Successional Trends in the Coastal and Lowland Forest of Mauna Loa and Kilauea Volcanoes, Hawaii

Abstract

Three trends in forest succession are described from the coastal and lowland lava flows (<1,000 feet) of Mauna Loa and Kilauea in Hawaii. All begin on bare rock in a region of high rainfall (75 to 150 inches). One trend is in coastal forest and involves the replacement of Metrosideros polymorpha vegetation by Pandanus tectorius forest. The other trends occur inland and give rise to Metro-, sideros polymorpha and Metrosideros polymorpha/Diospyros ferrea forests with in 400 years. No consistent differences in successional trends were observed between pahoehoe and aa flows. Seasonal distribution of rainfall was considered to be important in differentiating the Metrosideros/Diospyros succession, while exposure to wind-carried salt may differentiate the Pandanus succession . There is need to protect representative areas of these forests for future study.