ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
     Many people provided support to the completion of this project:
financial, technical, clerical, intellectual, inspirational, and
emotional.

     This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy
Global Change Fellowship Program.  Additional support was provided
by: National Science Foundation grants BSR-9015961 and BSR-8811902 to
the Terrestrial Ecology Division, University of Puerto Rico, and to
the International Institute of Tropical Forestry (USDA Forest
Service); the National Science Foundation Research Experience for
Undergraduates program; the State University of New York College of
Environmental Science and Forestry; USDA Forest Service; and the
University of Puerto Rico.  Services and support staff of the College
of Environmental Studies, the Terrestrial Ecology Division of the
University of Puerto Rico, and Radford University helped bring this
project to completion.

     My project could not have been completed without the established
Bisley Experimental Watersheds and the Hurricane Recovery Plot. 
These two study sites were established through the work of over 70
people.  In particular, the work and support of Rafael DeLeon,
Michelle Pagan, Clarke Atwell, Sylvia Moestl, Samwell Matta, John
Bithorn, Maria Aponte and Sandra Guzm n-Grajales, allowed me to
capitalize on the wealth of data collected after Hurricane Hugo. 
Aleyo Estrada-Pinto provided on-going guidance in plant
identification.  For the collection of my own data, I was aided by
Eric VenDeGenachte, Bill Everham, Neil Pederson, Deborah Greco, Craig
Esposito, Candice Dodero, and Jerry Stafford Jr.

     The intellectual stimulation, support, and comradery of my
colleagues at the Systems Ecology Laboratory is greatly appreciated. 
My thanks are extended to Joe Cornell, Pete Rand, Gil Pontius, Ye Qi,
Will Ravenscroft, Karen Buzby, Dave Marley, and Hanqin Tian.  I fear
I will never again have that same mix of hard work, good friendship,
and the synergy of working with such a talented group of scientists.

     My dissertation committee has helped shaped my project and
helped me develop my skills as a scientist.  I have appreciated my
interactions with Nick Brokaw, Allan Drew, Lee Herrington, Dudley
Raynal, and Fred Scatena.  Nick Brokaw, both as a collaborator in the
Hurricane Recovery Project and as a member of my steering committee
has, from the start, treated me as a colleague.  His work on canopy
structure stimulated a new direction to my own work, and he was
extremely generous in sharing his data.  I look forward to many
collaborations in the future.  Allan Drew's experience in the tropics
and in Puerto Rico added much to the refinement of my project.  Our
paths in life have crossed in so many different ways; I can not wait
to see what is next. Lee Herrington provided continual intellectual
stimulation.  I always came away from our meetings together with new
insights and new questions!  Dudley Raynal encouraged me to consider
all aspects and applications of my project, and demonstrated how to
be professional.

     A number of people deserve special recognition for their support
of my project.  Fred Scatena, in addition to serving as a valuable
member of my steering committee, graciously shared the Bisley data
sets with me, in the true spirit of the collaborative efforts of the
Long-Term Ecological Research Program.  Fred knows the LEF, with both
breadth and depth, better than anyone else I know.  My interactions
with Fred never failed to deepen my understanding of the complex
interactions I was attempting to unravel.  Jess Zimmerman joined the
LEF LTER during my second year of data collection.  What a lucky
break for me, and for the project as a whole.  Jess has been, and I
am sure will continue to be, my colleague and my friend.  He has
helped me through both the intellectual and emotional development
that occurs with any dissertation.   

     Eric VanDeGenachte worked with me during my first year of data
collection.  He provided companionship, and thoughtful review of my
protocol.  Bill Everham joined me for my final six months in the
field.  My data collection could not have been completed without his
willingness to put in those long days in Bisley.  Joe Cornell and I
started our graduate programs the same week and became colleagues and
good friends.  I am happy I could share that time with Joe.  Peter
Hyde-Smith provided on-going emotional support and shared in each
stage of achievement, including joining me for my defense.

     Several people have played significant roles during my life,
that have resulted in my coming to this point today.  These people
are all teachers, although not all were, or are, employed as such.  
Mike Stafanac probably thought he was teaching me just to tie flies,
and to fish them.  He actually taught me a great deal more about how
to think about, and interact with, the natural systems around us.
Dick Boyak took some extra time with a high school freshman algebra
student to allow me my first access to computer and computer
programming.  This has had, and will continue to have, a profound
affect on my career.  Rob Shull gave me a chance to experience an
entirely new ecosystem, shared in my joy of discovery, and taught me
a tremendous amount about how to work with, rather that against,
people with different values and ideas.  Charlie Hall helped me put
all these pieces together.  As a teacher and advisor, I have learned
more from Charlie then anyone else.  I didn't always agree with him,
but I always learned from him.  It is my hope all of these mentors of
mine can share this moment of accomplishment.  Thank you all!

     My mother and father encouraged me to accept no limits to want I
can achieve.  My family, Karyn, Daniel, and Lucas, has patiently put
up with all the long days and nights in front of the computer.  Thank
you for that patience and your support.  
 
     I dedicate this thesis to my father and my grandfather.  I share
their name and I wish they had lived to share this day.

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