Vegetation structure, phytomass and phenology of the dry thorn scrub of Curacao, West Indies

Floristic compostion of this Netherlands Antilles island is described using TWINSPAN: 64 species were recorded at Malpais (on diabase) with a 55% vegetation cover, and 54 species were found at Ceru Jamanica (on limestone), with a 35% cover. Biomass was similar between the two sites, but was concentrated in a lower vegetation layer at Ceru Jamanica, and was essentially composed of semi-deciduous taxa rather than the deciduous and evergreen species (largely Randia aculeata and Acacia tortuosa, respectively) which characterised Malpais. Vegetation structure and leaf area are described, and comments are made on phenology (with no clear evidence of flowering synchrony). Plants at Malpais apparently react to strongly, rapidly varying water resources in the substrate, while at Ceru Jamanica they react to a continually limited water supply. -P.J.Jarvis