Rare plants of the Mauna Loa Special Ecological Area, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Abstract

The montane and sub-alpine zones of the Mauna Loa Strip in Hawai'I Volcanoes National Park (HAVO) contain some of the most intact native vegetation found within the Park, and most of the study area has been considered a Special Ecological Area (SEA) since the mid 1980s. The Mauna Loa Strip was grazed by cattle prior to its inclusion in Hawai'i National Park. Feral goats and pigs were removed in the 1970s and 1980s, when two units of the SEA were completely fenced. The area above the upper unit, enclosed as the alpine unit in 1999, still supports an unknown number of feral goats and mouflon sheep, but feral animal removal is planned. The present survey was initiated to provide information to managers on the distribution and status of the endangered, threatened, and rare plant species of the Mauna Loa SEA. Population monitoring of selected species was conducted to determine how rare plants were responding to management practices, largely the removal and interdiction of feral animals.