Ecología de los robledales de altura (bosque de Quercus) maduros y en recuperación en la Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica

Changes in structure of a Costa Rican upper montane Quercus forest were studied in 0.1 ha plots along a chronosequence including 8-20 yr old Early Secondary Forest (ESF), 25-32 yr old Late Secondary Forest (LSF) and mature Primary Forest (PF). In 1.2 ha 2854 stems > = 3.0 cm DBH belonging to 42 tree species were recorded. Tree species richness per 0.1 ha ranged from 15-30. Diversity indices did not change significantly during succession. Stem density was significantly higher in LSF than in PF, while basal area was significantly higher in PF than in ESF and LSF. Maximum canopy height and basal area increased lineraly during the first three decades of recovery. Height and DBH showed a significant, logarithmic regression for all forest phases. Highest Family Importance Values were found for Asteraceae in ESF and Fagaceae in LSF and PF. Density of seedlings/saplings < 3.0 cm DBH was highest in ESF. A period of 84.3 yr was estimated as the theoretically minimum time needed for structural recovery. The maximum canopy height and basal area recover 2-5 times slower in upper montane than in lower montane or lowland neotropical forests.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Geuze, Thorwald 71473, 85552 Leal, M., 58011 Cleef, A.M., 82284 Kappelle, M., 20493 University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam (Países Bajos). Dept. of Palynology and Paleo, 20110 Universidad Nacional, Heredia (Costa Rica)
Format:	biblioteca
Published:	Amsterdam (Países Bajos) 1995
Subjects:	QUERCUS, ESTRUCTURA DEL BOSQUE, COMPOSICION BOTANICA, DENSIDAD DE LA POBLACION, SUCESION ECOLOGICA, CRECIMIENTO, COSTA RICA,
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