Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T06:18:18.839Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Vegetation Dynamics and Slope Management on the Mountains of the Hawaiian Islands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Dieter Mueller-Dombois
Affiliation:
Professor of Botany, University of Hawaii, 949 N. Kalaheo Avenue, Kailua, Hawaii 96734, USA.

Extract

Lyon's conclusion (cf. 1919) with regard to the stand reduction dieback on the lower wet slope of Haleakala Mountain led to a forest management policy that saw importation of alien tree species as necessary for protecting Hawaiian watersheds. Unfortunately, this also led to a further demise of native vegetation.

It is possible that the low-canopy species diversity in Hawaii may increase the rate of paludification and swamp (or bog) formation, under wet climatic conditions, over that in a similar environment with a broader spectrum of successional species. However, a boggy landscape can also be a good watershed. Historic evidence comes from the sugar-cane planters on Maui—the supposed beneficiaries of the exotic tree-planting programme—who had objected to it on empirical grounds (Holt, 1983). A more recent study of a canopy dieback in the Hilo watershed showed that extensive tree mortality had no effect on the rate and quality of the water yield from this area. The forest hydrologist, R.D. Doty (1983), who investigated this relationship, attribut ed the outcome to the vigorous undergrowth which remained intact during the dieback event.

Further landscape ageing in Hawaii's shield-shaped mountains involves a process of fluviomorphic dissecting of the gentle slopes lying inland. This results first in amphitheatre-headed valleys and eventually, on the windward sides, in steep residual escarpments with numerous secondary footslopes. Wirthmann & Hüser (1987) derived details of this process from the side-by-side comparison of younger with older Hawaiian mountains. When the waterlogged surfaces of the plateau-like lower wet slopes of shield volcanoes become laterally drained, closed Metrosideros forests can become re-established. That this natural re-establishment process works in the Hawaiian mountains can be seen by going from the shield-shaped slopes of the younger, to the more dissected slopes of the older, high islands. Vigorous Metrosidews forests occur also on the older islands, but they are typically of lower stature than those on the younger mountains.

Unfortunately, most of the secondary slopes formed at the base of the steeply-cut windward mountain slopes of the older high islands have been deforested to make way for crop agriculture. Many of these lower slopes have subsequently been abandoned for economic reasons; but instead of reverting to forests, they have become invaded in many areas by alien grasses and shrubs. Particularly damaging has been the introduced pyrophytic Broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus). This grass has retained a temperate-zone phenology, whereby it undergoes partial dormancy during the winter season when rainfall increases (Sorenson, 1980). As such it has contributed to accelerated erosion in two ways: (1) by preventing recirculation of soil water in areas where excessive runoff is a problem, and (2) by attracting repeated fires and preventing succession to a forest, which would provide much-improved protection against the accelerated soil erosion (Mueller-Dombois, 1973) that is such a common feature on the lower windward slopes of the older islands.

Type
Main Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Balakrishnan, N. & Mueller-Dombois, D. (1983). Nutrient studies in relation to habitat types and canopy-dieback in the montane rain-forest ecosystem, Island of Hawaii. Pacific Science, 37(4), pp. 339–59.Google Scholar
Burton, P.J. & Mueller-Dombois, D. (1984). Response of Metrosideros polymorpha seedlings to experimental canopy opening. Ecology, 65, pp. 779–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Conant, Sheila (1981). Niche differentiation in the avian community. Pp. 291300 in Island Ecosystems: Biological Organization in Selected Hawaiian Communities (Eds Muellerdombois, D., Bridges, K.W. & Carson, H.L.). US/IBP Synthesis Series No. 15, Hutchinson-Ross Publ. Co., Stroudsburg and Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA: xx + 583 pp.Google Scholar
Doty, R.D. (1983). Stream flow in relation to Ohia forest decline on the island of Hawaii. Amer. Water Resources Assoc., Water Resources Bull., 19(2), pp. 217–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fosberg, F.R. (1948). Derivation of the flora of the Hawaiian Islands. Pp. 107–19 in Insects of Hawaii, Vol. I: Introduction (Ed. Zimmerman, E. C.). University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA: xx + 201 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Fosberg, F.R. (1961). Guide to Excursion III: Tenth Pacific Science Congress. Published jointly by the Tenth Pacific Science Congress, the University of Hawaii, and the Hawaii Botanical Gardens Foundation: 207 pp.Google Scholar
Gerrish, G. & Mueller-Dombois, D. (1980). Behavior of native and non-native plants in two tropical rain forests on Oahu, Hawaiian Islands. Phytocoenologia, 8, pp. 237–95.Google Scholar
Grosvenor, T.M., Garrett, W.E. & Garver, J.B. Jun., (1985). Earth's Dynamic Crust. National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, USA: single map.Google Scholar
Holt, R.A. (1983). The Maui forest trouble: a literature review and proposal for research. Hawaii Bot. Sci. Paper No. 42 (Honolulu), 67 pp.Google Scholar
Holt, R.A. (1988). The Maui Forest Trouble: Reassessment of an Historic Forest Dieback. M.Sc. thesis, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Jacobi, J.D., Gerrish, G., Mueller-Dombois, D. & Whiteaker, L. (1988). Stand-level dieback and Metrosidews regeneration in the montane rain-forest of Hawaii. GeoJournal, 17(2), pp. 193200.Google Scholar
Juvik, J.O. & Juvik, S.P. (1984). Mauna Kea and the myth of multiple use: endangered species and mountain management in Hawaii. Mountain Research and Development, 4(3), pp. 191202.Google Scholar
Krajina, V.J. (1963). Biogeoclimatic zones of the Hawaiian Islands. Newsletter of the Hawaiian Bot. Soc., 2, pp. 93–8.Google Scholar
Lewton-Brain, L. (1909). The Maui forest trouble. Hawaiian Planter's Record, 1, pp. 92–5.Google Scholar
Loope, L.L. & Scowcroft, P.G. (1985). Vegetation response within exclosures in Hawaii: a review. Pp. 377402 in Hawaii's Terrestrial Ecosystems: Preservation and Management (Eds Stone, C.P. & Scott, J.M.). Coop. National Parks Resources Studies Unit, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA: xxviii + 584 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Lyon, H.L. (1909). The forest disease on Maui. Hawaiian Planter's Record, 1, pp. 151–9.Google Scholar
Lyon, H.L. (1918). The forests of Hawaii. Hawaiian Planter's Record, 20, pp. 276–81.Google Scholar
Lyon, H.L. (1919). Some observations on the forest problems of Hawaii. Hawaiian Planter's Record, 21, pp. 289300.Google Scholar
Macdonald, G.A., Abbott, A.T. & Peterson, F.L. (Eds) (1983). Volcanoes in the Sea: the Geology of Hawaii. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA: [not available for checking].CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moomaw, J.S., Nakamura, N.T. & Sherman, J.D. (1959). Aluminum in some Hawaiian plants. Pacific Science, 13, pp. 335–41.Google Scholar
Mueller-Dombois, D. (1973). A non-adapted vegetation interferes with water removal in a tropical rain-forest area in Hawaii. Trop. Ecol., 14, pp. 118.Google Scholar
Mueller-Dombois, D. (1986). Perspectives for an etiology of stand-level dieback. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst., 17, pp. 221–43.Google Scholar
Mueller-Dombois, D. (1987). Natural dieback in forests. Bio-Science, 37(8), pp. 575–83.Google Scholar
Mueller-Dombois, D. (in press). Canopy dieback and ecosystem processes in the Pacific area. In Proc. XIV Intern. Bot. Congress, Verlag Koeltz.Google Scholar
Mueller-Dombois, D. & Krajina, V.J. (1968). Comparison of east-flank vegetations on Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Pp. 508–20 in Recent Advances in Tropical… Vol. II: ii + 731pp.Google Scholar
Mueller-Dombois, D. & McQueen, D.R. (Eds) (1983). Canopy dieback and dynamic processes in Pacific forests. Pacific Science, 37(4), pp. 313496.Google Scholar
Mueller-Dombois, D., Jacobi, J.D., Cooray, R.G. & Balakrishnan, N. (1980). ‘Ohi'a rain forest study: ecological investigations of the ‘ohi'a dieback problem in Hawaii. College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources, Hawaii Agric. Expt. Sta. Miscell. Public, 183, 64 pp.Google Scholar
Mueller-Dombois, D., Bridges, K.W. & Carson, H.L. (Eds) (1981). Island Ecosystems: Biological Organization in Selected Hawaiian Communities. US/IBP Synthesis Series No. 15, Hutchinson-Ross Publ. Co., Stroudsburg & Woods Hole: xx + 583 pp.Google Scholar
Papp, R.P., Kliejunas, R.T., Smith, R.S. Jun., & Scharpf, R.E. (1979). Association of Plagithmysus bilineatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and Phytophthora cinnamomi with the decline of ‘ohi'a lehua forests on the Island of Hawaii. Forest Science, 25, pp. 187–96.Google Scholar
Petteys, E.W.P., Burgan, R.E. & Nelson, R.E. (1975). Ohia forest decline: its spread and severity in Hawaii. USDA Forest Service Research Paper PSW–105, Berkeley, California, USA: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
IIIRiper, C. van (1978). The Breeding Ecology of the Amakihi (Loxops virens) and the Palila (Psittorostra bailleui) on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
IIIRiper, C. van, Scott, J.M. & Woodside, D.M. (1978). Distribution and abundance patterns of the Palila on Mauna Nea, Hawaii. The Auk, 95, pp. 518–27.Google Scholar
Scott, J.M., Mountainspring, S., IIIRiper, C. van, Keppler, C.B., Jacobi, J.D., Burr, T.A. & Giffin, J.G. (1984). Annual variation in the distribution, abundance, and habitat response of the Palila (Loxioides bailleui). The Auk, 101, pp. 647–64.Google Scholar
Scowcroft, P.E. (1983). Tree cover changes in Mamane (Sophora chrysophylla) forests grazed by sheep and cattle. Pacific Science, 37(2), pp. 109–19.Google Scholar
Smith, C.W. (1985). Impact of alien plants on Hawaii's native biota. Pp. 180250 in Hawaii's Terrestrial Ecosystems: Preservation and Management (Eds Stone, C.P. & Scott, C.P.). Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA: xxviii + 584 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Sorenson, J.C. (1980). Phenology of Andropogon virginicus in Hawaii. M.Sc. thesis, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Stemmermann, L. (1983). Ecological studies of Hawaiian Metrosideros in a successional context. Pacific Science, 37, pp. 361–73.Google Scholar
Stemmermann, L. (1986). Ecological Studies of ‘Ohi'a Varieties (Metrosideros polymorpha, Myrtaceae), the Dominants in Successional Communities of Hawaiian Rain-forests. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Stone, C.P. & Loope, L.L. (1987). Reducing negative effects of introduced animals on native biota in Hawaii: what is being done, what needs doing, and the role of national parks. Environmental Conservation, 14, pp. 245–58, 5 figs.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vitousek, P.M., Cleve, K. van, Balakrishnan, N. & Muellerdombois, D. (1983). Soil development and nitrogen turnover in montane rainforest soils on Hawaii. Biotropica, 15(4), pp. 268–74.Google Scholar
Warner, R.E. (1960). A forest dies on Mauna Kea. Pacific Discovery, 13(2), pp. 614.Google Scholar
Wentworth, C.K. & Powers, W.E. (1941). Multiple glaciation of Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., 52, pp. 1193–218.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wirthmann, A. & Hüser, K. (1987). Vulcaninseln als Modelle tropischer Reliefgenese. Geogr. Rundschau, 39(1), pp. 2231.Google Scholar
Woodcock, H.H. (1980). Hawaiian alpine lake level, rainfall trends, and spring flow. Pacific Science, 34(2), pp. 195209.Google Scholar