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Changes in light below the canopy of a Jamaican montane rainforest after a hurricane

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

P. J. Bellingham ,
E. V. J. Tanner ,
P. M. Rich  and
T. C. R. Goodland
P. J. Bellingham
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
E. V. J. Tanner
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
P. M. Rich
Affiliation:
Biological Sciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045-2106, USA
T. C. R. Goodland
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, UK
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Abstract

Hurricane Gilbert caused disturbance to Jamaican montane rainforests in 1988. This study provides a detailed characterization of landscape-level changes in light below the canopy of these forests after the hurricane. Hemispherical photographs were taken below the forest canopy at four sites at permanent points 1 m above the ground between 7 and 33 mo after the hurricane. For each photograph photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was computed. PAR declined exponentially in all sites during the period of measurement. During the first 24 mo after the hurricane, PAR beneath the canopy was significantly greater in sites that had been defoliated during the hurricane than in sites where few trees had been defoliated. By 28 mo after the hurricane there was no significant difference in PAR beneath the canopy among the four sites. By 33 mo after the hurricane canopy recovery was nearly complete and PAR was only slightly higher than measurements made before the hurricane. Our results were compared with studies of changes in light environment resulting from treefall gaps and under deciduous canopies. PAR during the first 18 mo after the hurricane was similar to that recorded in small canopy gaps in other forests. Widespread defoliation caused by hurricanes can thus increase PAR beneath the canopy over large areas and consequently opportunities may arise for widespread recruitment of tree species in response to increased light levels.

Keywords

defoliationhemispherical photographsphotosynthetically active radiationtropical forest
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 12 , Issue 5 , September 1996 , pp. 699 - 722
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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