Geography
High mortality for rare species following hurricane disturbance in the southern Yucatán
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Hurricanes are an important part of the natural disturbance regime of the Yucatán Peninsula with the potential to alter forest structure and composition, yet investigations of species-level responses to severe winds are limited in this region. The effect of a category 5 hurricane (Hurricane Dean, 21 August 2007) on dry tropical forests across the southern Yucatán was examined with respect to tree damage, mortality, and sprouting. Damage was assessed 9-11mo following the hurricane in 92 (500m 2) plots stratified by wind speed and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) change classes over a 25,000km 2 study area. We investigated the relative importance of biotic (i.e., species, size, and wood density) and abiotic (i.e., wind speed) factors to better explain patterns of damage. Overall mortality was low (3.9%), however, mortality of less common species (8.5%) was elevated more than fourfold above that of 28 common species (1.8%), indicating immediate selective consequences for community composition. Species varied in the degree and type of damage experienced, with susceptibility increasing with tree diameter and height. Wood density influenced damage patterns only in areas where a critical threshold in storm intensity was exceeded (wind speeds ≥210km/h). Although overall, damage severity increased with wind speed, common coastal species were more resistant to damage than species distributed farther inland. Our findings suggest that selective pressure exerted by frequent hurricane disturbance has, and will, continue to impact the floristic composition of forests on the Yucatán Peninsula, favoring certain wind-resistant species. Abstract in Spanish is available at © 2011 The Author(s). Journal compilation © 2011 by The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation.
Publication Title
Biotropica
Publication Date
2011
Volume
43
Issue
6
First Page
676
Last Page
684
ISSN
0006-3606
DOI
10.1111/j.1744-7429.2011.00756.x
Keywords
dry tropical forest, Mexico, mortality, natural disturbance, sprouting, wind damage, wood density, Yucatán Peninsula
Repository Citation
Vandecar, Karen L.; Lawrence, Deborah; Richards, Dana; Schneider, Laura; Rogan, John; Schmook, Birgit; and Wilbur, Henry, "High mortality for rare species following hurricane disturbance in the southern Yucatán" (2011). Geography. 667.
https://commons.clarku.edu/faculty_geography/667