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21-714: The South American Pacific mangroves ecoregion is found along the southern coast of Panama, extensive stretches of the Pacific coast of Colombia, sections of the Pacific coast of Ecuador, particularly around the estuary of the Guayas River , and in two small stretches along the northern coast of Peru. The Panama Bight Mangroves, a Global ecoregion, consists of the Gulf of Panama mangroves , Esmeraldas–Pacific Colombia mangroves , Manabí mangroves and Gulf of Guayaquil–Tumbes mangroves . The Gulf of Panama mangroves (NT1414) extend from

42-426: A fruit , which reveals the germinated seedling when it falls into the water. Unlike other mangrove species, it does not grow on prop roots , but possesses pneumatophores that allow its roots to breathe even when submerged. It is a hardy species and expels absorbed salt mainly from its leathery leaves. The name "black mangrove" refers to the color of the trunk and heartwood . The leaves often appear whitish from

63-434: A great variety of fish , shellfish , birds , and other wildlife. The black mangrove grows just above the high tide in coastal areas. It is less tolerant of highly saline conditions than certain other species that occur in mangrove ecosystems. It can reach 10–15 m (33–49 ft) in height, although it is a small shrub in cooler regions of its range. The seeds germinate in midsummer, but may be seen all year on

84-762: A sample location at coordinates 2°15′N 78°45′W  /  2.25°N 78.75°W  / 2.25; -78.75 the Köppen climate classification is Af (equatorial; fully humid). Mean temperatures vary from 25.2 °C (77.4 °F) in November to 26.4 °C (79.5 °F) in April. Total annual rainfall is about 3,600 millimetres (140 in). Monthly rainfall ranges from 198.4 millimetres (7.81 in) in August to 409.8 millimetres (16.13 in) in May. The ecoregion

105-814: Is Mondragón. The river then meets the Gulf of Guayaquil , an inlet of the Pacific Ocean. Its influence is noticeable in the Puná Island , and in the Jambelí Strait , in the province of El Oro . The Guayas River has the largest watershed in South America west of the Andes Mountains that flows into the Pacific Ocean. It has an area 34,500 km , in nine provinces: Los Ríos , Guayas , Bolívar , Manabí , Cañar , Pichincha , Azuay , Chimborazo and Cotopaxi . In collaboration with

126-590: Is a major river in western Ecuador . It gives name to Guayas Province and is the most important river in South America that does not flow into the Atlantic Ocean or any of its marginal seas. Its total length, including the Daule River , is 389 km (241 mi). The Guayas River's drainage basin is 34,500 km (13,320 sq.mi) and it has an average discharge of 70,000 cu ft/s (1,982 m3/s). It

147-513: Is a small section of mangroves on the northern coast of the Sechura Desert . The mangroves of the Pacific coast deltas of South American are fed by streams with steep slopes in their catchment areas, which have high levels of rainfall. These streams carry high loads of sediment. The coast is subsiding at about 0.6 millimetres (0.024 in) per year, and global warming will increase sea levels, but will probably also to increase rainfall on

168-566: Is in the Neotropical realm , in the mangroves biome. Mangroves extend along the Pacific coast south to 5°32' at the estuary of the Piura River in the north of Peru. South of that the cold Humboldt Current causes high soil salinity and very arid conditions, with hardly any fresh water streams. This is an inhospitable environment for mangroves, particularly during El Niño years. 49 families of vascular plants have been identified in

189-528: Is the existence of a slough called Estero Salado , surrounded by swamps and affected by tides. The area between the Guayas River and the Estero Salado forms a maze of islands, some of which have been transformed into slums. The Cobina Slough connects the Estero Salado with the river. The main course of the river is affected by tides, and forms a small group of islands; the most important of them

210-529: Is the national river of Ecuador and is present on the coat of arms of Ecuador . The Guayas River has one of its sources in the Andes Mountains and Chimborazo , Ecuador's highest volcano. The coat of arms of Ecuador shows an image of the river descending from the mountain. Guayas is the name of the lower part of the river, which starts at the confluence of the Daule River from the west and

231-593: The Atlantic and Pacific Coasts , and on the Atlantic Coast of tropical Africa , where it thrives on the sandy and muddy shores where seawater reaches. It is common throughout coastal areas of Texas and Florida , and ranges as far north as southern Louisiana and northern Florida in the United States . Like many other mangrove species, it reproduces by vivipary . Seeds are encased in

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252-561: The Babahoyo River from the east, between the cities of Guayaquil and Durán , in Guayas Province. The Guayas River then flows around Santay Island , and becomes one current again. From the confluence to the delta 60 kilometers away, it borders Guayaquil Canton and Durán Canton , and Guayaquil Canton and Naranjal Canton , just before the delta. The Guayas River forms a very complex delta. Its most important feature

273-507: The Gulf of Parita to the Bay of San Miguel . Mangroves are found along the coasts of Colombia and Ecuador from the Gulf of Tribugá in the north to Mompiche Bay in the south (NT1409). Mangroves are found along the coast of Manabí Province in Ecuador (NT1418). They are also found between Ecuador and Peru where many rivers empty into the Pacific and the Gulf of Guayaquil (NT1413). In Panama

294-533: The Virrila and Piura estuaries hold only black mangroves ( Avicennia germinans ). Between 1987 and 2014 these stands have grown substantially, but have not spread along the coast. Endangered birds include the white-winged guan ( Penelope albipennis ). Endangered mammals include the black-headed spider monkey ( Ateles fusciceps ), Geoffroy's spider monkey ( Ateles geoffroyi ) and equatorial dog-faced bat ( Molossops aequatorianus ). Endangered reptiles include

315-562: The green sea turtle ( Chelonia mydas ) and hawksbill sea turtle ( Eretmochelys imbricata ). In Ecuador about 40,000 hectares (99,000 acres) of mangroves were lost in the 1980s and early 1990s due to unsustainable shrimp pond development. Since then the mangroves have been slowly recovering, and seem stable. Part of the ecoregion is protected by the Barro Colorado Island Natural Monument. Guayas River The Guayas River also called Rio Guayas

336-487: The salt excreted at night and on cloudy days. It is often found in its native range with the red mangrove ( Rhizophora mangle ) and the white mangrove ( Laguncularia racemosa ). White mangroves grow inland from black mangroves, which themselves grow inland from red mangroves. The three species work together to stabilize the shoreline, provide buffers from storm surges , trap debris and detritus brought in by tides , and provide feeding, breeding, and nursery grounds for

357-505: The Estero Salado, the river discharges 36 billion cubic meters of water into the Gulf of Guayaquil every year. National symbols of Ecuador Avicennia germinans Avicennia germinans , the black mangrove , is a shrub or small tree growing up to 12 meters (39 feet) in the acanthus family, Acanthaceae . It grows in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas , on both

378-511: The Pacific coast mangroves, with 135 genera and 222 species. A 2014 book proposed a distinction between the Chocoan and Equatorial-Pacific mangrove forests. Endemic species such as Avicennia tonduzi and Avicennia bicolor are found in the Pacific mangroves. More than 70% of Colombia's mangroves grow on the Pacific coast. They form tall, well-structured forests with trees up to 30 metres (98 ft) high. The southernmost stands of mangroves in

399-422: The Pacific coast. The fresh sediments should therefore maintain the surface elevation of the mangroves. Rainfall may exceed 10,000 millimetres (390 in) annually on the northern Pacific coast of Colombia, and the rivers discharge high volumes of water. Destructive tropical cyclones are very rare, so the mangroves avoid both the destructive effects of storms and the benefits from deposits of marine sediment . At

420-668: The mangroves are found along the Pacific coast of the Panamanian dry forests and Isthmian-Atlantic moist forests ecoregions. Further south in Colombia the mangroves fringe the Chocó–Darién moist forests along the Pacific coast. Further south again, in Ecuador the mangroves fringe sections of the coast of the Western Ecuador moist forests , Ecuadorian dry forests and Tumbes–Piura dry forests , which extend into Peru. There

441-501: The trees. The seeds can remain viable for over a year once released. The heartwood is dark-brown to black, while the sapwood is yellow-brown. It has the unusual property of having less dense heartwood than sapwood. The sapwood sinks in water while the heartwood floats. The wood is strong, heavy, and hard, but is difficult to work due to its interlocked grain, and is somewhat difficult to finish due to its oily texture. Uses include posts, pilings, charcoal , and fuel . Despite growing in

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