9508683 Holl This project constitutes the initial phase of a long-term study of tropical moist forest recovery from human-induced disturbance. The goals of this study are to better understand factors limiting the recovery of tropical moist forest ecosystems from human disturbance and to develop practical methods for accelerating such recovery. Surveys of vegetation, soil, microclimatic variables, and seed rain of primary forest, secondary forest, and agricultural land will provide baseline data on differences between these habitats from which to measure recovery of disturbed habitats. These data will also serve to generate hypotheses about factors potentially limiting recovery that will be tested following the planning period. %%% Strategies for accelerating recovery will be tested in small-scale manipulative plots. Initial experiments will focus on accelerating recovery by augmenting seed dispersal and ameliorating stressful microclimatic conditions. Mapping of land-use types in this area will provide a database for development of further studies of forest recovery. Jointly, these activities will serve as the basis for developing a large-scale research project of tropical moist forest restoration. ***
