SUCCESSION DYNAMICS IN A MARITIME FOREST FOLLOWING HURRICANE HUGO ANDFUEL REDUCTION BURNS

In 1989, Hurricane Hugo devastated the maritime forest communities on Bull Island, SC, where a system of permanent plots was established. Th is catastrophic disturbance and subsequent fires provided an opportuni ty to study secondary succession following interacting disturbances. T his study quantifies the effects of the disturbances on woody vegetati on and investigates potential long-term community change using TWINSPA N. Overstory live oak (Quercus virginiana Miller) remained relatively intact, whereas old-growth loblolly pines (Pinus taeda L.) and stands of the exotic tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum (L.) Roxb.) were destroyed . Aggressive recruitment by S. sebiferum, unfavorable conditions for l oblolly growth, and broad changes in sapling community composition ind icate that successional trajectories in some sites may have been chang ed by severe disturbances. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.