Abstract

NAVARRO-MARTINEZ, Angélica; DURAN-GARCIA, Rafael  and  MENDEZ-GONZALEZ, Martha. The impact of the hurricane Dean on the structure and arboreal composition of a managed forest in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Madera bosques [online]. 2012, vol.18, n.1, pp.57-76. ISSN 2448-7597.

Hurricanes are considered among the most important determinants of the structure and composition of many tropical forests. In Quintana Roo, these natural phenomena are part of the natural dynamics of the forest. Hurricane Dean, on of the most recent of these weather events occurred on August 21, 2007, affecting around 900,000 ha of medium semi-evergreen forest. The damage occurred on the vegetation was quantified and changes in species composition and structure of the forest affected by Hurricane Dean were discussed. It was found that the composition of the forest was not affected. The greatest effect of the hurricane was on the forest structure. Understory trees was more damaged that canopy trees. The main types of damage were the small and medium branch damage, uprooted and snapped trees. Forest management could have increase the susceptibility of this forest to wind damage. The effects of forest management in the susceptibility of the forest are discussed based on bibliographic information and some observations during field sampling. It is proposed to reduce the number of "wood concentration" during logging activity, as well as to incorporate to management plans, the extraction of damaged trees. It is also proposed to monitor the long-term dynamics both of damaged and undamaged forest by hurricanes.

Keywords : Tree composition and structure; Importance valor Index; medium semi-evergreen forest.