Abstract
A severe hurricane affected Jamaican montane rain forests in 1988. We made local and widespread measurements of tree condition in three periods: prehurricane 1974–1984 (preh.); hurricane 1984—1989 (h.); and post—hurricane 1989—1992 (post—h.). In the h. period, 7.22% of stems and 4.72% of the total basal area died; crown loss was the most frequent cause of mortality. Among individual tree species, the hurricane caused a large range in mortality (0—26%) and non—fatal damage. Post—h. mortality was greater than mortality in the h. period, and varied among species. Post—h. stem growth rates (all species combined) were more than double the prehurricane rates, but species showed a considerable range from no significant increase to eight times greater. We classified 20 common tree species using damage scores (normalized h. mortality, plus normalized change in mortality from preh. to post—h., plus normalized complete crown loss in h.) and response scores (normalized change, preh. to post—h., in recruitment to the ≥ 3 cm dbh size class, plus normalized change in growth rate from preh. to post—h., plus normalized frequency of sprouts). Species were assigned to one of four groups: resistant (11 species), with low damage and low response; susceptible (5 species), with high damage and low response; resilient (1 species), with high damage and high response; and usurpers (3 species), with low damage and high responsiveness. The grouping of species was broadly related to their regeneration requirements. Most species with seedlings usually found under closed canopy were resistant; three of the four species with seedlings usually found on landslides were also resistant. Species with seedlings most frequently found in gaps included resilient, susceptible, and usurper species, but were not usually resistant. It is likely that the three species classified as usurpers will increase their relative abundance in the forest in the next decades and that Cyathea pubescens, which was very susceptible, will decrease in relative abundance of adults. Most of the other species are likely to have small changes in their relative abundances. Thus, at present, hurricanes have few long—term effects on the forests, although a change in the disturbance regime may alter this.
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Claims 18
Claim · model-written summary
During the hurricane period, 7.22% of stems and 4.72% of basal area died.
Verbatim
e0“In the h. period, 7.22% of stems and 4.72% of the total basal area died”
e1“Jamaican montane rain forests”
Claim · model-written summary
During the hurricane period, 4.72% of total basal area died.
Verbatim
e0“In the h. period, 7.22% of stems and 4.72% of the total basal area died”
e1“Jamaican montane rain forests”
Claim · model-written summary
Crown loss was the most frequent cause of mortality.
Verbatim
e0“crown loss was the most frequent cause of mortality”
e1“Jamaican montane rain forests”
Claim · model-written summary
Hurricane mortality across tree species ranged from 0 to 26%.
Verbatim
e0“Among individual tree species, the hurricane caused a large range in mortality (0—26%) and non—fatal damage”
Claim · model-written summary
Posthurricane mortality exceeded hurricane-period mortality and varied among species.
Verbatim
e0“Post—h. mortality was greater than mortality in the h. period, and varied among species”
e1“individual tree species”
Claim · model-written summary
Posthurricane stem growth rates more than doubled overall, with species ranging from no significant increase to eightfold.
Verbatim
e0“Post—h. stem growth rates (all species combined) were more than double the prehurricane rates, but species showed a considerable range from no significant increase to eight times greater”
e1“individual tree species”
Claim · model-written summary
Eleven species were classified resistant, with low damage and response.
Verbatim
e0“resistant (11 species), with low damage and low response”
e1“individual tree species”
Claim · model-written summary
Five species were susceptible, with high damage and low response.
Verbatim
e0“susceptible (5 species), with high damage and low response”
e1“individual tree species”
Claim · model-written summary
One species was resilient, with high damage and response.
Verbatim
e0“resilient (1 species), with high damage and high response”
e1“individual tree species”
Claim · model-written summary
Three species were usurpers, with low damage and high response.
Verbatim
e0“usurpers (3 species), with low damage and high responsiveness”
e1“individual tree species”
Claim · model-written summary
Damage-response groups were broadly related to species regeneration requirements.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“The grouping of species was broadly related to their regeneration requirements”
e1“individual tree species”
Claim · model-written summary
Most species with seedlings beneath closed canopy were resistant.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“Most species with seedlings usually found under closed canopy were resistant”
Claim · model-written summary
Three of four species with seedlings on landslides were resistant.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“three of the four species with seedlings usually found on landslides were also resistant”
Claim · model-written summary
Gap-seedling species included resilient, susceptible and usurper groups, but were usually not resistant.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“Species with seedlings most frequently found in gaps included resilient, susceptible, and usurper species, but were not usually resistant”
Claim · model-written summary
Authors project increased relative abundance of three usurper species.
Verbatim
e0“the three species classified as usurpers will increase their relative abundance in the forest in the next decades”
e1“individual tree species”
Claim · model-written summary
Authors project decreased adult relative abundance of Cyathea pubescens.
Verbatim
e0“Cyathea pubescens, which was very susceptible, will decrease in relative abundance of adults”
Claim · model-written summary
Most other species are projected to have small abundance changes.
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“Most of the other species are likely to have small changes in their relative abundances”
e1“individual tree species”
Claim · model-written summary
Hurricanes currently appear to have few long-term forest effects, though a changed disturbance regime may alter this.
Verbatim
e0“at present, hurricanes have few long—term effects on the forests, although a change in the disturbance regime may alter this”
e1“Jamaican montane rain forests”