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Coastal Ecuador is a region with high endemism and the need to protect its biological diversity has increased because of serious changes of the natural vegetation. The purpose of this study was to explore the botanical diversity in small forest fragments and to compare the data with the diversity in a nearby forest reserve. Samples of all vascular plants except lianas, climbers and epiphytes were collected and registered in plots of 50 m2 in temporary flooded and unflooded habitats. The abundance of trees and herbs is higher in the forest reserve, whereas the number of shrubs is higher in the forest fragments. The temporary flooded habitats have a higher abundance of life forms compared to the non-inundated habitats in both study areas. The forest reserve has more species of vascular plants in both habitats and also higher species diversity. A large amount of flowering species inhabited the forest fragments. |
