Growth rates of tree height six years after hurricane damage at four localities in eastern Nicaragua

Growth rates for 44 species of trees in a posthurricane forest in Nicaragua were measured. The pattern is consistent with the interpretation of succes sion as a two stage process: an initial building phase after the hurricane followed by a thinning phase. Localities that were damaged less from the hu rricane are now entering the thinning phase of postdisturbance succession, while those subjected to the most severe damage appear to remain in the bui lding phase.