Analysis of the vegetation of the ecological reserve ‘El Bagual’ (Formosa, Argentina)

MATURO, H.M.; L. OAKLEY; D.E. PRADO

Rosario

Congreso; XXIV Reunión Anual, Sociedad de Biología de Rosario, 2004; 2005

Sociedad de Biología de Rosario

The Ecological Reserve ‘El Bagual’ (REB) is a protected area in southeastern Formosa province, Argentina. The present knowledge of the local and regional vegetation is too scarce for the establishment of a management and conservation plan. The objectives are: to obtain an inventory of the flora, to determine the existing enviromental units and to classify them according to their floristic composition, and to establish their phytogeographical position according to the lineage of their floristic elements. The methodology consisted in the analysis of satelite imagery to determine the main vegetation units, later land survey of their floristic composition and finally to determine their physiognomy. The results are: a complete floristic list of the REB, clasification and mapping of the enviromental units and their phytogeographic position. The vegetation of the REB shows a marked heterogeneity both floristical and physiognomical. It is remarkable that in this relatively small area, 558 species and 102 vascular plants family are found; these represent 71% of the total of families of the province and almost 40% of the total of species of Formosa. These results confirm the importance of the creation of protected areas as tools of conservation of the natural patrimony.