Title:

Vegetation structure and composition of ecological succession stages and land uses in Puerto Rico

Author(s):

Crespo-Zapata, Johann D.; Maldonado-Silvestrini, Steve; García-García, Neishaly; Gould, William A.

Publication Year:

2026

How to Cite:

These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

Crespo-Zapata, Johann D.; Maldonado-Silvestrini, Steve; García-García, Neishaly; Gould, William A. 2026. Vegetation structure and composition of ecological succession stages and land uses in Puerto Rico. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2026-0024

Abstract:

Raw data on vegetation structure and composition of floristic inventories that have been conducted in Puerto Rico from 2021 to 2025. A total of 130 inventory sites had their vegetation surveyed and assessed. Inventory sites comprise several ecological succession stages or vegetation community phases and land uses across the island, encompassing mature forests, restored forests, secondary forests, mangrove swamps, shrublands, pioneer vegetation, salt flats, abandoned tillage crops, managed grasslands, abandoned grasslands, and abandoned horticulture grounds. Data include tree inventories including tree diameter and heights, canopy cover, understory vegetation percent cover, along with detailed species information.

Keywords:

biota; environment; Ecology, Ecosystems, & Environment; Inventory, Monitoring, & Analysis; Monitoring; plants; flora; species; island; ecological succession stages; land uses; Puerto Rico; Caribbean

Related publications:

• Castro-Prieto J.; Gould, William A. 2020. Final report: Provisional ecological site descriptions for the U.S. Caribbean, NRCS Agreement 67-F352-17-264. Río Piedras, PR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry. https://staff.caribbeanclimatehub.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/4/PES_NRCS_IITF_FINALREPORT_28022020.pdf
• Crespo-Zapata, Johann D.; Maldonado-Silvestrini, Steve; Gould, William A. 2021. Final Report: Vegetation Inventories for Ecological Site Descriptions in Puerto Rico, NRCS Caribbean Area Interagency Agreement NRC20IRA0010534 (20-IA-11120101-033). Río Piedras, PR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry. https://staff.caribbeanclimatehub.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/4/VIESDPR-NRCS-IITF-Final-Report-2021a-2.pdf
• Crespo-Zapata, Johann D.; Maldonado-Silvestrini, Steve; Gould, William A. 2022. Final Report: Vegetation Inventories for Ecological Site Descriptions in Puerto Rico, NRCS Caribbean Area Interagency Agreement NRC20IRA0010534 (20-IA-11120101-033). Río Piedras, PR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry. https://staff.caribbeanclimatehub.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/4/VIESDPR-NRCS-IITF-Final-Report-2022.pdf
• Crespo-Zapata, Johann D.; García-García, Neishaly; Gould, William A. 2025. Final Report: Vegetation Inventories for Ecological Site Descriptions in Puerto Rico, NRCS Caribbean Area Interagency Agreement NRC20IRA0010534 (23-IA-11132650-497). Río Piedras, PR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry. https://staff.caribbeanclimatehub.org/wp-content/uploads/formidable/4/VIESDPR-NRCS-IITF-Final-Report-2025.pdf

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