Tree damage and microclimate of forest canopies along a hurricane-impact gradient in Cusuco National Park, Honduras

Abstract

Abstract:Past studies of large, infrequent wind disturbances have shown that topographical, biological and meteorological factors interact to create complex damage patterns to forest ecosystems. However, the extent to which some of these factors change the forest microclimate along a vertical forest profile is poorly known. In a previous study, we correlated tree damage with a hurricane model that estimated past hurricane impacts within Cusuco National Park, Honduras over a 15-y period. Here we use the model to compare physical tree damage among different species in ten 150 ×150-m plots and to correlate modelled exposure of hurricanes to microclimate measurements along the vertical canopy over a 12-mo period. It was found that past hurricane impacts could still be detected long after the events. Different tree species showed different levels of wind damage. Most branch damage was observed on conifers (Pinus spp.), followed by angiosperm species. Vapour pressure deficit increased with height in the canopy and with increased disturbance level. A linear model explained 83% of the total variance in vapour pressure deficit, with 67% attributed to monthly fluctuation, 15% to altitude, 12% to historical hurricane damage and 6% to height in the canopy.

Hurricane-Induced Rainfall is a Stronger Predictor of Tropical Forest Damage in Puerto Rico Than Maximum Wind Speeds

“…Our analysis integrated field-based estimates of aboveground forest damage with a remotely-sensed damage index to quantify the relative importance of meteorological, topographic, and stand level risk factors on forest damage during Hurricanes María and Irma across Puerto Rico. The few previous landscape and stand level studies on impacts of cyclonic storms on forests 1,22,30,[51][52][53][54][55] have focused on wind as the most important meteorological driver of forest damage. Our study indicates, however, that extremely high rainfall associated with severe hurricanes can be a stronger predictor of forest damage.…”

Can air humidity and temperature regimes within cloud forest canopies be predicted from bryophyte and lichen cover?

“…As described in Batke and Kelly (2014), 132 the height of each logger depended on the total tree height and each loggers was at 133 the same horizontal distance from the bole of the tree (i.e. the inner canopy).…”

“…Branches 135 that were located between two logger-levels were assigned a canopy position based 136 on their distance to the nearest data logger. Mean ± SD tree height was 40.4 m ± 9.9 137 m [see Batke and Kelly (2014) Elevation explained 22% of the data when modeled for maximum RH and 80% when 167 modeled for mean temperature (Table 1). Canopy position showed much weaker 168 correlations, with the best-fit models explaining 10% of minimum RH and 7% of 169 maximum temperature (Table 1).…”

Changes in the distribution of mechanically dependent plants along a gradient of past hurricane impact

“…See Batke et al . (2014) and Batke and Kelly (2014) for a more detailed description of the study site. Briefly, the mountain cloud forest is dominated by broadleaved and needle-leaved tree species from the families Pinaceae, Altingiaceae, Fagaceae, Melastomataceae, Lauraceae, Rubiaceae and Euphorbiaceae.…”

“…2014 ), with associated alterations in micro-environmental conditions ( Turton and Siegenthaler 2004 ). Therefore, past effects of disturbance can produce gradients of vegetation and environmental conditions ( Foster and Boose 1992 ) that often can be measured long after the passing of such events ( Batke and Kelly 2014 ; Batke et al . 2014 ).…”