DIAMETER GROWTH AND DECLINE IN A TROPICAL MONTANE CLOUD FOREST OF THE SIERRA DE LAS MINAS, GUATEMALA

This study examined annualized diameter growth rates of 100 cloud forest trees over 5½ years in an experimental plot within an upper montane cloud forest near the summit of Montaña de Miranda (2550 m above sea level) in the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala. An experimental plot with an area of 0.24 ha was established in December 1996 and 433 trees with a diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥ 5 cm were marked with an aluminum tag for identification within the experimental plot. The marked vegetation was relocated and the dbh of 100 trees was remeasured 5½ years later in August 2002. The mean dbh of the 100 trees increased by 9.2% from 11.4 to 12.5 cm representing a mean annualized diameter growth rate of 2 mm year-1. Twenty-five trees had a greater dbh in 1996 than 2002, of which 19 decreased in dbh by 0.5 cm. The dbh of four trees remained unchanged between 1996 and 2002. Comparisons with other neotropical upper montane forests indicate that the cloud forest of the Sierra de las Minas has a larger annualized diameter growth rate.