Successional age and forest structure in a Costa Rican upper montane<i>Quercus</i>forest

Kappelle, M.; Geuze, Thorwald; Leal, Miguel; Cleef, A.M.

doi:10.1017/s0266467400009871

Cited by 92 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 31 publications

(40 reference statements)

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“…Stem density (trees C3 cm DBH, diameter at breast height) was 5,730, 4,800, and 3,460 n ha -1 in ESF, MSF, and OGF, respectively. Average tree basal area was 5 m 2 ha -1 in various ESF stands, 18 m 2 ha -1 in the MSF stands and 57 m 2 ha -1 in the OGF stands (Kappelle et al 1996). The height of the upper tree layer in the three stands of our study was about 5-9 m in the ESF, 11-15 m in the MSF, and 30-35 m in the OGF where single trees of even larger height occurred.…”

Section: Study Sitesmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…The OGF had previously been described as ''primary forest'' or ''mature forest'' (Kappelle et al 1995(Kappelle et al , 1996. Stem density (trees C3 cm DBH, diameter at breast height) was 5,730, 4,800, and 3,460 n ha -1 in ESF, MSF, and OGF, respectively.…”

Section: Study Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the Cordillera de Talamanca of Costa Rica, however, a montane oak forest type exists in which tall trees with more than 35 m in height and more than 60 cm in diameter prevail (Kappelle et al 1996). Oaks of this size predominately occur on the west facing slopes and in areas over 2,400 m high, and are not found in other regions of the country.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, the secondary forests are dominated by Quercus species as well (Kappelle et al 1996). The old-growth forests are characterized by the abundance of non-vascular epiphytes (Köhler et al 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High litterfall in old-growth and secondary upper montane forest of Costa Rica

2008

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Tropical upper montane forests usually comprise trees of small stature with a relatively low aboveground productivity. In contrast to this rule, in the Cordillera de Talamanca (Costa Rica), tall trees ([35 m in height and more than 60 cm in diameter) are characteristic for the upper montane old-growth oak forests which are growing at an altitude of almost 3,000 m close to the alpine timberline. For these exceptional forests, productivity data are not yet available. In this study, we analyzed litterfall and its components (tree leaves, litter of epiphytic vascular and non-vascular plants, mistletoes, twigs and other canopy debris) in three forest stands belonging to different successional stages and related seasonal changes in litterfall to micrometeorological variables. The studied stands were early-successional forest (10-15-year-old), mid-successional forest (40-year-old), and old-growth forest. The stands are dominated by Quercus copeyensis and are located at 2,900-m altitude. Total litterfall was highest in the mid-successional forest (1,720 g m -2 y -1 ), and reached 1,288 g m -2 y -1 in the old-growth forest and 934 g m -2 y -1 in the earlysuccessional forest. Litter mass was dominated by leaves in all stages (56-84% of total litterfall). In the oldgrowth forest, however, twigs and small canopy debris particles (33%), epiphytes (6%), and mistletoes (5%) also contributed substantially to litter mass. Leaf litterfall showed a clear seasonal pattern with a negative correlation to monthly precipitation and highest values in the dry season (January-April). However, the strongest correlation existed with minimum air temperature (negative), probably because temperatures already dropped at the end of the rainy season, when precipitation had not yet declined and leaf shedding already increased. In contrast, litterfall of epiphyte mass, and twigs and other debris was mostly dependent on occasional strong winds. We conclude that the upper montane oak forests of the Cordillera de Talamanca are exceptional with respect to the large tree size and the relatively high productivity as indicated by litterfall. Litter mass was especially high in the mid-successional and old-growth forests, where the observed annual totals are among the highest recorded for tropical forests so far.

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Section: Study Sitesmentioning

confidence: 54%

Section: Study Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High litterfall in old-growth and secondary upper montane forest of Costa Rica

2008

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“…que están comenzando a desplazar a las gramíneas amacolladas por efecto de sombra, acelerando la reconversión hacia el bosque. Sin embargo, se ha indicado que el período mínimo necesario para la recuperación florística después de la tala y el abandono de un área de bosque de encino en Costa Rica puede requerir cuando menos de 65 años (Kappelle et al, 1996), por lo que los efectos de sustitución de unas especies por otras aún no se han hecho totalmente evidentes en las áreas abiertas de ZAC y MAT, que mantienen en este momento una similitud entre 8-33% con la primer comunidad propiamente arbolada del BIN (Cuadro 2).…”

Section: Discusion Riqueza Florísticaunclassified

Análisis florístico sucesional en la estación biológica Cerro Huitepec, Chiapas, México

et al. 1998

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RESUMENSe presenta una lista florística y una descripción de la vegetación de seis comunidades sucesionales: zacatonal, matorral, bosque incipiente, bosque sucesional intermedio, bosque de encino y bosque de neblina en la Estación Biológica Cerro Huitepec, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas.El total de la flora comprende 83 familias, 186 géneros y 315 especies; 10% de ellas fueron herbáceas anuales, 50% herbáceas perennes (incluyendo bejucos y helechos), 20% arbustos, 17% árboles del sotobosque y 3% árboles del dosel.El análisis de similitud (índice de Jaccard) permitió reconocer tres grupos de vegetación: el primero definido por especies predominantemente pioneras o sucesionalmente tempranas, típicas del zacatonal y del matorral, que tienen 58% de semejanza florística; el segundo incluye los elementos del bosque incipiente y el bosque sucesional intermedio, compartiendo 52% de su flora y en el que destacaron las plantas sucesionales intermedias; el último grupo formado por el bosque de neblina y el bosque de encino, que tienen en común 57% de la composición florística, principalmente de especies sucesionales intermedias y tardías.En la Estación Biológica Cerro Huitepec está representada 32% de la riqueza florística estimada para la región ubicada por encima de los 2000 m de altitud en el centro del estado. Sin embargo, debido a la baja densidad de las poblaciones de varias especies y a las tasas elevadas de deforestación que prevalecen alrededor, es probable la ocurrencia de algunas extinciones locales en el futuro cercano, por lo que es necesario diseñar estrategias apropiadas para su manejo y conservación. ABSTRACTA floristic checklist and a vegetation account of six successional communities: grassland, shrubland, early forest, mid-successional forest, oak forest, and evergreen cloud forest in the privatelyowned biological station at Cerro Huitepec, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, México, is presented.A total of 83 vascular plant families including 186 genera and 315 species were recorded. We found that 10% of the species are annual herbs, 50% herbaceous perennials, 20% shrubs, 17% understory trees, and 3% canopy trees.

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Restoring Tropical Montane Forests

Guariguata¹

Forest Restoration in Landscapes

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Successional age and forest structure in a Costa Rican upper montaneQuercusforest

Abstract: Successional age and forest structure in a Costa Rican upper montane Quercus forestKappelle, M.; Geuze, T.; Leal, M.E.; Cleef, A.M.

Cited by 92 publications

References 31 publications

High litterfall in old-growth and secondary upper montane forest of Costa Rica

High litterfall in old-growth and secondary upper montane forest of Costa Rica

Análisis florístico sucesional en la estación biológica Cerro Huitepec, Chiapas, México

Restoring Tropical Montane Forests

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