The Hawaiian tropical rainforests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in the Hawaiian Islands. They cover an area of 6,700 km2 (2,600 sq mi) in the windward lowlands and montane regions of the islands. Coastal mesic forests are found at elevations from sea level to 300 m (980 ft). Mixed mesic forests occur at elevations of 750 to 1,250 m (2,460 to 4,100 ft), while wet forests are found from 1,250 to 1,700 m (4,100 to 5,580 ft). Moist bogs and shrublands exist on montane plateaus and depressions. For the 28 million years of existence of the Hawaiian Islands, they have been isolated from the rest of the world by vast stretches of the Pacific Ocean, and this isolation has resulted in the evolution of an incredible diversity of endemic species, including 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. This ecoregion includes one of the world's wettest places, the slopes of Mount Waiʻaleʻale, which average 460 in (12,000 mm) of rainfall per year.
Coastal mesic forests
Coastal mesic forests are found on the windward slopes of the major islands from sea level to 300 m (980 ft). These forests have been dominated by the native hala (Pandanus tectorius) and hau (Hibiscus tiliaceus) and naturalized (Polynesian introductions) kukui (Aleurites moluccana) and milo (Thespesia populnea) for the past 1,000â€"2,000 years. The Polynesian-introduced noni (Morinda citrifolia), pia (Tacca leontopetaloides), and kÄ« (Cordyline fruticosa) are also common in this zone. Other native species include pololei (Ophioglossum concinnum), Ê»Äkia (Wikstroemia spp.), loulu fan palms (Pritchardia spp.), Ê»ÅhiÊ»a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), and lama (Diospyros sandwicensis).
Mixed mesic forests
Mixed mesic forests, at 750 to 1,250 m (2,460 to 4,100 ft) on the windward slopes of the large islands in addition to the summit of Mount LÄnaÊ»ihale on LÄnaÊ»i, receive 1,000 to 2,500 mm (39 to 98 in) of rainfall annually and thus may not be true rainforests. The forest canopy, dominated by koa (Acacia koa) and Ê»ÅhiÊ»a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), is somewhat open, but tree density is rather high. Other trees and shrubs include pÄpala (Charpentiera obovata), olopua (Nestegis sandwicensis), hame (Antidesma platyphyllum), mÄ"hame (A. pulvinatum), kÅpiko (Psychotria mariniana), Ê»Åpiko (P. mauiensis), Ê»iliahi (Santalum freycinetianum), hÅlei (Ochrosia spp.), poÊ»olÄ (Claoxylon sandwicense), kÅlea lau nui (Myrsine lessertiana), kauila (Alphitonia ponderosa), nioi (Eugenia reinwardtiana), aÊ»iaÊ»i (Streblus pendulinus), and hÅÊ»awa (Pittosporum spp.).
Wet forests
Wet forests generally occur from 1,250 to 1,700 m (4,100 to 5,580 ft), but may be as low as 200 m (660 ft). They receive 3,000 to 11,250 mm (118 to 443 in) of rain per year. ʻŌhiÊ»a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) is the dominant canopy species in wet forests, but koa (Acacia koa) is also very common. Other trees include kÄwaÊ»u (Ilex anomala), Ê»alani (Melicope clusiifolia), Ê»ÅhiÊ»a ha (Syzygium sandwicensis), kÅlea lau nui (Myrsine lessertiana), Ê»ohe (Tetraplasandra spp.), and olomea (Perrottetia sandwicensis) as well as hÄpuÊ»u (Cibotium tree ferns). Ê»ApeÊ»ape (Gunnera petaloidea), Ê»oha wai (Clermontia spp.), hÄhÄ (Cyanea spp.), kÄmakahala (Labordia hirtella), kanawao (Broussaisia arguta), Phyllostegia spp., Ê»Äkala (Rubus hawaiensis), kÄmanamana (Adenostemma lavenia), Pilea peploides, mÄmaki (Pipturus albidus), olonÄ (Touchardia latifolia), and Ê»alaÊ»ala wai nui (Peperomia spp.) are common understory plants. Vines include maile (Alyxia oliviformis) and hoi kuahiwi (Smilax melastomifolia). Ê»IeÊ»i.e. (Freycinetia arborea), puaÊ»akuhinia (Astelia menziesiana) and Ê»Ålapa (Cheirodendron trigynum) are epiphytic flowering plants found in wet forests. Epiphytic ferns, such as Adenophorus spp., ohiaku (Hymenophyllum recurvum), Ophioglossum pendulum, Ê»Äkaha (Asplenium nidus), Ê»Ä"kaha (Elaphoglossum hirtum), and makue lau lii (Grammitis hookeri), cover trees. Epyphytic mosses include Acroporium fuscoflavum, Rhizogonium spiniforme, and Macromitrium owahiense. Loulu fan palms (Pritchardia spp.) may tower over the forest canopy.
Bogs
Bogs are found in montane regions where rainfall exceeds drainage. Dominant vegetation in bogs are shrubs, sedges, and grasses. Larger shrubs and small trees grow on bog perimeters or on raised hummocks. Carex spp., Oreobolus furcatus, and Rhynchospora rugosa are common sedges, shrubs include Ê»Åhelo kau laÊ»au (Vaccinium calycinum) and Ê»Åhelo (V. dentatum), while grasses are represented by Dichanthelium spp. and Deschampsia nubigena. Dwarf varieties of Ê»ÅhiÊ»a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha vars. incana and glabriofolia) are the most seen trees on the edges of bogs. The ferns wÄwaeÊ»iole (Lycopodiella cernua), Ê»amaÊ»u (Sadleria spp.), and uluhe (Dicranopteris linearis) grow in bogs. Rare plants include liliwai (Acaena exigua), naÊ»enaÊ»e (Dubautia spp.), and Argyroxiphium spp.
See also
- Oceania ecozone
- Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
- Hawaiian tropical dry forests
- List of ecoregions in the United States (WWF)
References
External links
- Bioimages.vanderbilt.edu: Hawaii Tropical Moist Forests Ecoregion images gallery
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- Bioimages.vanderbilt.edu: slow modem version
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