Publication:
Effect of landform and Hurricane María on the structure, species and functional composition of coastal novel forests dominated by 𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘢 in Puerto Rico

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Authors
Báez Rivera, Gabriel
Embargoed Until
Advisor
Abelleira Martínez, Oscar J.
College
College of Agricultural Sciences
Department
Department of Crops and Agro-Environmental Sciences
Degree Level
M.S.
Publisher
Date
2023-05-04
Abstract
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.

Los procesos antropogénicos moldean la estructura de los árboles y la composición de las especies en las comunidades ecológicas. Comprender la respuesta de los bosques noveles a los procesos antropogénicos y naturales proporcionará información para futuras decisiones de conservación y gestión. Se tomaron muestras en bosques costeros noveles dominados por Terminalia catappa en doce sitios de estudio en el noroeste de la región húmeda de Puerto Rico antes y después del huracán María utilizando el Método de Punto-Centro Cuarto. Los bosques localizados en pendientes tienen un porcentaje significativamente menor de especies no nativas en comparación con otras formas de terreno. El uso anterior de la tierra, el pH, el orden y las series de suelo en los bosques tuvieron un efecto en la composición de especies. La distancia a la trayectoria del huracán María no tuvo ningún efecto sobre la estructura de árboles, especies y composición funcional.
Keywords
Hurricane,
Landform,
Novel forests,
Coastal,
Functional traits,
Functional groups,
Terminalia catappa
Usage Rights
Except where otherwise noted, this item’s license is described as Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
Cite
Báez Rivera, G. (2023). Effect of landform and Hurricane María on the structure, species and functional composition of coastal novel forests dominated by 𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘢 in Puerto Rico [Thesis]. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11801/3479