Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan - U.S. Fish and Wildlife ...

Natural Processes
(biotic and abiotic processes
responsible for habitat conditions) Limiting Factors
The windward east-facing Hakalau Limiting factors
Forest Unit receives northeasterly include a lack of native
tradewind-dominated rainfall
pollinators and several
throughout the year with up to 250 pest species (e.g.,
inches annually. Heavier rainfall ungulates, rats, mice,
occurs October-March.
slugs, mosquitoes,
invasive plants, and
diseases).
Population/Habitat Attributes
(age class, structure, serial stage, species
Habitats (plant
communities that represent
Mountain slopes are moderate. Soils
are aged, eroded, and volcanic in origin.
Soils are typically poorly drained. The
ground surface is bisected by numerous
streams (surface flow). These streams
create and maintain stream channels
that are highly eroded and steep-sided,
providing protection for native and
endangered plants from grazing
ungulates.
existing BIDEH)
composition)
Montane wet ‘ōhi‘a forest The upper canopy of this habitat type is
dominated by somewhat taller (60-90 ft)
mature closed canopy ‘ōhi‘a. Mid-canopy is
dominated by a mix of flowering and fruiting
tree species (e.g., ‘ōhi‘a, ‘ōlapa, pilo, kōlea),
tree ferns (up to 15 ft), and epiphytes.
Ground cover is dominated by mixed ferns,
Astelia (lilly), ‘ōhelo, kanawao, pūkiawe, and
kāwa‘u. This habitat type is found between
4,000-5,000 ft elevation. Compared to lower
elevation habitat, the ground level contains
downed timber and areas dominated by
sphagnum moss.
Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Higher densities of pigs
at this elevation have
disturbed native Carex
sp. bogs which have
converted to nonnative
Juncus sp. bogs.
A diverse native bird community first appears
in this habitat type, primarily due to
elevations above the mosquito zone and a
more diverse forest plant community.
Limiting factors
include a lack of native
pollinators and several
pest species (e.g.,
ungulates, rats, mice,
slugs, mosquitoes,
invasive plants, and
diseases).
The windward east-facing Hakalau
Forest Unit receives northeasterly
tradewind-dominated rainfall
throughout the year with up to 275
inches annually. Heavier rainfall
occurs October-March.
This habitat type contains a mixed age class
of koa and ‘ōhi‘a-dominated forest and occurs
5,000-6,000 ft in elevation. The mid-canopy
is dominated by a mix of flowering and
fruiting trees (e.g., ‘ōlapa, ‘ākala, pilo,
pūkiawe, ‘ōhelo, kōlea, kāwa‘u), mixed ferns,
and epiphytes.
Montane wet koa/‘ōhi‘a
forest
Past human
disturbances include
cattle grazing. The
effects of this past
activity include
increased grasslands
Mountain slopes are moderate. Soils
are aged, eroded, and volcanic in origin.
Soils are typically poorly drained. The
ground surface is bisected by numerous
streams (surface flow). These streams
create and maintain stream channels
that are highly eroded and steep-sided,
providing protection to native and
A diverse native bird community occurs in
this habitat type, primarily due to elevations
above mosquito zone and more diverse forest
plant community. Other species of
conservation and management concern
include koloa maoli, ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, and
endangered plants.
F-2 Appendix F: Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health and Resources of Concern