PARENT SESSION
Organized Oral Session 4: Tropical cyclone disturbance and forest dynamics at multiple temporal scales: results from long-term studies in the new and old worlds
Organizer(s): T Lin, H King, and SP Hamburg
Monday, August 8, 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM, Meeting Room 511 B, Level 5, Palais des congrès de Montréal

Variable forest response to hurricanes.

Brokaw, Nick ¹, ¹ University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA

ABSTRACT- Studies on hurricane-affected forests in Puerto Rico illustrate unexpected responses by the affected forests and variation in response after different hurricanes. In Puerto Rico hurricanes seem to produce a smooth canopy and clear understory over the long-term and few lianas. There may or may not be a pulse of pioneer tree regeneration after hurricanes. Historical land use by humans has more impact than major hurricanes on species composition over the mid-term, especially because land use and hurricane effects seem to interact. Response to a particular hurricane depends on previous disturbance. Observations in forests of Honduras, Belize, Australia, and the Philippines illustrate further differences in response. All these observations can help us predict the state of the forest if hurricane frequency increases.

Key words: cyclone, tropics, forest, disturbance