Diameter growth and decline in a tropical montane cloud forest of the Sierra de las Minas Guatemala

Holder C. D., . Diameter growth and decline in a tropical montane cloud forest of the Sierra de las Minas Guatemala. pp. 292-299. ISSN 0128-1283

This study examined annualized diameter growth rates of 100 cloud forest trees over 5 years in an experimental plot within an upper montane cloud forest near the summit of Montaa de Miranda (2550 m above sea level) in the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve Guatemala. An experimental plot with an area of 0.24 ha was established in December 1996 and 433 trees with a diameter at breast height (dbh) 5 cm were marked with an aluminum tag for identification within the experimental plot. The marked vegetation was relocated and the dbh of 100 trees was remeasured 5 years later in August 2002. The mean dbh of the 100 trees increased by 9.2 from 11.4 to 12.5 cm representing a mean annualized diameter growth rate of 2 mm year-1. Twenty-five trees had a greater dbh in 1996 than 2002 of which 19 decreased in dbh by 0.5 cm. The dbh of four trees remained unchanged between 1996 and 2002. Comparisons with other neotropical upper montane forests indicate that the cloud forest of the Sierra de las Minas has a larger annualized diameter growth rate.

Full text available from: Official URL: http://www.frim.gov.my/v1/JTFSOnline/jtfs/v20n4/29...

Abstract

This study examined annualized diameter growth rates of 100 cloud forest trees over 5 years in an experimental plot within an upper montane cloud forest near the summit of Montaa de Miranda (2550 m above sea level) in the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve Guatemala. An experimental plot with an area of 0.24 ha was established in December 1996 and 433 trees with a diameter at breast height (dbh) 5 cm were marked with an aluminum tag for identification within the experimental plot. The marked vegetation was relocated and the dbh of 100 trees was remeasured 5 years later in August 2002. The mean dbh of the 100 trees increased by 9.2 from 11.4 to 12.5 cm representing a mean annualized diameter growth rate of 2 mm year-1. Twenty-five trees had a greater dbh in 1996 than 2002 of which 19 decreased in dbh by 0.5 cm. The dbh of four trees remained unchanged between 1996 and 2002. Comparisons with other neotropical upper montane forests indicate that the cloud forest of the Sierra de las Minas has a larger annualized diameter growth rate.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Diameter increment
AGROVOC Term:	Forest trees
AGROVOC Term:	Growth rate
AGROVOC Term:	Shrinkage
AGROVOC Term:	Logging
AGROVOC Term:	Vegetation
AGROVOC Term:	Tree trunks
AGROVOC Term:	Soil moisture
AGROVOC Term:	Epiphytes
AGROVOC Term:	Spatial distribution
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 06:27
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/21741

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