Plant Responses to Disturbance and Drought in a Mexican Tropical Deciduous Forest
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
Ellensburg
Event Website
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source
Start Date
18-5-2020
Abstract
Tropical deciduous forests show strong seasonality in rainfall with a pronounced dry season extending 6 to 8 months; they are also among earth’s most endangered terrestrial ecosystems. This study took place in a tropical deciduous forest of coastal Jalisco, Mexico within Estación de Biología Chamela (EBCh). In October 2015, our study site was struck by Patricia, a category 5 hurricane which drastically altered the structure of the forest. I investigated the potential effects of this disturbance to epiphytes in the genus Tillandsia, both inside and outside the forest. I compared photosynthetic activity of Tillandsia rothii and T. intermedia between open, edge habitats (like those created from the disturbance of the hurricane) and more closed, forested habitats. I also explored how several common tree species respond to the strong seasonal drought in the forest. I worked with researchers from EBCh to measure growth rates under normal (control) and drought conditions in six different tree species trees found in the tropical deciduous forest. For epiphytes, I found no significant differences in photosynthetic rates between forest and edge habitats. We might expect different results in areas with greater human disturbance. Tropical dry forest trees showed considerable variation in their response to drought. Cedro (Cedrela odorata) and Kapok (Ceiba pentandra) had the most notable drop in growth rates under the drought treatment. Ficus sp. and Guaiacum coulteri showed relatively little response. Trees that were more strongly affected by drought were those which seemed to thrive better in areas with a nearby water source.
Recommended Citation
Barbosa, Carla, "Plant Responses to Disturbance and Drought in a Mexican Tropical Deciduous Forest" (2020). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 9.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2020/COTS/9
Department/Program
Biological Sciences
Additional Mentoring Department
https://cwu.studentopportunitycenter.com/2020/04/plant-responses-to-disturbance-and-drought-in-a-mexican-tropical-deciduous-forest/
Plant Responses to Disturbance and Drought in a Mexican Tropical Deciduous Forest
Ellensburg
Tropical deciduous forests show strong seasonality in rainfall with a pronounced dry season extending 6 to 8 months; they are also among earth’s most endangered terrestrial ecosystems. This study took place in a tropical deciduous forest of coastal Jalisco, Mexico within Estación de Biología Chamela (EBCh). In October 2015, our study site was struck by Patricia, a category 5 hurricane which drastically altered the structure of the forest. I investigated the potential effects of this disturbance to epiphytes in the genus Tillandsia, both inside and outside the forest. I compared photosynthetic activity of Tillandsia rothii and T. intermedia between open, edge habitats (like those created from the disturbance of the hurricane) and more closed, forested habitats. I also explored how several common tree species respond to the strong seasonal drought in the forest. I worked with researchers from EBCh to measure growth rates under normal (control) and drought conditions in six different tree species trees found in the tropical deciduous forest. For epiphytes, I found no significant differences in photosynthetic rates between forest and edge habitats. We might expect different results in areas with greater human disturbance. Tropical dry forest trees showed considerable variation in their response to drought. Cedro (Cedrela odorata) and Kapok (Ceiba pentandra) had the most notable drop in growth rates under the drought treatment. Ficus sp. and Guaiacum coulteri showed relatively little response. Trees that were more strongly affected by drought were those which seemed to thrive better in areas with a nearby water source.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2020/COTS/9
Faculty Mentor(s)
Daniel Beck