american samoa - University of Hawaii at Manoa

TABLE OF CONTENTS
I . INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 1
The Geography .................................................................................................................................. 1
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I hc Climate ........................... . ..................................................................................................... I
The Geology ...................................................................................................................................... 1
Floristic Studies on Tutuila ............................................................................................................... 4
Vegetation Studies on Tutuila ........................................................................................................... 8
11 . METHODOLOGY ................... . ................................................................................................. 9
I11 . VEGETATION OF THE PARK ........................................................................................................... 10
Primary Vegetation ....................................................................................................................... 10
A . Littoral Vegetation ................................................................................................................. 10
1 . Herbaceous Strand ................................... . ..................................................................... 11
2 . Littoral Shrubland ......................................................................................................... 16
3 . Littoral Forest .................................................................................................................. 16
B . Wetlands ................................................................................................................................ 18
4 . Coastal Marsh ................................................................................................................... 20
C . Rainforest ......................... . ................................................................................................. 20
Variation within the Rainforest ............................................................................................. 20
Characteristics of Rainforest ................................................................................................. 22
5 . Lowland Forest ................................................................................................................. 23
a . Valley Lowland Forest ....................... . .............................................................. 23
b . Coastal Lowland Forest .............................................................................................. 26
c . Ridge Lowland Forest ................................................................................................. 27
6 . Montane Forest ............................................................................................................... 30
D . Summit Vegetation ................................................................................................................ 34
7 . Montane Scrub ................................................................................................................ 34
Secondary Vegetation ...................................................................................................................... 36
8 . Managed Land Vegetation .............................................................................................. 36
9 . Secondary Scrub ................... . .................................................................................... 38
10 . Secondary Forest ........................................................................................................... 39
IV . DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................... 40
V . ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................... . ..................................................................................... 42
V1 . LITERATURE CITED ........................... . ........................................................................................ 43
APPENDIX A: ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF THE FLORA OF TUTUILA .............................................. 45
APPENDIX B: PLOT DATA ........................................................................................................................... 108
APPENDIX C: SEASONALITLY OF IMPORTANT FRUIT-BEARING TREES AND SHRUBS IN THE
PARK AREA ...................................................................................................................... 120
APPENDIX D: THE OFU UNIT OF THE NATIONAL PARK OF AMERICAN SAMOA ............................ 125
APPENDIX E: PLANTS AS INDICATORS OF PAST LAND USE .............................................................. 129
APPENDIX F: SUMMARY OF THE VASCULAR FLORA OF THE TUTUILA UNIT OF THE
NATIONAL PARK OF AMERICAN SAMOA ................................................................... 132