Abstract: This paper is a status assessment of Hawaiʻi's dry grasslands and shrublands, including its pre-human condition; current status, stressors, and conservation efforts; and future viability. Dry grasslands and shrublands in Hawaiʻi, including dry cliffs, generally have a hot and dry climate with relatively low annual rainfall and are characterized by being located in lowland, montane-subalpine, or alpine zones. These zones are differentiated by elevation and climate, which primarily dictate which species can exist in them (Gagne and Cuddihy, 1999). Prior to human arrival, dry grasslands and shrublands occurred on all of the main Hawaiian islands as well as Nihoa and Mokumanamana (Necker) in the Northwestern Hawaiian islands. Currently, they are still found on the same islands. However, the extent of the native species-dominated parts of this ecotype has greatly reduced in size. In addition to native sub-ecotypes, introductions of nonnative species resulted in two new sub-ecotypes referred to as introduced dry grasslands and introduced dry shrublands, which have become widespread. Our assessment of dry grassland and shrubland viability, defined as the likelihood of persistence over the long term, is based on the concepts of resiliency, redundancy, and representation. The main stressors to dry grasslands and shrublands have been identified as invasive ungulates, invasive plants, invasive herbivores, fire, drought, natural disasters, climate change, and human development. Conservation efforts help to protect and restore native areas of dry grasslands and shrublands, and largely depend upon the actions of Federal, State, private, and multi-agency partnerships. The level of these conservation efforts and their impact on stressors determines the future viability of Hawaiʻi's dry grasslands and shrublands.
Publication Year: 2019
Publication Date: 2019-09-02
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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