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.