Plant Species Cover and Abundance for the 2001 Vegetation Survey of the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Island of Hawaii
Dates
Publication Date
2001-01-15
Time Period
2001-01-15
Start Date
2001-03-19
End Date
2001-04-24
Citation
James D. Jacobi, U.S. Geological Survey, 2001-01-15, Plant Species Cover and Abundance for the 2001 Vegetation Survey of the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Island of Hawaii: U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center.
Summary
This report describes the design, field methodology, and first year results of a vegetation survey and long-term monitoring program to assess the status and document changes in the dominant native plant communities relative to alien species management efforts within the Kipuka Alala section of the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) on the island of Hawai`i. Kipuka Alala is recognized by the Army to be an important habitat that contains a number of unique plant communities as well as populations of several listed or rare plant species. Additionally, Kipuka Alala has been identified as a potential site for the reintroduction of the Palila (Loxioides bailleui), an endangered species of Hawaiian Honeycreeper bird that was known to use this [...]
Summary
This report describes the design, field methodology, and first year results of a vegetation survey and long-term monitoring program to assess the status and document changes in the dominant native plant communities relative to alien species management efforts within the Kipuka Alala section of the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) on the island of Hawai`i. Kipuka Alala is recognized by the Army to be an important habitat that contains a number of unique plant communities as well as populations of several listed or rare plant species. Additionally, Kipuka Alala has been identified as a potential site for the reintroduction of the Palila (Loxioides bailleui), an endangered species of Hawaiian Honeycreeper bird that was known to use this area as recently as the 1950’s. Despite the large amount of damage seen in the naio-mamane communities that are found within the Kipuka Alala study area, this is still a native-dominated habitat that contains extremely important populations of both common and rare native species. The effort the Army has put into constructing the two fences in within Kipuka Alala and starting an invasive plant control program is indicative of their recognition of the significance of this habitat. However, unless the ungulates are completely removed from within the Kipuka Alala exclosures, as well as from existing and new fences constructed to protect similar habitats in other areas on PTA, the condition of the native habitats and species will continue to decline rapidly to the point where recovery will be very difficult. The highest priority actions needed to foster recovery of the habitat in Kipuka Alala back to a self-sustaining native species-dominated community are as follows: 1) Immediate and complete removal of the ungulates from within the fences in Kipuka Alala;2) Significantly reduce the distribution and cover of fountain grass within this habitat;3) Prevent the invasion of other fire promoting or extremely invasive species of plants;4)Have the capacity to quickly respond and extinguish any fires that get started in Kipuka Alala or in contiguous habitats adjacent to Kipuka Alala.5) Continue monitoring the vegetation as described in this report to help with the prioritization and refinement of management actions in the extremely important native habitats in and adjacent to Kipuka Alala.
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Purpose
This project was initiated to provide baseline vegetation information and monitoring protocols to be used in evaluating current and future habitat management actions conducted by the Army in Kipuka Alala. Three Three specific objectives were identified: 1) Conduct vegetation sampling that can be used to assess the status of the plant communities and native and alien plant species found in Kipuka Alala.2) Based on the results of the baseline survey and associated pilot studies, recommend a monitoring program with specific protocols that will be used to continue to evaluate the response of the plant communities (both native and alien species) relative to management actions conducted in this area.3) Provide data on the suitability of the habitats within Kipuka Alala to sustain a population of Palila if it were reintroduced into this area.
Baseline Vegetation Survey and Long-term Monitoring Strategy for the Kipuka Alala Section of the U.S. Army’s Pohakuloa Training Area, Island of Hawai`i
