 20 in the middle, and 18 in the upper. The number of species found in lower, middle, and upper areas was 35 species, 24 species, and 27 species respectively. The research revealed that the taxonomic diversity of trees generally decreases as the elevation increases in terms of family, genera, and species level. The dominant species was also different across elevation gradients in which the dominant tree had a different pattern in the three locations between understory and upperstory. Moreover, the gradient of elevation has shaped the type of tree communities, suggesting interactions and associations among tree species. Of all species recorded, 26 species were listed in IUCN Red List with two species were under data deficient, 20 species were least concern, three species were near threatened, and one species was vulnerable.

scholarly journals ANALISIS POTENSI SIMPANAN KARBON HUTAN MANGROVE DI AREA PT. INDOCEMENT TUNGGAL PRAKARSA, TBK P 12 TARJUN

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 312
Author(s):  
Eva Ariani ◽  
Muhammad Ruslan ◽  
Akhmad Kurnain ◽  
Kissinger Kissinger
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Seedling Stage ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Mangrove Forests ◽  
Importance Value Index ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Total Carbon Content ◽  
Nypa Fruticans ◽  
Ceriops Decandra

This study aims to analyze the structure of the mangrove forest stands in a conservation area PT. Indocement P12 Tarjun, South Kalimantan. To determine the potential amount of carbon stored in vegetation and soils di area mangrove forests. Merumuskah form of management in accordance with mangrove forests owned by PT Indocement Tunggal Tbk P 12 Tarjun. The results of this study show the type of vegetation that are within the plot observation is Aegicera corniculatum, Acivennia alba, Avicennia lanata, Avicennia Marina, Bruguera gymnorrhiza, Bruguiera parviflora, Ceriops decandra, Lumnitzera, Rhizophora apiculate, Rhizophora mucronata, Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea, Sonneratia alba, Xylocarpus granatum, Acanthus ebracteatus, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Nypa fruticans, Terminalia catappa and type of vegetation present in the area of research, but is not included in the observation plot is Acrostichum aureum Linn, Pandanus odoratissima. Importance Value Index (IVI) lenata kind Avicennia highest growth rate of the tree that is 80,2%, Rhizophora apiculata at the level of the pole that is 57%, and Nypa fruticans at the seedling stage is 20,8%. To Nypa fruticans, though IVIs largest/highest species of plants in the seedling stage but this type is only found on two research plots only. Total carbon content was found at the study site was at 714,77 per hectare. The study was conducted on biomass carbon on the surface, lower plants, nekromassa (dead trees), and mangrove sediments (ground). Carbon sequestration at a site can be seen from the height and diameter of trees while a vegetation type had no significant effect on the absorption of carbon. Environmental management in the form of replanting are research needs to be done to avoid more severe harm than good because of logging by humans atupun affected by coastal erosion. Type Lumnitzera, Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea, Ceriops decandra should get more attention because it has a very low INP hat is necessary to manage lebis so it can be adjusted with the handling principles of environmental factors such as tidal conditions, sediment, pH, salinity

scholarly journals Floristic composition of weeds in a dystrophic Red-Yellow Argisol under the cultivation of cowpea, cv. BRS Novaera

2019 ◽  
pp. 1275-1279
Author(s):  
Francisco de Alcântara Neto ◽  
José Oscar Lustosa de Oliveira Júnior ◽  
Antônio Aécio de Carvalho Bezerra ◽  
Gabriel Barbosa da Silva Júnior ◽  
José de Anchieta Alves de Albuquerque ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relative Frequency ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Productive Performance ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Importance Value Index ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Calculated Frequency ◽  
Growth Development ◽  
Number Of Individuals

Among the several factors that negatively influence cowpea culture, weeds have been responsible for the reduction of growth, development and productive performance of the crop, making it necessary to establish management strategies based on phytosociological studies of weed species in growing areas. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the floristic composition of weeds, aiming to identify the main species and their dynamics, and to consider their distribution in time and space as pertaining to the cultivation of a modern variety of cowpea, cv. BRS Novaera, in dystrophic Red-Yellow Argisol, in the Midnorth region of the state of Piauí, Brazil. The phytosociological survey of weeds was carried out in three sessions: the first one was immediately before the area was desiccated with glyphosate (15 days before sowing the cowpea), and the others were at 20 and 40 days after sowing (DAS). Following the quantification of species and number of individuals, the following phytosociological parameters were calculated: frequency and relative frequency; density and relative density; abundance and relative abundance; and importance value index. It was concluded that there were few changes in the floristic composition of the weed community according to the epoch of the phytosociological surveys. The main weed plants at 20 DAS of cowpea (vegetative phase) were Chamaesyce hirta, Digitaria insularis, Alternanthera tenella, Cleome affinis, Mollugo verticillata and Portulaca oleracea. At 40 days (reproductive phase), the weed species with a large establishment and acting as potential competitors with cv. BRS Novaera cowpea were Digitaria insularis, Chamaesyce hirta and Mollugo verticillata.

scholarly journals Woody Species Diversity and Structure of Protected Woodlands Adjacent to Free Grazing Land Woodland at Dugda Woreda, Oromia, Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Tsegu Ereso Denbel
Keyword(s):  
Basal Area ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Systematic Sampling ◽  
Importance Value Index ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Mature Trees ◽  
Grazing Land ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Breast Height

The study was conducted in protected woodland and free graze woodland located in Dugda Woreda, Oromia state, Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to explore the floristic composition, structure, and regeneration of woody species. In the park, the vegetation ecology has not been studied up to date, which is necessary for conservation. The systematic sampling technique was used to collect vegetation and human disturbance (presence and absence) data from August to December 2017. The vegetation data were collected from 30 plots from each woodland with a size of 900 m2 (30 m × 300 m) for tree/shrub, while subplots of size 400 m2 (20 m × 20 m) for sapling, respectively, were established in the main plots. Individual tree and shrub diameters at breast height (DBH) ≥2.5 cm and height ≥ 2 m were measured using a tape meter and clinometer, respectively. Diameter at breast height (DBH), frequency, density, basal area, and importance value index (IVI) were used for vegetation structure description, while the densities of mature trees, sapling, and seedling were used for regeneration. A total of 446 individual stems from free grazed woodland and 641 individual stems from protected woodland with a DBH of ≥2.5 cm were encountered from 30 studied sample plots that are protected and free grazed woodlands. Of these, from the total woody species, 68.42% were trees and 31.57% shrubs found in protected woodland; 76.92% were trees and 23.07% shrubs found in free grazed woodland. The total basal area of the woody plant was 3.1 ± 1 m2/ha in free grazed woodland and 4.2 ± 2 m2/ha in protected woodland, calculated for 19 woody species. Fabaceae, Balanitaceae, Capparidaceae, Verbenaceae, and Boraginaceae families were the most abundant families in both woodlands. However, there is a good initiation for the conservation of the park; still, the vegetation of the park was threatened by human-induced fire following intensive farming, gold mining, and overgrazing.

scholarly journals Tree stand floristic dynamics in secondary forests of different ages in Sarawak, Malaysia

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 717-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
KARYATI KARYATI ◽  
ISA B. IPOR ◽  
ISMAIL JUSOH ◽  
MOHD. EFFENDI WASLI
Keyword(s):  
Stand Structure ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Secondary Forests ◽  
Tree Stand ◽  
Importance Value Index ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Different Ages

Karyati, Ipor IB, Jusoh I, Wasli ME. 2018. Tree stand floristic dynamics in secondary forests of different ages in Sarawak, Malaysia. Biodiversitas 19: 717-723. Succession is a series sequential processes of the development of floristic community which involves changes in community structure, species composition and diversity over time. The information on tree stand floristic dynamics of various stages of succession in secondary forests in Malaysia is currently lacking. This study was conducted to determine tree stand structure, floristic composition, and species diversity in various stages of secondary forest development in the study areas. A total of 997, 1,842, and 834 tree stems with diameter at breast height (DBH) of > 5 cm were recorded in one-hectare-plots of 5, 10, and 20 year old secondary forests, respectively. The ten most common species in 5 and 10 year old of secondary forests consisted mostly of light demanding species. In the 20 year old secondary forest, these species did not exist. Macaranga gigantea was the most dominant tree species in the 5 and 10 year old secondary forests in terms of basal area and volume per hectare. The most common species, based on density, basal area, volume, and Importance Value Index (IVi), in the 20 year old secondary forest was Adinandra dumosa. The diversity and richness indices of the 10 year old secondary forest were the highest among all study sites.

scholarly journals Coastal Vegetation of Taunovo Bay, Pacific Harbour, Viti Levu, Fiji - A Proposed Development Site

2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnar Keppel
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Sandy Beaches ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Coastal Vegetation ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Horizontal Stratification ◽  
Development Site ◽  
The Common ◽  
Lowland Rainforest ◽  
First Time

Using four 100 � 10 m transects, the coastal vegetation types and their horizontal stratification at Taunovo Bay, Pacific Harbour, were investigated. The common stratification pattern of herb zone, shrub zone (dominated by the invasive species Chrysobalanus icaco) and tree zone was observed. Littoral forest composed of species commonly associated with sandy beaches and species commonly associated lowland rainforest was observed. This vegetation type is here reported for the first time from Fiji and is probably caused by siliceous deposits from a nearby river. A detailed study of the extend, composition and distribution of this unique vegetation type should be conducted before the development project (planned at the study site) is approved.

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