Title: Structure and composition of vegetation along an elevational gradient in Puerto Rico.
Author: Gould, W.A.; González, G.; Carrero Rivera, G.
Date: 2006
Source: Journal of Vegetation Science 17: 563-574,
Description: Question: What are the composition, conservation status, and
structural and environmental characteristics of eight mature
tropical forest plant communities that occur along an elevational
gradient.
Location: Northeastern Puerto Rico.
Methods: We quantified the species composition, diversity,
conservation status, and ecological attributes of eight mature
tropical forest plant communities in replicated plots located to
sample representative components of important forest types
occurring along an elevational gradient. A suite of environmental
and vegetation characteristics were sampled at each
plot and summarized to characterize communities and analyse
trends along the elevational gradient.
Results: The set of communities included 374 species; 92%
were native, 14% endemic, and 4% critical elements (locally
endangered) to the island. All communities, occurring within a
wide range of patch sizes and degree of conservation protection,
showed a high percentage of native species (> 89% per
plot). The lowland moist forest communities, occurring within
a matrix of urbanization, agriculture, and disturbance, had the
highest degree of invasion by exotics. Community descriptions
were nested within a variety of hierarchies to facilitate
extrapolation of community characteristics to larger ecosystem
units. Basal area, above-ground biomass, canopy heights,
and mean species richness peaked at mid elevations.
Conclusions: It is significant that all of these forest communities
continue to be dominated by native species while existing
in a matrix of human and natural disturbance, species invasion,
and forest regeneration from widespread agriculture. The
lowland moist and dry forest types represent a minority of the
protected forested areas in Puerto Rico, serve as unique genetic
reservoirs, and should be protected.
Keywords: Detrended Correspondence Analysis; Exotics; Gradient analysis; Land management; Native species; Phytosociology; Puerto Rico.
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Citation
Gould, W.A.; González, G.; Carrero Rivera, G. 2006. Structure and composition of vegetation along an elevational gradient in Puerto Rico.. Journal of Vegetation Science 17: 563-574, .