LITTER DYNAMICS ALONG STREAM, RIPARIAN AND UPSLOPE AREAS FOLLOWING HURRICANE HUGO, LUQUILLO EXPERIMENTAL FOREST, PUERTO-RICO

Litterfall (fine and coarse) due to Hurricane Hugo and subsequent fine annual litterfall inputs (1, 2 and 5 yr after Hugo) were determined f or two sites (El Verde and Bisley) in the Luquillo Experimental Forest in Puerto Rico. Litter transfers into streams, riparian and upslope a reas were determined within each catchment. The recovery rate of above ground fine litterfall (leaf, line wood <1 cm diameter, and other misc ellaneous inputs) to predisturbance levels were determined 1, 2, and 5 yr after Hurricane Hugo. The amount of total litter transfers and the ir individual components into the riparian and upslope areas due to Hu rricane Hugo varied significantly by catchments within the Luquillo Ex perimental Forest. Ar El Verde, 26-39 percent, 31-35 percent, 14-35 pe rcent and 7-12 percent of the coral litter transfers were contributed by leaf litter, tine wood, coarse wood and fine roots, respectively. A r Bisley, 28-31 percent, 26-29 percent, 33-35 percent and 8-10 percent of the litter transfers were contributed by the same categories. Diff erential decay rates contributed to the relative importance of fine an d coarse litter inputs. The recovery of fine aboveground litterfall to pre-hurricane levels after 5 yr varied by topographic location (strea ms had the slowest recovery, upslope areas the highest) and catchment (El Verde: 55-77%; Bisley: 39-82% of pre-hurricane values).