Estructura, composición y diversidad del arbolado urbano mediante inventario forestal en infraestructuras verdes urbanas del cantón Manta, Ecuador

Abstract

Urban sprawl and the limited availability of green spaces can affect the diversity and ecological function of urban trees. In this context, the composition, structure, and diversity of trees present in the green infrastructure of urban parishes in the Manta canton, Manabí province, Ecuador, were analyzed. The study was conducted through a tree census in recreational areas and road safety features, recording dendrometric and spatial variables. A total of 7,032 individual trees were counted, grouped into 62 species and 25 botanical families, with a predominance of non-native species (69.35%). Azadirachta indica A. Juss. and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. showed the highest ecological importance values. The population structure showed a concentration of individuals in the lower diameter and height categories. The diversity indices reflected high richness (Margalef = 6.89), high diversity (Shannon = 2.81), moderate evenness (Pielou = 0.68), and low dominance (Simpson [1–D] = 0.90). Floristic similarity was moderate (Jaccard = 48.39%), and the urban green space index reached 1.96 m²/inhabitant. The dominance of a few species, mainly non-native species of tropical origin, along with the limited availability of green areas, highlights the need to strengthen the planning and management of urban green infrastructure.