Short-term effects of cyclone impact and long-term recovery of tropical rain forest on Kolombangara, Solomon Islands
Abstract
The authors evaluate the effects of large-scale disturbance on tropical tree communities by examining the population dynamics of all individuals > 4.9 cm in diameter at breast height (d.b.h.) of 12 tree species over 30 years (1964–94) in lowland tropical rain forest on Kolombangara, Solomon Islands.It was concluded that cyclone impacts have only short-term effects on the relative abundance of common tree species on Kolombangara, and do not therefore prevent the establishment of an equilibrium rank abundance hierarchy or create spatial variation in tree species composition. Differences in forest composition across Kolombangara are more likely to have been caused by differential anthropogenic disturbance linked to settlement patterns.
Citation
Journal of Ecology (2000) 88 (6) 1063-1078 [DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2745.2000.00517.x]