Abstract

NEBBIA, Ana Julia  and  ZALBA, Sergio M.. Halophytic communities of the coast of Bahía Blanca (Argentina): characterization, mapping and changes in the last fifty years. Bol. Soc. Argent. Bot. [online]. 2007, vol.42, n.3-4, pp.261-271. ISSN 1851-2372.

We classified and mapped vegetation units along the coast of Bahía Blanca (Argentina), where we discriminated eight habitat types: intertidal flats without vegetation and with high density of crab burrows ( cangrejales ), temporary ponds and puddles, intertidal steppes occupied by stands of Sarcocornia perennis or by Spartina alterniflora marshes, low Allenfolfea patagonica shrubs, low Atriplex undulata shrubs, high Cyclolepis genistoides shrubs and halophytic grasslands with Distichlis spicata . We compared our results with those from a phytosociological survey conducted in the area in 1949 and 1950. We observed a relative constancy in the composition and structure of plant communities, except for the percentage of exotic species being greater than historical ones for the three shrublands types defined, which can respond to human activities in the area. As a conclusion we propose that, despite being in a more pristine status than other ecosystems in the region, coastal communities show symptoms of anthropogenic disturbances that justify the adoption of conservation strategies.

Keywords : Halophytes; Vegetation mapping; Wetlands; Conservation.

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