american samoa - University of Hawaii at Manoa

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harvcyana (laupata), Morinda citrifolia (Indian mulberry, nonu), and Kleinhovia hospita (fu'afu'a). Less common, but still typical species, include 7'rema cannabina (magele) and Melochia aristata (ma'o). Vegetation dominated by any combination of these species is probably on land that was in cultivation in the last decade or two (with the exception of "disclimax" vegetation on steep slopes, discussed below). Another indicator species is Hibiscus tiliaceus (beach hibiscus, fau). This tree is one of the most adaptable species in Samoa, where it is common in disturbed lowland and littoral forest, on the margins of mangrove swamps, on talus slopes, and along streams. The tree is very useful, since its wood is widely used for firewood, artifacts (such as canoe outriggers and the sticks used for making fire by friction), and light construction. The bark is also useful for making cordage of a temporary or perma- nent nature. Hibiscus does not seem to have good dispersal ability, since the fruits and seeds are not wind- or bird-dispersed. It probably gets around by being planted (since it is so useful) or may spread slowly from adjacent areas where the trees are present. It is often found in what otherwise appears to be undisturbed ridge lowland forest. It seems to be able to persist for long periods of time, but is probably eventually shaded out when the secondary forest canopy closes. Its presence in these situations may indicate that the area was disturbed long ago for inland villages or plantations. A dense stand of this along Alava Ridge east of the TV transmitter is probably related to the presence of an ancient trail li-om Vatia village to Pago Pago Bay. The presence of Hibiscus on steep talus slopes is probably natural, since this type of "disclimax vegetation" is in a continual state of disturbance due to landslips and rock falls. Another tree with somewhat similar distribution, ecological needs, and stature as Hibiscus is Kleinhovia hospita (fu'afu'a) mentioned above. but this is less common than Hibiscus. Cocos nucifera (coconut, niu) is another good indicator tree of past disturbance. Although it is rarely found very far inland in native vegetation, its presence in significant numbers in secondary forest is an almost certain indicator of a former plantation. It is not able to compete with inland species in these habitats. It is also probably unable to naturally compete with littoral forest trees, and its presence along uninhabited coast is usually an indication that it was planted there. Other trees, such as the inland species Paraserianthes falcataria (tamalini), Flueggeaflexuosa (poumuli), and Erythrina subum- brans (dadap, gatae palagi), do not readily spread, and are indicators of more recent disturbance, since they are all of modem introduction. A number of native canopy species are also indicators of past disturbance-from both natural and human causes. The most common of these is Rhus taitensis (tavai). This tree often forms monodomi- nant forests, particularly on the western half of the island. Apparently the tree, which has readily dispersed seeds (in small succulent fruits), germi- nates mostly in bright sunlight, because seedlings and saplings are common in areas where native forest has recently been cleared for agriculture, and possibly also when forests are flattened by hurri- canes. Seedlings in closed-canopy forest are uncommon. Thus forests dominated by Rhus are most likely areas once extensively disturbed decades earlier (the tree probably lives for decades, and per- haps more than a century, since individuals of nearly 2 m dbh have been recorded (Whistler 1980). A species with similar ecological needs and life history as Rhus is Alphitonia zizyphoides (toi), which is sometimes a co-dominant species with Rhus. Other species that likewise indicate past major disturbance are Pometia pinnata (tava), which, however, is not found within the park, Neonauclea forsteri (afa), Cananga odorata (ilangilang, moso'oi), and Bischofia javanica ('o'a). Two other secondary forest species, Elattostachys falcata (taputo'i) and Macaranga stipulosa (lau fatu), are probably more indicative of "gap replace- ment" and are not useful as indications or major disturbance to the vegetation. Seedlings of Elatto- stachys are often common in lowland forest, but adult trees are not, indicating that they may only mature if a canopy gap appears while they are a seedling or sapling; if no gap is forthcoming, the seedlings and saplings die. Of the secondary species noted above, all have small seeds, except Pometia pinnata. Pometia, however, is the dominant tree in one kind of lowland forest-that found on relatively recent lava flows.
Two species that appear to be common in both secondary and primary forest are Dysoxylum maota (maota) and Dysoxylum samoense (mamala). On the 'Tafuna plain, when forest was still present there, the two Dysoxylum species appeared to be succes- sional species that replaced Macaranga harveyi and in turn was replaced, or shared dominance with, Pomctiu pinnata and Planchonella sarnoensis (ma- malava). In alluvial valleys, the two Dysoxylum species seem to be the dominant species in the cli- max forest for this habitat, judging by the population dynamics in plots of this on Tutuila and Ta'u (Whistler 1980). Another category of plants often useful as indicators of past disturbance comprises cultivated Polynesian introductions. The coconut mentioned above would also fit into this category, except that it is probably native; it otherwise fits the general characteristics. Trees and shrubs that belong here are Aluna rucemosa (ifiifi), Citrus macroptera (mob u'u), Diospyros major, Euodia hortensis (usi), lnocarpus fagifer (Tahitian chestnut, ifi), Parinari insularum (sea), and Syzygium corynocarpum (seasea), Syzygium rnalaccensis (Malay apple, nonu fi'afi'a), Syzygium neurocalyx (oli, fena). Ino- curpus is now common and naturalized along streams. The others are probably not naturalized, and individuals found in forest are probably relicts of previous cultivation. Further information about these species can be found in Appendix A. Another species that partly fits here is Cerbera manghas, a littoral tree that is sometimes found inland where it presumably was planted (for its showy flowers). It was found on the ridge just west of Vatia in mature forest. Also found in this area was Syzygium corynocarpum. Several non-woody cultigens are also sometimes found in forest appearing to be primary. This includes Alocasia macrorrhiza (giant taro, ta'amu), Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (teve), Etlingera cevuga ('avapui vao), Schizostachyum glaucifolium (Polynesian bamboo, 'ofe), Solanum viride (polo- 'iti), and Zingiber zerumbet ('avapui). Alocasia is not uncommon in forest and in streambeds, Etlin- gera, which may be native, was found once in the park, Schizostachyum is reported from the park (R. West, pers. comm.), and Solanum viride was col- lected there once. Zingiber is sometimes common along ridges, and may have been present in these places and has subsequently spread, since it does not appear to be easily dispersed.
Page 1 and 2:
COOPERATIVE NATIONAL PARK RESOURCES
Page 3 and 4:
TABLE OF CONTENTS I . INTRODUCTION
Page 5 and 6:
LEGEND B \ PROPOSED PARK AREA OFU I
Page 7 and 8:
Figure 3 VEGETATION TYPE MAP Tutuil
Page 9 and 10:
Figure 4. Pago Pago Bay, with Mt. M
Page 11 and 12:
'IJpolu, and 'Ta'u as well). The on
Page 13 and 14:
nu pucijicuJ; an Eurya? [Eurya pick
Page 15 and 16:
category recognized in the report o
Page 17 and 18:
Figure 10. Tuafanua Beach west of V
Page 19 and 20:
Figure 12. Littoral shrubland veget
Page 21 and 22:
Figure 14. Littoral shrubland veget
Page 23 and 24:
Figure 16. Littoral forest north of
Page 25 and 26:
Soils differ in origin and age of t
Page 27 and 28:
example on Tutuila is the climbing
Page 29 and 30:
When undisturbed, the floor of the
Page 31 and 32:
incrme (aloalo tai) may also be com
Page 34 and 35:
coastal ridges, decreases in import
Page 36 and 37:
Scvcral other trees are characteris
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poIvon/l~os, Dtrvulliu solidu (whic
Page 40 and 41:
Although Mauga-o-Tula lacks some of
Page 42 and 43:
introduced weeds, many of the Polyn
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even mature secondary forest, it le
Page 46 and 47:
there). No increased access should
Page 48 and 49:
Whistler, W. A. 1976. Wetlands of A
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Acrostichum aureum L. [swamp fern]
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Uncommon in montane to cloud forest
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171 ; Setchell 393; Christophersen
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of the costa. Uncommon in montane t
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liom China to I'itcairn Island. USE
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lamina deeply cut into 1-10 lobes,
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Antrophyum alatum Bracken. VITTARIA
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weed in villages and along roadside
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650 111 clevi~tion. A modern introd
Page 68 and 69:
Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less. [ironwe
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Uncomnion in secondary forest, prob
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from near sea level to 400 m elevat
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*Charnaesyce prostrata (Ait.) Small
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elevation. A modern introduction, n
Page 78 and 79:
Macroptilium lathyroides (L.) Urb.
Page 80 and 81:
Cyrtandra samoensis A. Gray momolea
Page 82 and 83:
'Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol. ex Co
Page 84 and 85: Ficus prolixa Forst. f. [banyan] ao
Page 86 and 87: found in Tonga, Futuna, and Fiji. S
Page 88 and 89: Peperomia pellucida (L,.) Kunth POL
Page 90 and 91: *Gardenia taitensis DC. "Hedyotis c
Page 92 and 93: elevation. This species should be t
Page 94 and 95: "Physalis angulata L. 1 wild cape g
Page 96 and 97: *Etatosterna scabriusculum Setchell
Page 98 and 99: Epipremnum pinnaturn (L.) Engl. Ili
Page 100 and 101: Mariscus secmannianus (Boeck.) Pall
Page 102 and 103: *Bulbophyllurn samoanum Schlechter
Page 104 and 105: Malaxis resupinata (Forst. f.) Kunt
Page 106 and 107: F. homhronii Mart.; it differs from
Page 108 and 109: this in D. ciliaris, but the two ha
Page 110 and 111: Paspalurn orbiculare Forst. f. Mcdi
Page 112 and 113: APPENDIX B: PLOT DATA (Basal area i
Page 114 and 115: PLOT 4: MULIULU LOWLAND RIDGE FORES
Page 116 and 117: PLOT 6: TIATAUALA LOWLAND RIDGE FOR
Page 118 and 119: PLOT 8: OLO LOWLAND RIDGE FOREST (2
Page 120 and 121: PLOT 10: AMALAU LOWLAND VALLEY FORE
Page 122 and 123: PLOT 12: ALAVA MONTANE FOREST* (400
Page 124 and 125: APPENDIX C: SEASONALITY OF IMPORTAN
Page 126 and 127: MORACEAE Ikus godcfl'royi 1;icus ob
Page 128 and 129: SPECIES FAMILY FLOWERING DATES FRUI
Page 130 and 131: 2. Littoral Shrubland Two types of
Page 132 and 133: the relatively undisturbed places,
Page 136 and 137: APPENDIX F. SUMMARY OF THE VASCULAR
Page 138 and 139: VIlTAKIACEAE Amrophyurn alaturn Ant
Page 140 and 141: Species FAMILY Status* E I P M ....
Page 142 and 143: MYRSINACEAE Embelia vaupelii Maesa
Page 144 and 145: Species FAMILY Status* E I P M VEKB
Page 146: ...................................
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