Soil and vegetation recovery on abandoned paved roads in a humid tropical rain forest, Puerto Rico

I examined soil and vegetation characteristics on a 60 yr chronosequence of abandoned paved roads in Puerto Rico. Rapid recovery obscured successional changes in soil regeneration. Littermass, bulk density, soil moisture, soil organic matter, and total Kjeldahl nitrogen reached forest levels within 11 yr of road abandonment despite residual pavement. Road soil pH showed a clear successional trend, and approached the more acidic forest soils within 60 yr. Pool sizes were similar to the forest by ≥30 yr; Road revegetation displayed strong successional trends across the chronosequence. Vegetation on roads abandoned for ≥30 yr reached a mature forest state for stem count, species richness, canopy height, and canopy cover characteristics. Basal area, understory cover, and diversity measures reached adjacent forest levels within 60 yr. Species composition remained disparate between road and forest. Adjacent forest conditions were the most significant in determining both soil and vegetation recovery trajectories.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biological Science

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Year

2000

Author dc:creator

• Heyne, Catherine M

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lawrence R. Walker

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/rtds/1146

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oasis.library.unlv.edu:rtds-2145