Abstract: Natural disturbances like hurricanes can have profound impacts on tropical forests, altering their demographic and functional composition. While plant demographic strategies are typically thought of as falling on a slow-fast continuum, major disturbances can alter these strategies and impact the overall function of the forest. As climate change leads to an increase in the frequency and intensity of these disturbances, it's becoming increasingly important to understand how forests respond.
In this study, we examined the demographic trade-offs and shifts in functional traits of a hurricane-disturbed forest in Puerto Rico using long-term data from the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot. We analyzed growth, survival, seed rain, and seedling recruitment of the dominant tree species, as well as their leaf, seed, and wood functional traits.
We found that the well-known growth-survival trade-off was not present in this forest. Instead, we identified a fecundity-growth trade-off and a second axis representing seedling-to-adult survival. We also noted a shift in species composition towards fast-growing and long-lived species with more conservative leaf economics traits and larger seed mass.
Overall, our study suggests that tree demographic strategies in areas with frequent hurricane disturbance can deviate from the strategies typically observed in undisturbed forests. By better understanding these changes, we can develop more effective conservation strategies for forests in the face of climate change and natural disasters.
