High altitude aeolian ecosystems in the Hawaiian Islands

Author:

Papp, Richard P.

Title:

High altitude aeolian ecosystems in the Hawaiian Islands

Periodical:

Proceedings, Third Conference in Natural Sciences, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Year:

1980

Pages:

p. 259-264

Subject:

Aeolian ecosystems High altitude Insects alpine climate Insects Haleakala Insects Mauna Kea Insects Mauna Loa

Summary:

Preliminary investigations on the summits of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Haleakala indicate that a substantial invertebrate fauna inhabits the barren alpine zones on the islands of Hawaii and Maui. These animals are predator-scavengers which feed on wind transported allochthonous (aeolian) insects blown up from the highly productive ecosystems at lower altitudes. Large quantities of alate aphids, psyllids, and other small-bodied insects have been collected on all three summits. The secondary consumers thus far collected include large Lycosa spiders, micropterous Nysine lygaeids, and at least one species of flightless moth. These predator-scavengers reside in barren lava and cinders, and depend almost entirely upon primary consumers transported by wind from distant ecosystems. Alpine aeolian ecosystems on Hawaii's major volcanoes may represent some of the most primitive ecosystems on the planet, as well as examples of early terrestrial life systems as they existed on the primordial continents.

URL:

https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10125/18399

Collection:

Monographs