Elevation Regimes Modulated the Responses of Canopy Structure of Coastal Mangrove Forests to Hurricane Damage

Mangrove forests have unique ecosystem functions and services, yet the coastal mangroves in tropics are often disturbed by tropical cyclones. Hurricane Maria swept Puerto Rico nearby Caribbean islands September 2017 caused tremendous damage to mangrove systems. Understanding vulnerability resistance of disturbances is pivotal for future restoration conservation. In this study, we used LiDAR point clouds derive canopy height five major forests, including true associates, along coast before after hurricanes, which allowed us detect spatial variations reduction. We then spatially regressed pre-hurricane reduction on biophysical factors such as elevation, distance rivers/canals within nearby, coast, tree density, unevenness. The analyses resulted following findings. increased with elevation when was low moderate but decreased high. quadratically height, four sites dominated mangroves. site Palma del Mar Pterocarpus, a associate, experienced strongest wind, elevation. only mean 0.36–0.39 m. addition hurricane winds, rainfall during hurricanes an important factor causing inundating aerial roots. summary, structures, physical environment, external forces brought interplayed affect hurricanes.