Avian response to mechanical clearing of a native rainforest in Hawaii

Author:

Sakai, Howard F.

Title:

Avian response to mechanical clearing of a native rainforest in Hawaii

Periodical:

Condor

Year:

1988

Volume:

90

Pages:

339-348

Subject:

Japanese White-eye Keauhou Ranch Endangered species Species diversity Birds counting Koa Forests and forestry Hawaii Island

Summary:

While the logging of a rainforest consistently affects forest birds, the extent is not well documented. However, based on a study that compared bird populations in logged and unlogged rainforests in New South Wales, Australia, it was found that if logged areas are allowed to revert to mature rainforests, that bird species composition and abundance eventually come to resemble intact areas. Since the arrival of man, many Hawaiian native birds have declined and become extinct due to numerous causes -- one of which is deforestation. However, it is speculated that the general succession pattern would resemble results found in other rainforests, such as in those of New South Wales, if the Hawaiian rainforests were allowed to revert to mature forests. As a result, this study was undertaken at the 1720 m elevation of Keauhou Ranch which is approximately 16 km north of Kilauea Volcano on the island of Hawaii. It was done in an effort to determine the effects of large-scale mechanical clearing of high elevation, montaine rainforest ecosystem on bird species richness and abundance.

Label:

Birds - General

URL:

https://sora.unm.edu/node/103961

Collection:

Periodicals