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Hawaiian tropical rainforests

April 12, 2024

The Hawaiian tropical rainforests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in the Hawaiian Islands. They cover an area of 6,700 km2 (2,600 sq mi) in the windward lowlands and montane regions of the islands.[1] Coastal mesic forests are found at elevations from sea level to 300 m (980 ft).[2] Mixed mesic forests occur at elevations of 750 to 1,250 m (2,460 to 4,100 ft), while wet forests are found from 1,250 to 1,700 m (4,100 to 5,580 ft). Moist bogs and shrublands exist on montane plateaus and depressions.[1] For the 28 million years of existence of the Hawaiian Islands, they have been isolated from the rest of the world by vast stretches of the Pacific Ocean, and this isolation has resulted in the evolution of an incredible diversity of endemic species, including fungi, mosses, snails, birds, and other wildlife. In the lush, moist forests high in the mountains, trees are draped with vines, orchids, ferns, and mosses.[3] This ecoregion includes one of the world's wettest places, the slopes of Mount Waiʻaleʻale, which average 373 in (9,500 mm) of rainfall per year.[4]20°N 157°W / 20°N 157°W / 20; -157

Hawaiian tropical rainforests
Ecology
RealmOceanian
BiomeTropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Borders
Geography
Area6,700 km2 (2,600 sq mi)
CountryUnited States
StateHawaii
Climate typeTropical rainforest (Af)
Conservation
Conservation statusCritical/Endangered[1]
Global 200Yes[5]


Coastal mesic forests edit

Coastal mesic forests are found on the windward slopes of the major islands from sea level to 300 m (980 ft). These forests have been dominated by the native hala (Pandanus tectorius) and hau (Hibiscus tiliaceus) and naturalized (Polynesian introductions) kukui (Aleurites moluccana) and milo (Thespesia populnea) for the past 1,000–2,000 years. The Polynesian-introduced noni (Morinda citrifolia), pia (Tacca leontopetaloides), and kī (Cordyline fruticosa) are also common in this zone. Other native species include pololei (Ophioglossum concinnum),[2] ʻākia (Wikstroemia spp.), loulu fan palms (Pritchardia spp.), ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), and lama (Diospyros sandwicensis).[6]

Mixed mesic forests edit

Mixed mesic forests, at 750 to 1,250 m (2,460 to 4,100 ft) on the windward slopes of the large islands in addition to the summit of Mount Lānaʻihale on Lānaʻi, receive 1,000 to 2,500 mm (39 to 98 in) of rainfall annually and thus may not be true rainforests. The forest canopy, dominated by koa (Acacia koa) and ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), is somewhat open, but tree density is rather high.[7] Other trees and shrubs include pāpala (Charpentiera obovata), olopua (Nestegis sandwicensis), hame (Antidesma platyphyllum), mēhame (A. pulvinatum), kōpiko (Psychotria mariniana), ʻōpiko (P. mauiensis), ʻiliahi (Santalum freycinetianum), hōlei (Ochrosia spp.), poʻolā (Claoxylon sandwicense), kōlea lau nui (Myrsine lessertiana), kauila (Alphitonia ponderosa), nioi (Eugenia reinwardtiana), aʻiaʻi (Streblus pendulinus), and hōʻawa (Pittosporum spp.).[8]

Wet forests edit

Wet forests generally occur from 1,250 to 1,700 m (4,100 to 5,580 ft),[1] but may be as low as 200 m (660 ft). They receive 3,000 to 11,250 mm (118 to 443 in) of rain per year.[7] ʻŌhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) is the dominant canopy species in wet forests, but koa (Acacia koa) is also very common. Other trees include kāwaʻu (Ilex anomala), ʻalani (Melicope clusiifolia), ʻōhiʻa ha (Syzygium sandwicensis), kōlea lau nui (Myrsine lessertiana), ʻohe (Tetraplasandra spp.), and olomea (Perrottetia sandwicensis) as well as hāpuʻu (Cibotium tree ferns). ʻApeʻape (Gunnera petaloidea), ʻoha wai (Clermontia spp.), hāhā (Cyanea spp.), kāmakahala (Labordia hirtella), kanawao (Broussaisia arguta), Phyllostegia spp., ʻākala (Rubus hawaiensis), kāmanamana (Adenostemma lavenia), Pilea peploides, māmaki (Pipturus albidus), olonā (Touchardia latifolia), and ʻalaʻala wai nui (Peperomia spp.) are common understory plants. Vines include maile (Alyxia oliviformis) and hoi kuahiwi (Smilax melastomifolia). ʻIeʻi.e. (Freycinetia arborea), puaʻakuhinia (Astelia menziesiana) and ʻōlapa (Cheirodendron trigynum) are epiphytic flowering plants found in wet forests. Epiphytic ferns, such as Adenophorus spp., ohiaku (Hymenophyllum recurvum), Ophioglossum pendulum, ʻākaha (Asplenium nidus), ʻēkaha (Elaphoglossum hirtum), and makue lau lii (Grammitis hookeri), cover trees. Epyphytic mosses include Acroporium fuscoflavum, Rhizogonium spiniforme, and Macromitrium owahiense.[8] Loulu fan palms (Pritchardia spp.) may tower over the forest canopy.[9]

Bogs edit

Bogs are found in montane regions where rainfall exceeds drainage. Dominant vegetation in bogs are shrubs, sedges, and grasses. Larger shrubs and small trees grow on bog perimeters or on raised hummocks. Carex spp., Oreobolus furcatus, and Rhynchospora rugosa are common sedges, shrubs include ʻōhelo kau laʻau (Vaccinium calycinum) and ʻōhelo (V. dentatum), while grasses are represented by Dichanthelium spp. and Deschampsia nubigena.[8] Dwarf varieties of ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha vars. incana and glabriofolia) are the most seen trees on the edges of bogs.[10] The ferns wāwaeʻiole (Lycopodiella cernua), ʻamaʻu (Sadleria spp.),[8] and uluhe (Dicranopteris linearis) grow in bogs.[10] Rare plants include liliwai (Acaena exigua), naʻenaʻe (Dubautia spp.), and Argyroxiphium spp.[8]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Hawaii tropical moist forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2011-11-19.
  2. ^ a b Kay, E. Alison (1995). A Natural History of the Hawaiian Islands: Selected Readings II. University of Hawaii Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-0-8248-1659-9.
  3. ^ World Wildlife Fund, ed. (2001). . WildWorld Ecoregion Profile. National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
  4. ^ "MT WAIALEALE 1047, HAWAII (516565)". WRCC. NOAA. 1 August 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  5. ^ Olson, David M.; Eric Dinerstein (2002). "The Global 200: Priority Ecoregions for Global Conservation" (PDF). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 89 (2): 199–224. doi:10.2307/3298564. JSTOR 3298564.
  6. ^ Cuddihy, L. W.; C. P. Stone (1990). (PDF). Alteration of native Hawaiian vegetation-Effects of humans, their activities and introductions. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-09-19.
  7. ^ a b Ziegler, Alan C. (2002). Hawaiian Natural History, Ecology, and Evolution. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 175–176. ISBN 978-0-8248-2190-6.
  8. ^ a b c d e Sohmer, S. H.; R. Gustafson (1987). Plants and Flowers of Hawaiʻi. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 45–52. ISBN 978-0-8248-1096-2.
  9. ^ Welsbacher, Anne (2003). Life in a Rain Forest. Twenty-First Century Books. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-8225-4685-6.
  10. ^ a b Barbour, Michael G.; William Dwight Billings (2000). North American Terrestrial Vegetation (2 ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 670. ISBN 978-0-521-55986-7.

External links edit

  • Bioimages.vanderbilt.edu: Hawaii Tropical Moist Forests Ecoregion image gallery
  • Bioimages.vanderbilt.edu: slow modem version

April 12, 2024
hawaiian, tropical, rainforests, tropical, moist, broadleaf, forest, ecoregion, hawaiian, islands, they, cover, area, windward, lowlands, montane, regions, islands, coastal, mesic, forests, found, elevations, from, level, mixed, mesic, forests, occur, elevatio. The Hawaiian tropical rainforests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in the Hawaiian Islands They cover an area of 6 700 km2 2 600 sq mi in the windward lowlands and montane regions of the islands 1 Coastal mesic forests are found at elevations from sea level to 300 m 980 ft 2 Mixed mesic forests occur at elevations of 750 to 1 250 m 2 460 to 4 100 ft while wet forests are found from 1 250 to 1 700 m 4 100 to 5 580 ft Moist bogs and shrublands exist on montane plateaus and depressions 1 For the 28 million years of existence of the Hawaiian Islands they have been isolated from the rest of the world by vast stretches of the Pacific Ocean and this isolation has resulted in the evolution of an incredible diversity of endemic species including fungi mosses snails birds and other wildlife In the lush moist forests high in the mountains trees are draped with vines orchids ferns and mosses 3 This ecoregion includes one of the world s wettest places the slopes of Mount Waiʻaleʻale which average 373 in 9 500 mm of rainfall per year 4 20 N 157 W 20 N 157 W 20 157 Hawaiian tropical rainforestsKauaʻi s Alakaʻi Wilderness PreserveEcologyRealmOceanianBiomeTropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forestsBordersHawaiian tropical dry forestsHawaiian tropical high shrublandsGeographyArea6 700 km2 2 600 sq mi CountryUnited StatesStateHawaiiClimate typeTropical rainforest Af ConservationConservation statusCritical Endangered 1 Global 200Yes 5 Contents 1 Coastal mesic forests 2 Mixed mesic forests 3 Wet forests 4 Bogs 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksCoastal mesic forests editCoastal mesic forests are found on the windward slopes of the major islands from sea level to 300 m 980 ft These forests have been dominated by the native hala Pandanus tectorius and hau Hibiscus tiliaceus and naturalized Polynesian introductions kukui Aleurites moluccana and milo Thespesia populnea for the past 1 000 2 000 years The Polynesian introduced noni Morinda citrifolia pia Tacca leontopetaloides and ki Cordyline fruticosa are also common in this zone Other native species include pololei Ophioglossum concinnum 2 ʻakia Wikstroemia spp loulu fan palms Pritchardia spp ʻōhiʻa lehua Metrosideros polymorpha and lama Diospyros sandwicensis 6 Mixed mesic forests editMixed mesic forests at 750 to 1 250 m 2 460 to 4 100 ft on the windward slopes of the large islands in addition to the summit of Mount Lanaʻihale on Lanaʻi receive 1 000 to 2 500 mm 39 to 98 in of rainfall annually and thus may not be true rainforests The forest canopy dominated by koa Acacia koa and ʻōhiʻa lehua Metrosideros polymorpha is somewhat open but tree density is rather high 7 Other trees and shrubs include papala Charpentiera obovata olopua Nestegis sandwicensis hame Antidesma platyphyllum mehame A pulvinatum kōpiko Psychotria mariniana ʻōpiko P mauiensis ʻiliahi Santalum freycinetianum hōlei Ochrosia spp poʻola Claoxylon sandwicense kōlea lau nui Myrsine lessertiana kauila Alphitonia ponderosa nioi Eugenia reinwardtiana aʻiaʻi Streblus pendulinus and hōʻawa Pittosporum spp 8 Wet forests editWet forests generally occur from 1 250 to 1 700 m 4 100 to 5 580 ft 1 but may be as low as 200 m 660 ft They receive 3 000 to 11 250 mm 118 to 443 in of rain per year 7 ʻŌhiʻa lehua Metrosideros polymorpha is the dominant canopy species in wet forests but koa Acacia koa is also very common Other trees include kawaʻu Ilex anomala ʻalani Melicope clusiifolia ʻōhiʻa ha Syzygium sandwicensis kōlea lau nui Myrsine lessertiana ʻohe Tetraplasandra spp and olomea Perrottetia sandwicensis as well as hapuʻu Cibotium tree ferns ʻApeʻape Gunnera petaloidea ʻoha wai Clermontia spp haha Cyanea spp kamakahala Labordia hirtella kanawao Broussaisia arguta Phyllostegia spp ʻakala Rubus hawaiensis kamanamana Adenostemma lavenia Pilea peploides mamaki Pipturus albidus olona Touchardia latifolia and ʻalaʻala wai nui Peperomia spp are common understory plants Vines include maile Alyxia oliviformis and hoi kuahiwi Smilax melastomifolia ʻIeʻi e Freycinetia arborea puaʻakuhinia Astelia menziesiana and ʻōlapa Cheirodendron trigynum are epiphytic flowering plants found in wet forests Epiphytic ferns such as Adenophorus spp ohiaku Hymenophyllum recurvum Ophioglossum pendulum ʻakaha Asplenium nidus ʻekaha Elaphoglossum hirtum and makue lau lii Grammitis hookeri cover trees Epyphytic mosses include Acroporium fuscoflavum Rhizogonium spiniforme and Macromitrium owahiense 8 Loulu fan palms Pritchardia spp may tower over the forest canopy 9 Bogs editBogs are found in montane regions where rainfall exceeds drainage Dominant vegetation in bogs are shrubs sedges and grasses Larger shrubs and small trees grow on bog perimeters or on raised hummocks Carex spp Oreobolus furcatus and Rhynchospora rugosa are common sedges shrubs include ʻōhelo kau laʻau Vaccinium calycinum and ʻōhelo V dentatum while grasses are represented by Dichanthelium spp and Deschampsia nubigena 8 Dwarf varieties of ʻōhiʻa lehua Metrosideros polymorpha vars incana and glabriofolia are the most seen trees on the edges of bogs 10 The ferns wawaeʻiole Lycopodiella cernua ʻamaʻu Sadleria spp 8 and uluhe Dicranopteris linearis grow in bogs 10 Rare plants include liliwai Acaena exigua naʻenaʻe Dubautia spp and Argyroxiphium spp 8 See also editOceanian realm Big Bog Maui Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests Hawaiian tropical dry forests List of ecoregions in the United States WWF References edit a b c d Hawaii tropical moist forests Terrestrial Ecoregions World Wildlife Fund Retrieved 2011 11 19 a b Kay E Alison 1995 A Natural History of the Hawaiian Islands Selected Readings II University of Hawaii Press p 147 ISBN 978 0 8248 1659 9 World Wildlife Fund ed 2001 Hawaii tropical moist forests WildWorld Ecoregion Profile National Geographic Society Archived from the original on 2010 03 08 Retrieved 2009 02 19 MT WAIALEALE 1047 HAWAII 516565 WRCC NOAA 1 August 2008 Retrieved 30 August 2018 Olson David M Eric Dinerstein 2002 The Global 200 Priority Ecoregions for Global Conservation PDF Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 89 2 199 224 doi 10 2307 3298564 JSTOR 3298564 Cuddihy L W C P Stone 1990 Chapter 7 Vegetation of the Hawaiian Islands PDF Alteration of native Hawaiian vegetation Effects of humans their activities and introductions University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa p 7 Archived from the original PDF on 2009 09 19 a b Ziegler Alan C 2002 Hawaiian Natural History Ecology and Evolution University of Hawaii Press pp 175 176 ISBN 978 0 8248 2190 6 a b c d e Sohmer S H R Gustafson 1987 Plants and Flowers of Hawaiʻi University of Hawaii Press pp 45 52 ISBN 978 0 8248 1096 2 Welsbacher Anne 2003 Life in a Rain Forest Twenty First Century Books p 29 ISBN 978 0 8225 4685 6 a b Barbour Michael G William Dwight Billings 2000 North American Terrestrial Vegetation 2 ed Cambridge University Press p 670 ISBN 978 0 521 55986 7 External links editBioimages vanderbilt edu Hawaii Tropical Moist Forests Ecoregion image galleryBioimages vanderbilt edu slow modem version dd Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hawaiian tropical rainforests amp oldid 1205230868 Wet forests, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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