Short-term response of secondary forests to hurricane disturbance in Puerto Rico, USA

Abstract We examined the short-term (4–5 years) dynamics of stand structure and species composition of two chronosequences of secondary forest stands derived from abandoned cattle pastures (15–81 years since abandonment) in the Luquillo and Carite Mountains of eastern Puerto Rico. In 1998, Hurricane Georges struck Puerto Rico, affecting both chronosequences. Stem densities decreased in all sites with a significant effect of age-class. Intermediate-aged sites had the greatest decrease in density and the largest change in the distribution of size classes. Although there was a significant decrease in the small size classes (