Hurricane damage and recovery in the montane forests of the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico

Abstract

Periodic disturbances caused by hurricanes constitute an integral phase of forest growth and development in the Caribbean region. The 35-year recovery in seven permanent plots in the Colorado Forest of the Luquillo Mountains in Puerto Rico covering the 14 through 49 year period after a major disturbance was characterized by: (1) ingrowth and mortality rates of 20 stems/ha/yr, or 1.1% yr of the initial number of stems; (2) shifts to larger tree diameters and heights; (3) a 3% decline in the number of trees in the intermediate and dominant crown classes and a 6% increase in the number of suppressed trees; (4) a 1.1% increase in the weighted mean specific gravity of all stems and a 2.6% increase for dicotyledons alone; (5) a change in species composition with the loss of pioneers, decrease in secondary species, and increase in the dominance of climax trees; (6) a decline in species richness from 88 to 83 species for the entire forest; (7) a decrease in diameter increment from 0.14 cm/yr in the years between 1946-51 to 0.09 cm/yr in the years between 1976-81 for all surviving stems; (8) an increase in standing stemwood and branch volume from 217 to 254 m3/ha, with a net growth of 1.06 m3/ha/yr; and (9) an increase in aboveground woody biomass from 122 to 145 t/ha with a net growth of 0.67 t/ha/yr. Patterns of disturbance and recovery appear to vary along elevational and topographic gradients within the Luquillo Forest. Windthrow is more common at lower elevations where there are large trees in valleys; breakage is more prevalent on slopes and ridges at higher elevations. In the Colorado Forest, biomass recovery appears linear. In the Tabonuco Forest below it, recovery is along a convex curve. In the Dwarf Forest at the summits, it may also be linear, but slower than in the Colorado Forest.

Citation

Weaver, P.L. 1986. Hurricane damage and recovery in the montane forests of the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico. Caribbean Journal of Science. 22(1-2): 53-70.