Len Webb Ecological Images Collection

Image No. 5-9

Disturbance -- Cyclones Old "cyclone scrub" soon after further cyclone damage Cucania, Queensland March 1956 Larger image (133K)

Dense vigorous vine growth in open-canopied spaces is conspicuous; otherwise appearance is "terminal", i.e. so-called (cyclone) "disclimax" in the old Clementsian terminology (except for possible fire intrusion if droughty period ensues).
Effects not evident soon after recent cyclone "Agnes" on already broken-canopied and depleted "cyclone scrub" on wet tropical lowland hills adjacent to sugarcane farms.
Reference:
Webb, L.J. (1958) "Cyclones as an ecological factor in tropical lowland rain forest". Australian Journal of Botany, 6: 220-228.

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