Báez Rivera, Gabriel

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Effect of landform and Hurricane María on the structure, species and functional composition of coastal novel forests dominated by 𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘢 in Puerto Rico
(2023-05-04) Báez Rivera, Gabriel; Abelleira Martínez, Oscar J.; College of Agricultural Sciences; Keyser, Tara L.; Macchiavelli, Raúl E.; Department of Crops and Agro-Environmental Sciences; Suárez, Oscar M.
Anthropogenic processes are constantly shaping the tree structure and species composition in ecological communities resulting in novel forests. Understanding novel forest’s response to anthropogenic and natural processes will provide insight for future conservation and management decisions. The tree structure and species composition of coastal novel forests dominated by Terminalia catappa were sampled in twelve study sites in the North-Western coasts in the moist region of Puerto Rico before and after Hurricane María using the Point-center Quarter Method (PCQM). My study suggests that forests located on slope had a significantly lower percentage of non-native species when compared among other landforms. The forests’ previous land use, pH, soil order and series had an effect on species composition. I also found that the distance to the trajectory of Hurricane María had a no effect on tree structure, species composition, and functional composition.