Abstract

RUIZ, JORGE  and  FANDINO, MARÍA C.. THE IMPACT OF HURRICANE BETA ON THE FORESTS OF PROVIDENCIA ISLAND, COLOMBIA, SOUTHWEST CARIBBEAN. Caldasia [online]. 2010, vol.32, n.2, pp.425-434. ISSN 0366-5232.

One of the consequences of global warming in the Caribbean is an increase in the frequency and intensity of hurricanes. Little is known on the impact of this natural phenomenon on forests, particularly for dry tropical forests. Understanding this impact in terms of structure and species richness is important for forest management. Slow moving Hurricane Beta, a category 1, struck Old Providence island, Colombia, in October 29, 2005. Before Beta woody vegetation was characterized by 88 2 x 50 m plots (0.01 ha) established throughout the island following the protocol by Gentry (1982); 59 plots were studied five years earlier and 29 plots four to five months earlier. The impact of hurricane Beta was assessed within 11 plots located in the Dry Tropical Forests of Old Providence, six months after the hurricane. The These plots were measured in species composition, diameter at breast height (DBH), and height were measured within these plots. There was a considerable reduction in the number of individuals, stems, height, basal areas, and there was no significant difference between DBH. Height damage was positively associated with increasing DHB class. Furthermore, based on the results of species richness, even after controlling for the different number of individuals, through rarefaction, there was no major difference before and after Beta.

Keywords : Caribbean; Colombia; dry tropical forest; hurricanes; Old Providence.

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