Immediate impacts of a severe tropical cyclone on the microclimate of a rain-forest canopy in north-east Australia

Tropical cyclones, which are frequent along the north-eastern Australian coast, can result in severe disturbances to rain forests in the region (Grove et al. 2000, Webb 1958). Branch breakages and tree falls result in high levels of light penetration to the forest floor, which is normally heavily sh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of tropical ecology 2004-09, Vol.20 (5), p.583-586
Main Authors: Turton, Stephen M., Siegenthaler, Danny T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biological and medical sciences
canopy disturbance
Cyclones
Ecology
Forest canopy
Forest ecology
Forest floor
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Light penetration
Microclimate
Microclimates
Montane forests
Photosynthetically active radiation
Rain
rain forest
Rainforests
Seedlings
SHORT COMMUNICATION
Short Communications
Synecology
temperature
Terrestrial ecosystems
Tropical cyclones
Tropical forests
Tropical rain forests
Understory
vapour pressure deficit
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Summary:Tropical cyclones, which are frequent along the north-eastern Australian coast, can result in severe disturbances to rain forests in the region (Grove et al. 2000, Webb 1958). Branch breakages and tree falls result in high levels of light penetration to the forest floor, which is normally heavily shaded (Turton 1992). This change in microclimate stimulates the growth of normally suppressed seedlings, the germination of seeds that are triggered by sunlight (Chazdon 1988), and often, invasion by weeds. Fragmented rain forests, that are common in the region, are particularly vulnerable to impacts of cyclones because of their large edge to forest area ratio. Appropriate management of such rain forests, following catastrophic disturbance, requires a thorough understanding of recovery processes at a number of temporal and spatial scales (Grove et al. 2000).
ISSN:0266-4674
1469-7831
DOI:10.1017/S0266467404001622