Hurricanes are common events in the Caribbean and have a high impact on ecosystems. In a forest ecosystem, hurricanes can cause defoliation of the canopy which in turn increases light gaps causing an increase in temperature. These events have consequences on the biological processes in the understory such as changes in decomposition rates, changes in leaf litter communities and an increase in seedling growth. Hurricanes Irma and María impacted Puerto Rico in September 2017 causing damages to the forest structure in all areas of Puerto Rico. The purpose of this student led ongoing study is to monitor the changes in temperature caused by the hurricanes Irma and María on the forest patch called “El Bosquecito” located at the University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón. The study is based on measuring temperature, with a handheld temperature meter, every three meters, along a 72 m transept that crosses the forest patch. Data was collected in September 2017 before and after hurricane Irma and later after hurricane María in November and December 2017 and February 2018. For all sampling events, measurements were taken at the same time of day.
Results/Conclusions
A significant increase in forest temperature was found. An increase in temperature was observed after hurricane Irma and even more after hurricane María passed through the Island. Before the hurricanes, an average temperature of 27.2º ± 0.51ºC was measured, after the hurricanes, in October 2017, a mean temperature of 32.2º ± 1.0ºC was measured. It is not until two months later, that the forest seems to start a recovery in the temperatures. The average temperature in December 2017 was 28.6º ± 1.10ºC. In conclusion, we can observe a change in the temperature of the forest caused by the hurricanes and a process of recovery. However, observations should be continued as temperatures have not come back to before hurricanes levels.