Factors related to the recovery of subalpine woodland on Mauna Kea, Hawaii

Author:

Hess, Steven C., Banko, Paul C., Brenner, Gregory J., Jacobi, James D.

Title:

Factors related to the recovery of subalpine woodland on Mauna Kea, Hawaii

Periodical:

Biotropica

Year:

1999

Volume:

31

Pages:

212-219

Subject:

Subalpine forests Palila Loxioides bailleui Mamane Sophora Chrysophylla Endangered species recovery Predatory animals control

Summary:

In an effort to save an endangered bird of Hawaii that is known as the Palila, (Loxioides bailleui), this document describes a recovery plan for the Palila that calls for sustaining and expanding the Mamane (Sophora Chrysophylla), tree that the Palila rely on for survival. This endemic leguminous tree not only provides the green seeds on which the Palila feeds, it also provides the Sophora flowers, flower buds, foliage flush, and moth larvae as food, these trees also provides nesting and roosting sites for this endangered bird species. However, since its introduction to the island of Hawaii in 1793, herbivorous mammals such as the feral sheep (Ovis aries), mouflon sheep (O. musimon), feral goats (Capris hircus), feral cattle (Bos taurus), and feral horses (Equus caballus) have suppressed the regeneration of the Sophora as they reached high population densities on Mauna Kea. In addition, alien grasses such as Dactylus glomerata, Holcus lanatus, Anthoxanthum odoratum, and Poa pratensis have also suppressed the seedling and growth of this important tree. As a result, this recovery plan for the Palila calls for the sustaining and expansion of the Mamane growth in an effort to prevent further damage to this forest through the supplemental plantings of the Sophora, grass control, and continued ungulate eradication.

Label:

Botany - Mamane

URL:

http://cletus.uhh.hawaii.edu:2074/10.1111/j.1744-7429.1999.tb00133.x

Date:

June 1999

Collection:

Periodicals