Treesearch

Fine root dynamics were evaluated at four sites in a subtropical wet forest in PuertoRico over a period of 13 months followindisturbance by Hurricane Hugo in September 1989. Live fine root standing stocks(to a depth of 10cm) declined to zero over a three month period after the hurricanand fluctuated greatly thereafter. Maximum fine root biomass (49 g/m2) occurred in June 1990. Dead root standing s ocks( mean 423 g/m2) were relatively constant through the study period. Recovery of fine roots following the initial hurricane-related mortality appears to be a slow process,regulated at least...