ABSTRACT
In North and Central America the extent and structure of mangrove communities is strongly shaped by the climate. Cool air temperatures limit growth in the northern and central Gulf of Mexico, but in southern Florida, warmer conditions and abundant freshwater flows have allowed the development of extensive forests. Mexico has the largest mangrove extent of any country in the region, including large areas along its desert and semi-desert coastlines in the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico. South and east of these dry regions, Central America becomes increasingly humid, and protected lagoons and estuaries support large and high canopy forests. The Caribbean islands run through the heart of this region: mangroves are widespread, notably in fringing and lagoonal formations. Aridity restricts the growth of many forests from the Bahamas to the Lesser Antilles, but some larger forests are found, notably around the larger and more mountainous islands, with Cuba dominating the statistics.
