REGENERATION IN THE DENSE RAIN-FOREST OF GUADELOUPE AFTER HURRICANE HUGO

The study of natural regeneration in the tropical moist forest of the Guadeloupe after hurricane Hugo in September 1989 may explain the beha vior of most of the common species. For example, the regeneration of D acryodes excelsa and Tapura latifolia, two dominant species, has been seriously affected in the gaps due to the hurricane. When the increase of light, estimated with the hemispherical photographs technic is too important, some species as Scleria secans become dominant and, below it, Miconia mirabilis seems to have a good behavior. Certainly this ki nd of climatic disaster is the base of the natural development of thes e stands and probably explains sustained dynamics with sometimes the d ominance of a few species.