Catastrophic and background disturbance of tropical ecosystems at the Luquillo Experimental Forest |
| |
Authors: | Ariel E Lugo Robert B Waide |
| |
Institution: | 1. Institute of Tropical Forestry, USD? Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station, Call Box 25000, 00928-2500, Rio Piedras, PR, USA 2. Terrestrial Ecology Division, University of Puerto Rico, GPO Box 363682, 00936, San Juan, PR, USA
|
| |
Abstract: | The forests of the Luquillo Experimental Forest Long-Term Ecological Research site are subject to low-intensity, widespread
disturbance that establishes levels of background mortality that contrast with periodic catastrophic mortality resulting from
hurricanes and landslides. Although catastrophic mortality is more dramatic, background mortality is still more important
in determining population turnover. However, catastrophic mortality may still be an important agent in determining ecosystem
structure. Catastrophic disturbances affect forest function in many ways besides mortality, some of which are only apparent
in the context of long-term studies. Since most ecosystems are subject to some form of catastrophic disturbance, general principles
can be derived from comparative studies of disturbance in different systems. |
| |
Keywords: | Disturbance mortality tropical forest landslides hurricanes |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|