# Ecological Characterization of the Flora in Reserva Ecologica Arenillas, Ecuador
## 3 Results
#### Forest Classification  
Based on the hierarchical grouping performed on the similarities of species richness, abundance, Shannon index, and Simpson index (Supplement S1 in Supplementary Material), we identified three dry forest types in the deciduous forest of the Jama-Zapotillo lowlands ecosystem. Type I (black line) contains 12 sample plots, type II (red line) contains 26 sample plots and type III (green line) contains 19 sample plots (Figure 2). \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l c c c} \hline \hline
**Family** & **Taxon** & **Life Form** & **Growth Habit** \\ \hline Rhamaceae & _Scuttia spicata_ ([PERSON]. \& Bonpl. ex [PERSON].) [PERSON]. & C & Tree \\ Rhamaceae & _Gouania mollis_ [PERSON] & C & Tree \\ Rhamaceae & _Sarcomphalus thyrsiflorus_ (Benth.) [PERSON] & P & Tree \\ Rhizophoreaceae & _Rhizophora \(\times\) harrisonii_ [PERSON]. & Hy & Tree \\ Rhizophoreaceae & _Rhizophora tangle_ [PERSON]. & Hy & Tree \\ Rubiaceae & _Simita cudaoreensis_ ([PERSON].) [PERSON]. & P & Tree \\ Rubiaceae & _Randia armata_ (SW) DC. & P & Shrub \\ Rubiaceae & _Sphinctanthus aurantiacus_ ([PERSON].) [PERSON]. & P & Shrub \\ Rubiaceae & _Ixora coccine_ L. & P & Shrub \\ Rubiaceae & _Sommera purdiet_ [PERSON]. & P & Shrub \\ Rubiaceae & _Duroia hirsuta_ ([PERSON].) [PERSON]. & P & Tree \\ Rubiaceae & _Spermacoc remeta_ [PERSON]. & P & Tree \\ Rubiaceae & _Moritata citroglia_ L. & P & Tree \\ Rutaceae & _Zanthoxylum mutriucense_ ([PERSON].) [PERSON]. & P & Tree \\ Rutaceae & _Zanthoxylum rigidum_ [PERSON]. \& Bonpl. ex [PERSON]. & P & Tree \\ Rutaceae & _Amyris plasamifera_ L. & P & Shrub \\ Rutaceae & _Citrus \(\times\)sinensis_ (L.) [PERSON] & P & Tree \\ Rutaceae & _Citrus \(\times\) limon_ (L.) [PERSON] & P & Tree \\ Rutaceae & _Zanthoxylum fagara_ (L.) [PERSON]. & P & Tree \\ Sapindaceae & _Sapindus saponaria_ L. & P & Tree \\ Sapindaceae & _Serjania mucromulata_ [PERSON]. & P & Shrub \\ Sapindaceae & _Cardiospermum corindum_ L. & P & Herb \\ Scrophulariaceae & _Capra pernuvian_ [PERSON] & C & Shrub \\ Solanaceae & _Solanum pernuvianum_ L. & T & Herb \\ Solanaceae & _Browalla americana_ L. & T & Herb \\ Solanaceae & _Solanum filiforme_ [PERSON] \& Pav. & T & Herb \\ Solanaceae & _Solanum nigrum_ L. & T & Herb \\ Solanaceae & _Solanum pimpinelliofolium_ L. & T & Herb \\ Solanaceae & _Lyciatthes cudaorensis_ Bitter & T & Herb \\ Solanaceae & _Lyciatthes cysthocalyx_ ([PERSON] \& [PERSON].) Bitter & T & Herb \\ Solanaceae & _Wiltentigia solanaceae_ L'He’r & C & Herb \\ Solanaceae & _Lycium nodosum_ lacq. & P & Herb \\ Solanaceae & _Capsicum annuum_ L. & C & Herb \\ Talinaceae & _Talinum panicultatum_ ([PERSON].) [PERSON]. & H & Shrub \\ Talinaceae & _Talinum fruticosum_ (L.) [PERSON]. & T & Shrub \\ Tropeaplaceae & _Tropaelum harlingii_ Sparre & P & Shrub \\ Urticaceae & _Laporate aestuans_ (L.) Chew & T & Shrub \\ Verbenaceae & _Cihtarexylum quitense_ Spreng. & T & Tree \\ Verbenaceae & _Cihtarexylum gentriyi_ Moldenke & T & Tree \\ Verbenaceae & _Lantana sprucira_ Hayek & C & Shrub \\ Verbenaceae & _Lantana fucata_ Lindl. & C & Shrub \\ Verbenaceae & _Lantana camara_ L. & C & Shrub \\ Verbenaceae & _Lantana trifolia_ L. & C & Shrub \\ Verbenaceae & _Lantana verticillata verticillata_ (L.) Nicolson & P & Herb \\ Verbenaceae & _Lantana velutina_ [PERSON]. [PERSON] \& [PERSON] & C & Shrub \\ Verbenaceae & _Lantana horrida_ Kunth & C & Shrub \\ Vitaceae & _Cissus erosa_ Rich. & P & Herb \\ Zygophyllaceae & _Kallstroenia pubescens_ (G.Don) Dandy & T & Herb \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 2: Cont. The mean values of the diversity indices showed significant differences between forest types I and III. Type I presented the highest species richness (6.16) and abundance (18.58). The type I forest was also the ecosystem with the highest values of the two different diversity indices, but no significant differences were found between this ecosystem and ecosystem type III. Forest type III had the lowest values of both diversity indices.