%0 Journal Article %T Structural characteristics of mangrove forests in Brazilian estuaries: A comparative study %A Camargo Maia %A Rafaela %A Coutinho %A Ricardo %J Revista de biolog¨ªa marina y oceanograf¨ªa %D 2012 %I Scientific Electronic Library Online %R 10.4067/S0718-19572012000100008 %X the aim of this study was the characterization of mangrove forests in 9 estuaries in the state of cear¨¢, northeastern brazil, with the purpose of comparing them and providing subsidies for their conservation. we used the method of multiple squares, having 3 transects of 5 quadrats at each site. we obtained values for the diameter and basal area of the individuals, dominance, trunk density and relative frequency per species, as well as variables for the analysis of sediment. the results obtained regarding structural parameters showed differences among the sampled forests, where the highest density levels were found in the acara¨², cear¨¢ and guri¨² rivers. the guri¨² river also presented the smallest values for height, diameter at breast height (dbh) and basal area. the grouping analysis indicates 3 groups of forests: 1) coc¨® and cear¨¢; 2) acara¨², jaguaribe and pacoti, and 3) aracatimirim and guri¨². the mangrove forests in cur¨² and barra grande were not grouped. the principal component analysis (pca) indicated that the sediments collected in the estuaries present a distinct texture composition. the differences between the areas must be taken into consideration when proposing management, as each mangrove demands different strategies for its maintenance. %K cear¨¢ %K plant structure %K sediment %K vegetation. %U http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_abstract&pid=S0718-19572012000100008&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en