XVI International Botanical Congess

The Guiana Shield is a unique biogeographical area in NE South America. Two one-hectare plots were established in Kaieteur Falls, Guyana to determine the structure and composition of the riparian forest on the Potaro Plateau and to compare the results with other areas of the Guiana Shield. Based on a preliminary study two sites were selected along the Potaro River Gorge. Plot 1, at the headwaters of the Korume Creek (125 m), is seasonally inundated along the bottom section. Plot 2, on the Plateau (425 m), is fairly well-drained and rarely if ever flooded. Both sites have soils of brown and white sand mixed with humus. Trees with a minimum dbh of 10 cm were measured, tagged and mapped within each plot and analyzed using standard methods. Results indicate that there is a 40% species overlap between Kaieteur and other surveyed areas from the Guiana Shield.