Ecohydrology of riparian forests in the Orinoco River Basin

Abstract

This paper describes some important ecohydrological interactions within riparian forests in lower Orinoco using the Caura and Mapire rivers in Venezuela. The importance of riparian forests and hydrological seasonality for aquatic faunal ecology and human use patterns are examined using the Caura River. On the other hand, the influence of ecohydrology on the composition, structure and diversity of riparian forests communities was analysed using the Mapire River. By comparing the decomposition processes of the Caura and Mapire floodplains, ecohydrological interactions of biochemical gradients along river confluence zones are discussed