The functional diversity of vascular plants in coastal wetlands in a Conservation Unit in the State of SantaCatarina

Abstract

Mangroves are productive ecosystems essential for reducing coastal vulnerability to climate change. This study analyzed the functional diversity of vascular plants in a mangrove remnant in the Babitonga Bay estuary, Joinville, SC, aiming to characterize the community structure and life strategies of the present species. Ten 100 m² plots were established, evaluating six vascular species. The dominant species was Laguncularia racemosa, followed by Avicennia schaueriana,
Rhizophora mangle, and Talipariti pernambucense. The life strategies indicated adaptation to the extreme conditions of the mangrove, forming two functional groups. This pattern of morphofunctional convergence suggests that the mangrove relies on a limited set of well-adapted species. The study highlights the importance of functional diversity for the sustainability of mangrove ecosystem services, underscoring the need to understand species interactions to conserve these fragile ecosystems.