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
\nlowland lava flows (<1,000 feet) of Mauna Loa and Kilauea in Hawaii. All begin
\non bare rock in a region of high rainfall (75 to 150 inches). One trend is in
\ncoastal forest and involves the replacement of Metrosideros polymorpha vegetation
\nby Pandanus tectorius forest. The other trends occur inland and give rise to Metro-,
\nsideros polymorpha and Metrosideros polymorpha/Diospyros ferrea forests with in
\n400 years. No consistent differences in successional trends were observed between
\npahoehoe and aa flows. Seasonal distribution of rainfall was considered to be important
\nin differentiating the Metrosideros/Diospyros succession, while exposure to
\nwind-carried salt may differentiate the Pandanus succession . There is need to protect
\nrepresentative areas of these forests for future study.