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21 - Structure and dynamics of tropical montane cloud forests under contrasting biophysical conditions in north-western Costa Rica

from Part III - Hydrometeorology of tropical montane cloud forest

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 May 2011

By
A. Häger  and
A. Dohrenbusch
Edited by
L. A. Bruijnzeel ,
F. N. Scatena  and
L. S. Hamilton
A. Häger
Affiliation:
University of Göttingen, Germany
A. Dohrenbusch
Affiliation:
University of Göttingen, Germany
L. A. Bruijnzeel
Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
F. N. Scatena
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania
L. S. Hamilton
Affiliation:
Cornell University, New York
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Summary

ABSTRACT

Forest structure and composition were investigated in seven 10 × 50 m plots along a 2.5-km transect crossing the Continental Divide between 1200 and 1500 m.a.s.l. on the windward and leeward slopes of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica. Seven climate stations (measuring rainfall, horizontal precipitation, throughfall, temperature, and soil water content) were installed along the transect. Epiphytic vegetation was compared between leeward forests at 1450 m.a.s.l. (near the ridge top) and at 1200 m.a.s.l. Fallen trees were recorded over one year in a 50-m wide strip along the entire transect. The highest basal areas (up to nearly 100 m−2 ha−1) and the greatest canopy heights were found on the leeward slope between 1200 and 1450 m.a.s.l., and in the lowermost windward plot. The forest formations on the ridge and on the steep upper windward slope had basal areas of 30–40 m−2 ha−1 and tree heights of less than 15 m. Epiphytic biomass was very high at both investigated sites (32–39 t ha−1). Close to the wet ridge top, epiphyte abundance and vascular species richness were greatest. The monitoring of forest dynamics resulted in a total of 5.2 recorded tree-falls ha−1 year−1. Annual rainfall (March 2003–February 2004) ranged from 3690 mm on the leeward slope to 6390 mm on the windward side. Horizontal precipitation was estimated at 3560 mm at the ridge, compared to 330 mm at the lowest windward plot and 28 mm at 1200 m.a.s.l. on the leeward slope. […]

Type
Chapter
Information
Tropical Montane Cloud Forests
Science for Conservation and Management
 , pp. 208 - 216
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2011

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