The impact and spread of Rubus ellipticus in 'Ola'a Forest Tract Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

Date
1996-12
Authors
Stratton, Lisa
Contributor
Advisor
Department
Instructor
Depositor
Speaker
Researcher
Consultant
Interviewer
Annotator
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Botany
Volume
Number/Issue
Starting Page
Ending Page
Alternative Title
Abstract
Rubus ellipticus (Rosaceae), is a large thorny shrub that has demonstrated the capability of establishing itself in the canopy of tree-fern dominated rain forest areas as well as in open pastures, old sugar cane fields and drier areas of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Introduced to the Volcano Agricultural Experiment Station in 1961, it has since spread to adjacent areas on the island of Hawaii as well as to areas over 120 km from the Station. This study focused on quantifying the impact on the native vegetation as well as the rate of spread within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park's 'Ola'a Large Tract. Total cover of R. ellipticus per transect doubled over 5 years from a transect average of 6% to 13%. Impact on vegetation cover was assessed by comparing understory vegetation beneath R. ellipticus, tree ferns and random forest locations in a stratified block design. Total understory cover was significantly lower under R. ellipticus as was species diversity. A finding that the pig-free section of the unit showed almost no increase in R. ellipticus cover suggests that pigs contribute to the expansion of this weed in Hawai'i's native montane rain forests.
Description
Reports were scanned in black and white at a resolution of 600 dots per inch and were converted to text using Adobe Paper Capture Plug-in.
Keywords
Olaa Forest Tract, Endemic plants -- Hawaii -- Hawaii Island., Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii), Invasive plants -- Hawaii -- Hawaii Island., Plant competition -- Hawaii -- Hawaii Island., Rubus -- Hawaii -- Hawaii Island.
Citation
Stratton L. 1996. The impact and spread of Rubus ellipticus in 'Ola'a Forest Tract Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Honolulu (HI): Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Botany. PCSU Technical Report, 107.
Extent
Format
Geographic Location
Time Period
Related To
Table of Contents
Rights
Rights Holder
Local Contexts
Email libraryada-l@lists.hawaii.edu if you need this content in ADA-compliant format.