Wetlands of Central America
12 junio 2007CAwetlands.pdf 579.36 KB
The wetlands of seven Central American countries – Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panamá – are reviewed. The regions' wetlands are classified into five systems: marine, estuarine, riverine, lacustrine, and palustrine. For each system, a state-of-the-art summary is provided of their flora, fauna, soils, and their relationships with regional geology and hydrology. Population and community ecology, and ecosystem properties relevant for understanding the ecological structure of these wetlands are detailed. Current anthropogenic threats to wetland ecosystems and their biodiversity aroutlined, along with national, regional, and international strategies for wetland conservation anmanagement. A specific set of recommendations for wetland inventory, ecological research, and management is given that would be effective within the social and cultural framework of the Central American countries.
Autor(es): Aaron M. Ellison, Department of Biological Sciences and Program in Environmental Studies Mount Holyoke College
