Testing the insulatory properties of Ulex europaeus as a means of protecting Acacia koa from frost damage in Humuula, Hawaii
| dc.contributor.advisor | Idol, Travis | |
| dc.contributor.author | Wehrman, Aaron CK | |
| dc.contributor.department | Natural Resources and Environmental Management | |
| dc.contributor.instructor | Idol, Travis | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-05-13T18:52:53Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-05-13T18:52:53Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2023-05-03 | |
| dc.description.course | Master’s in Environmental Management (MEM) Capstone Proposals | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10125/108106 | |
| dc.publisher.place | UH Mānoa | |
| dc.subject | Invasive species | |
| dc.subject | Native reforestation | |
| dc.subject | seedling survival | |
| dc.subject | climate | |
| dc.subject | Mauna Kea | |
| dc.subject | biocultural restoration | |
| dc.title | Testing the insulatory properties of Ulex europaeus as a means of protecting Acacia koa from frost damage in Humuula, Hawaii | |
| dc.type | Text | |
| dcterms.abstract | The Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) is currently working to increase biodiversity and productivity on Mauna Kea (DHHL, 2009). On the Windward slopes, in a place known as Humuula, the land has been dominated by Ulex europaeus (gorse), an invasive-thorny shrub capable of surviving sub-freezing temperatures. The DHHL is working towards increasing the Acacia koa (Koa) population in these gorse-covered areas on the land that they manage (DHHL, 2009). They are doing this by planting koa in rows, bulldozed into the gorse. A possible concern in this reforestation project is the susceptibility of koa to frost damage (Rose et al., 2020). The objective of this study is to record the temperatures inside of the rows of gorse to see if frost damage will be a concern and to compare these temperatures to previous studies which used conifers to increase temperatures.For the initial planting, five meter wide rows were bulldozed into the gorse field and koa was planted in the middle. In order to test the temperatures, 5 temperature sensors were set up in 4 different rows. Temperature readings will be taken every minute between December-March 2023 & 2024. This data will be extrapolated and turned into figures which clearly show minutes spent below freezing and absolute minimum temperature. I hypothesize that the gorse will provide similar temperatures to the conifers as its high density and height should protect the seedlings from wind and prevent some radiative cooling. Should this be the case, it will show that the risk for frost damage is minimal. If not, then further precautions will need to be taken to prevent frost damage. | |
| dcterms.description | Presentation slideshow and written proposal | |
| dcterms.extent | 11 pages | |
| dcterms.language | English | |
| dcterms.publisher | UH Mānoa | |
| dcterms.rights | In Copyright | |
| dcterms.rightsHolder | Wehrman, Aaron |