Fatores condicionantes da flora marginal e aquática do estuário do rio Massaguaçu (Caraguatatuba – SP)
Abstract
Both the biotic and abiotic characteristics of a habitat determine which species can live in this habitat. The
frontier of two different habitats creates a transition zone, called ecotone. The transition of the
Atlantica Forest and the Restinga is normally related to the presence of salt. The salt is a border line
for vegetation. In costal habitats, the salt spray increases the salt in the soil, besides having a direct
effect on the vegetations tissues. Riparian vegetation on the other hand, has its characteristics linked
with the characteristics of the adjacent water bodies. We worked in an estuary in Caraguatatuba, São
Paulo, where the Atlantic and Restinga Forests co-occurs in its margins. Our objective was to
determine how the salt spray and the estuary water influence the composition of the vegetation of the
arboreal component of its margins. Our results show abiotic and floristical composition differences
between three different ambients. The characteristics of the estuary water and soil have little
influence and the salt spray has great influence on the separation of these ambients, but the salt spray
did.