The impact of Hurricane David on the forests of Dominica

Abstract

The impact of Hurricane David on the forests of Dominica was measured 40 days after the hurricane struck the island on August 29, 1979, with winds averaging 92 km/h which lasted 10.2 h. Sixteen 0.1-ha plots were studied. They were located on a variety of slope and exposure conditions, representing three life zones and 11 plant associations. Measurements included tree diameter at breast height (dbh), total height, wood volume, and percent canopy closure of stand. Species and damage conditions were noted. The hurricane caused severe damage, particularly to forests on the southern half of the island. Forty-two percent of the standing timber volume in the study areas was damaged at an average intensity of 27 m3/ha. About 5.1 × I06 timber trees were damaged in an area of 246 km2. "Complex" vegetation was more resistant to hurricane damage than "simpler" vegetation. The climax Dacryodesexcelsa Vahl associations suffered the least hurricane damage, while the palm brake suffered the most damage. Only one species (Richeriagrandis Vahl) exhibited significantly higher hurricane damage. Trees in larger diameter classes tended to uproot with more frequency than smaller diameter trees, which tended to snap and break. Regrowth of seedlings and saplings was rapid on wet areas of the damaged sites. We found more species on regenerating plots than on the undisturbed forest plots. The damage caused by Hurricane David is the most extensive reported to date anywhere, and damage to vegetation by hurricanes appears to be more extensive than damage by earthquakes and landslides. Owing to their high frequencies in the Caribbean, hurricanes induce cyclic plant successions.