Environmental gradients affect forest structure in Puerto Rico's Luquillo Mountains

Forest structure and species richness vary along environmental gradients in the colorado forest of Puerto Rico's Luquillo Mountains. Rainfall and temperature vary with aspect and elevation resulting in wetter conditions to the windward than to the leeward. A covariance model shelved that: stem density increases significantly with elevation to the windward but not to the leeward; tree height decreases significantly with elevation on both windward and leeward exposures; total aboveground woody biomass decreases significantly with elevation on ridges to the windward; and organic matter increases significantly with elevation to the leeward. ANOVAs disclosed interactions between aspect and topography for species diversity and biomass. Species-area curves shots the greatest number of species on ridges and the fewest in ravines.