Natural Regeneration of Puerto Rican Tropical Dry Forest Sites with Limited Burn History, Guánica Forest, 2012

This dataset documents the natural regeneration of tropical dry forest sites with limited burn history in Guánica Forest, Puerto Rico, following fire disturbance. Featuring a 29-year chronosequence, the dataset encompasses both short-term (2–5 months) and long-term (2–29 years) recovery, alongside mature forest control sites (including forest sites containing native grass). Data collection was conducted between May and August 2012 and focuses on woody tree species only. The dataset includes tree census data from seven sites (chrono_census.csv), recording species identity, stem diameter, aboveground biomass destruction, and resprouting dynamics. Additional data include species mean trait values, such as relative bark thickness and specific leaf area, to examine relationships with post-fire resprouting (chrono_traits.csv), and a species abundance matrix for evaluating community composition shifts over time (chrono_ndmsmatrix.csv). Field data were collected from circular 100 m² plots randomly placed at each site, with all woody plants tagged and identified. Stem diameters (≥1 cm) were measured at breast height (DBH) or ground height (DGH) in new-burn sites. Tree mortality was assessed, and aboveground biomass loss (0–100%) was estimated in new-burn sites. Resprouting was also quantified in short-term regeneration sites in mid-August 2012. In long-term sites, tree height was measured for the five tallest individuals. The dataset is relevant for researchers investigating tropical dry forest dynamics, fire ecology, and regeneration processes in Caribbean forest ecosystems. The dataset is complete and not ongoing.