Estudio de la dinámica y estructura de dos bosques secundarios húmedos tropicales ubicados en la Estación Biológica La Selva, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, Heredia, Costa Rica

Abstract

This research related to vegetation dynamics, species composition, and ecosystem processes in tropical second-growth forest of Bosques project took place at La Selva Biological Station, Sarapiqui, Heredia in the northern part of Costa Rica. The objective was the analysis of the dynamics and structure of two tropical secondary rainforest of different age. I analyzed the vertical and horizontal structure of two forests. In addition, I evaluated the crown cover, the phenology, and the diametrical increase and overall height of trees greater than or equal to 10 cm dbh. My results indicated that both forests presented a typical horizontal distribution, with an inverse J – shaped curve. In addition, my results showed that the maximum number of individuals were in the middle layers of height. The average area of crowns increased in proportion with the increase in the categories of height, as well as with average size of the crowns. Greater phenological activity (flowering and fruition) occurred in the middle height categories and in the diametrical low categories. Both sites showed good increases in diameter in comparison with other sites in northern Costa Rica, where the majority of increases were registered in the average diametrical categories. The increases in height were primarily seen in the trees in approval advanced categories of height. My principal conclusion was that these forest presented the same dynamics and structure of secondary forest that have been studied in other parts of the humid tropics, that influenced in the horizontal and vertical composition of these forest. I recommend that future research include similar studies in other forest that can be used to improve the management of these forests.