Summary: Short-term response of secondary forests to hurricane
disturbance in Puerto Rico, USA
John B. Pascarellaa,*
, T. Mitchell Aideb
, Jess K. Zimmermanc
a
Department of Biology, Valdosta State University, 1500 N. Patterson Street, Valdosta, GA 31698, USA
b
Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, PO Box 23360, San Juan, PR 00931-3360, USA
c
Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Studies, University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, PO Box 23341, San Juan, PR 00931-3341, USA
Received 5 February 2004; received in revised form 24 May 2004; accepted 24 May 2004
Abstract
We examined the short-term (4­5 years) dynamics of stand structure and species composition of two chronosequences of
secondary forest stands derived from abandoned cattle pastures (15­81 years since abandonment) in the Luquillo and Carite
Mountains of eastern Puerto Rico. In 1998, Hurricane Georges struck Puerto Rico, affecting both chronosequences.
Stem densities decreased in all sites with a significant effect of age-class. Intermediate-aged sites had the greatest decrease in
density and the largest change in the distribution of size classes. Although there was a significant decrease in the small size
classes (<10 cm dbh), due to physical damage from falling debris, there was a large increase in the 10­20 cm dbh classes, due to
growth of surviving stems. Basal area decreased in 11 of the 15 sites and showed only a slight gain in the other sites. Species

Source: Aide, Mitchell - Department of Biology, Universidad de Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras

Collections: Environmental Sciences and Ecology