Nutrient studies in relation to habitat types and canopy dieback in the montane rain forest ecosystem, island of Hawaii

Author:

Balakrishinan, Nadarajah, Mueller-Dombois, Dieter

Title:

Nutrient studies in relation to habitat types and canopy dieback in the montane rain forest ecosystem, island of Hawaii

Periodical:

Pacific Science

Year:

1983

Volume:

37

Pages:

339-359

Subject:

Metrosideros polymorpha Canopy dieback Soils analysis

Summary:

While the widespread canopy dieback in the Hawaiian Metrosideros rain forest was first thought to be a biotic disease problem, biotic agents were later thought to be of lesser importance following intensive research. However, as attention was drawn to soil nutrients, it was then found that dying trees could be revived with NPK fertilizer, but not with the application of a fungicide. In addition, earlier in the 20th century, a Metrosideros canopy dieback on the island of Maui was also recognized as a nutrient problem rather than a biotic disease problem. This belief was then followed by several years of research that was done on the Maui dieback after which time it was concluded that native tree stands were dying because of soil toxicity that was developing with soil aging and poor drainage. As a result, the objectives of this study were to establish a nutrient data base that was associated with habitat types and to determine if soil chemistry could be considered a stress factor in predisposing stands to dieback.

Label:

Ecology - Rain Forests

URL:

http://hdl.handle.net/10125/731

Date:

1983

Collection:

Periodicals