Understanding the key mechanisms of tropical forest responses to canopy loss and biomass deposition from experimental hurricane effects

• Published in: Forest ecology and management Vol. 332; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Shiels, Aaron B., González, Grizelle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.11.2014
• Subjects: animals; Arecaceae; biogeochemical cycles; biomass; Canopies; Canopy detritus; canopy gaps; cutting; Debris; Decomposition; Experimental cyclone disturbance; forest canopy; forest litter; Forest management; Forest recovery; Forests; herbivores; Hurricanes; Litter; Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER); microorganisms; primary productivity; Puerto Rico; soil water; throughfall; trees; Tropical forests; Tropical succession; understory; Understory light; wind damage; wood; Greater Antilles, Puerto Rico, Luquillo Experimental Forest; ASW, Caribbean Sea, Greater Antilles, Puerto Rico; Puerto Rico; Forest recovery; Experimental cyclone disturbance; Canopy detritus; Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER); Tropical succession; Understory light

•The Canopy Trimming Experiment was conducted in tropical wet forest in Puerto Rico.•We simulated two components of a hurricane: canopy openness and debris deposition.•We trimmed 576 trees, and redistributed 32,448kg dry mass over six 30×30m plots.•Physical conditions created by treatments were simi...