Spermatophytes in agroforestry systems of the Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa Biological Corridor, Segundo Frente, Santiago de Cuba

Abstract

One of the main causes of deterioration of natural ecosystems are agricultural activities; nevertheless, these may make an important contribution to the conservation state in adjacent natural areas. To know which attributes typify this contribution in the Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa Biological Corridor it was characterized the flora of four agroecosystems in terms of species richness, endemism, threatened species, life forms, the presence of invasive species, umbrella species and the potential of wood. For the floristic inventory, we conducted route through to the farms of El Guisaso, La Esperanza, Las Mercedes and La Carolina in November 2017. 296 infrageneric taxa were reported grouped into 231 genera and 80 families. Of the total species, 97 are introduced and 199 are native, 12 of which are endemic. Four endemic threatened species were found, two Endangered and two Vulnerable. In Guisaso it founded the greatest number of species with respect to the rest of the agroecosystems meanwhile proportion of native species was higher than the introduced ones. There was a predominance of herbaceous plants and trees between 5 and 10 m in height. It was reported 31 invasive species plants and 10 potentially invasive species, but from the first ones, 20 are considered among the most harmful for Cuba.