Hawaiian tropical rainforests
The Hawaiian tropical rainforests are a
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
| Hawaiian tropical rainforests | |
|---|---|
Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Oceanian |
| Biome | Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 6,700 km2 (2,600 sq mi) |
| Country | United States |
| State | Hawaii |
| Climate type | Tropical rainforest (Af) |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | Critical/Endangered[1] |
| Global 200 | Yes[5] |
Coastal mesic forests
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
Mixed
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
Wet forests generally occur from 1,250 to 1,700 m (4,100 to 5,580 ft),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
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
- Oceanian realm
- Big Bog, Maui
- Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
- Hawaiian tropical dry forests
- List of ecoregions in the United States (WWF)
References
- ^ a b c d "Hawaii tropical moist forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2011-11-19.
- ^ 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.
- JSTOR 3298564.
- University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. p. 7. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2009-09-19.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8248-2190-6.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8248-1096-2.
- ISBN 978-0-8225-4685-6.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-521-55986-7.