Structure and biomass of a subtropical dry forest in Puerto Rico
Guanica Forest, with seasonal rainfall averaging 860 mm annually, is among the driest of tropical or subtropical forests studied to date. It is composed of over 12,000 live tree stems per hectare, only 2.3 and 12 percent of which exceed 10 cm DBH or 5 m in height, respectively. Of all stems greater than 2.5 cm. DBH, 57 percent are stump or root sprouts, attributable to forest cutting 50 years earlier. The dry winter months induce maximum deciduousness and are reflected in a 50 percent reduction in leaf area index, from approximately 4.3 to 2.1. Although less in magnitude, leaf fall was also observed in the moderately dry midsummer months. Relative to wetter forests, tree species richness and total community biomass is low. Approximately 50 percent of the total live-plant biomass of 89.9 t-ha occurs below ground, a higher proportion than for any other comparable forest measured thus far.
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | biblioteca |
| Published: |
1986
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| Subjects: | ESTRUCTURA DEL BOSQUE, DIAMETRO, PRODUCCION DE BIOMASA, BOSQUE TROPICAL SECO, PUERTO RICO, |
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| Summary: | Guanica Forest, with seasonal rainfall averaging 860 mm annually, is among the driest of tropical or subtropical forests studied to date. It is composed of over 12,000 live tree stems per hectare, only 2.3 and 12 percent of which exceed 10 cm DBH or 5 m in height, respectively. Of all stems greater than 2.5 cm. DBH, 57 percent are stump or root sprouts, attributable to forest cutting 50 years earlier. The dry winter months induce maximum deciduousness and are reflected in a 50 percent reduction in leaf area index, from approximately 4.3 to 2.1. Although less in magnitude, leaf fall was also observed in the moderately dry midsummer months. Relative to wetter forests, tree species richness and total community biomass is low. Approximately 50 percent of the total live-plant biomass of 89.9 t-ha occurs below ground, a higher proportion than for any other comparable forest measured thus far. |
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