Pseudophoenix ekmanii is a threatened palm species endemic to the Dominican Republic. Sap from trees is extracted to make a local drink; once they are tapped the individual usually dies. Plants are also illegally harvested for the nursery trade and destroyed by poachers hunting the endemic and threatened Hispaniolan parrot. We used 7 DNA microsatellite markers to assist land managers in developing conservation strategies for this palm. We sampled 4 populations along the known distribution range of this species (3 populations from the mainland and 1 from the small island of Isla Beata), for a total sample of n = 104. We found strong evidence for genetic drift, inbreeding, and moderate gene flow (i.e., all populations had at least 4 loci that were not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, at least 9 loci pairs were in linkage disequilibrium, the pairwise F(ST) values ranged from 0.069 to 0.266, and had positive F(IS) values). Data supported an isolation-by-distance model, and cluster analyses based on genetic distances resolved 2 groups that match a north-south split. The population from Isla Beata had the lowest levels of genetic diversity and was the only one in which we found pairs of individuals with identical shared multilocus genotypes.

del Soco and Laguna de Oviedo. With the plant samples taken in the above mentioned sites, we created a synthetic table out of 16 phytosociological tables belonging to 6 original associations and 9 associations obtained from the bibliographical study. With the purpose of obtaining a similarity gradient (matching) between the associations under study, we carried out a statistical analysis (clustering, principal component analysis and Jaccard similarity/dissimilarity analysis). Our phytosociological approach relied on criteria such as biogreography and dynamic-catenal contact. Our sampling analysis has led us to propose the following syntaxa: Machaerio lunati-Rhizophoretum manglis; Rhabdadenio biflorae-Laguncularietum racemosae; Sthalio monospermae-Laguncularietum racemosae; Lonchocarpo pycnifolii-Conocarpetum erecatae; Lonchocarpo sericeiLaguncularietum racemosae; Crataevo tapiae-Conocarpetum erectae. We also propose a new alliance and a change of status: Phyllantho elsiae-Laguncurion racemosae; Dalbergio-Rhizophorion manglis (Borhidi 1991) status novo. The mangrove swamps of Central America are arranged in three vegetation bands corresponding to different plant associations. The analysis of the three sampled area not only revealed the degradation of the vegetation but also the causative factors.