Tree functional attributes related to forest succession after Hurricane Felix and their implications for sustainable management of forest resources in the North Atlantic Autonomous region of Nicaragua

Betwen February and August 2011, 3.5 years after Hurricane Felix hit the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua, a study was carried out to identify the response mechanisms of tree species in forests after the Hurricane. Five functional traits, that characterize tree response to disturbance caused by the Hurricane, were measured in a deciduous forests located in Santa Clara (RAAN). Soil properties were also measured for: landscape (landscape type, slope, topography, drainage); soil morphology (colour in humid conditions, texture, rock fragments, structure, consistency) and soil chemistry (pH, acidity, Ca, Mg, K, P and C). Soil samples were collected at 30cm depth in 12 plots distributed in the study area.