Specialty: A major focus of his research has been mapping the distribution of plant communities throughout the Islands initially utilizing photo interpretation and, more recently, digital image analysis.
Research Interests: Hawaiian species and ecosystem conservation; alien species impacts; vegetation ecology; plant community mapping; GIS applications for conservation; plant species and community modeling; vegetation monitoring; assessment of forest bird populations; bringing science to conservation planning.
Personal Interests: The conservation of Hawaiian biodiversity
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 1990 Botanical Sciences, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI
B.A. 1970 Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA
Science and Products
Global Climate Change Impacts on Plants of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Climate change is expected to alter the seasonal and annual patterns of rainfall and temperature in the Hawaiian Islands. Warming temperatures and altered precipitation patterns both impact ecological systems, but managing these impacts is difficult without detailed information on the magnitude and timing of these climate-related changes.
Studies on the Rapidly Eroding Reef
This study focuses on assessing changes in vegetation cover and composition inside and outside a fenced exclosure within the USGS Ridge-to-Reef study area on the island of Moloka‘i. This information will be delivered to federal, state, and private land managers who are trying to determine best management practices to reduce erosion and sediment runoff from this dry habitat which has been heavily...
Hawai‘i Carbon Storage and Greenhouse Gas Flux Assessment
In recent years, the U.S. Geological Survey has been conducting a national biologic carbon sequestration assessment in the conterminous U.S. The assessment is designed to meet the requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which calls for coverage of all 50 states and all ecosystems (including forests, grasslands, wetlands, agricultural lands, and rivers, lakes, and...
Impact of Sea-Level Rise on Coastal Plants and Cultural Sites
One of the impacts of global climate change for the Hawaiian Islands is a projected increase in sea level of about one meter by the year 2100. This change will impact both biological and cultural resources located along the coastline. Few intact native coastal and lowland plant communities remain in Hawai‘i. Many of those that remain contain listed endangered species and provide important habitat...
Monitoring Hawaiian Biodiversity: Changes to forest birds and their habitat
Hawaiian forests are beset by many stressors, resulting in a complex pattern of altered ecosystems, impeirled species, and (in some areas) substantial protection and restoration. Short-term studies focused on specific sites or biota have limited value in understanding landscape-level change. Long-term and spatialy extensive data are needed to understand how ecosystems are reacting to both stressor...
HABITATS
•Resurvey selected HFBS transects on the island of Hawai‘i•Use original sampling methods to assess bird and plant populations•Analyze distribution and abundance changes for both native and alien species
Status and Trends of Hawaiian Flora and Fauna
Hawai‘i has more endangered species than any other state - over 394 species. In spite of this fact, there is not a central clearing house for information on the status and trends of these species. Information is spread over the following areas: 1. USGS maintains some information on Forest Birds. 2. USFWS maintains summary data on listed and proposed plants. 3. The University of Hawai‘i maintains...
Climate change impacts on the landscape
Conduct research needed to provide the information and knowledge necessary for decision-makers to make informed decisions pertaining to management of biological resources in Hawai‘i and the Pacific island ecosystems relative to changing climate conditions.
Assessing the Potential Effects of Climate Change on Vegetation in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Climate change in Hawaiʻi is expected to result in increasing temperatures and varying precipitation through the twenty-first century. Already, high elevation areas have experienced rapidly increasing temperatures and there has been an increase in the frequency of drought across the Islands. These climatic changes could have significant impacts on Hawaiʻi’s plants and animals. Changes in temperatu...
Modeling Climate-Driven Changes to Vegetation in the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiʻi is home to a rich diversity of native plants, about 90 percent of which are found nowhere else in the world. However, changing climate conditions may reduce the amount of suitable habitat for native plants and contribute to the spread of invasive plant species. The goal of this project was to better understand how Hawaiian native and invasive plants will respond to climate change. Scientis...
Moloka'i, Hawai'i rapid assessment of hydrology, soils, and vegetation in coastal wetlands 2022
In this project, we assessed the potential for twelve coastal wetland sites on the island of Molokaʻi, Hawaiʻi, to provide socio-cultural resources and habitat for flora and fauna following restoration. In April 2022, a rapid field assessment of hydrology, soils, and vegetation was carried out at each of the wetland sites. The data provided here were collected in order to inform a prioritization p
Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge Vegetation Map 2016
This data layer identifies the boundaries of the mapped plant communities for the vegetation map of the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge Hakalau Forest Unit and adjacent lands, island of Hawaii.
Keaukaha Military Reservation Ohia Restoration under ROD-infected Trees 2019-2020
This data release includes data and metadata containing (1) Ohia (Metrosideros polymorpha) tree locations tested for Rapid Ohia Death (ROD) at Keaukaha Military Reserve, Hilo, HI (2) out-planted Ohia seedling information and survival status and (3) raw quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results for all Ceratocystis lukuohia and huliohia testing. Data were used in the analysis for the ma
Hawaiian Islands datasets quantifying the effects of invasive animals and plants on native forests across the archipelago 2019
Dataset includes publicly available geologic and rainfall data, and environmental and ecological data derived or collected for this project. Specifically, water infiltration measurements, interpreted field-saturated hydraulic conductivity values, ungulate activity, vegetation cover, general soil and weather conditions data are included. Soil samples were collected, lab analyzed, and are included i
Hawaii Island Regeneration of Metrosideros polymorpha forests since landscape-level canopy dieback in the 1970s
We analyzed very-high-resolution imagery to assess status of Metrosideros polymorpha forests across an 83,603-hectare study area that experienced extensive canopy dieback in the 1970s on the eastern side of the island of Hawaii. Using GIS we generated 1,170 virtual vegetation plots with a 100-m radius; 541 plots in areas mapped in 1977 with trees dead or mostly defoliated (dieback), and 629 plots
Hawaii Island biodiversity trends across time and space, 1977 and 2015
These are the datasets for the Hawaii Forest Bird Survey (HFBS) and the Hawaiian Biodiversity Trends Across Time and Space project that systematically characterized plant and bird communities. The HFBS sampled from transects spanning all major Hawaiian Islands except O'ahu. This extensive dataset has now been organized into a database and associated geographic information system (GIS) layers. This
Molokai (Kawela) USGS ridge-to-reef vegetation monitoring study 2009-2014
This data release contains two files: 1) the raw data collected as part of a vegetation monitoring study that was conducted to assess the changes in plant species frequency inside and outside a fenced exclosure, constructed to eliminate browsing and grazing by feral goats, from 2009-2014 in the US Geological Survey's Kawela research site on the island of Molokai, Hawaii. 2) A list of species that
Hawaiian Islands Coastal Vegetation Survey 2013-2015
This dataset provides information on the current status and various other habitat and descriptive attributes of the native coastal vegetation for seven of the main Hawaiian Islands (i.e., does not include Niihau).
This study was focused on identifying sites that still retain relatively intact and highly diverse native coastal plant communities throughout seven of the main Hawaiian Islands (Kaua
Hawaii Land Cover and Habitat Status
These two raster data layers depict the land cover and degree of human disturbance to plant communities on the seven main Hawaiian Islands, and were developed as part of a comprehensive USGS assessment of carbon sequestration potential by natural ecosystems in the State of Hawaii.
Filter Total Items: 45
A prioritization protocol for coastal wetland restoration on Molokaʻi, Hawaiʻi
Hawaiian coastal wetlands provide important habitat for federally endangered waterbirds and socio-cultural resources for Native Hawaiians. Currently, Hawaiian coastal wetlands are degraded by development, sedimentation, and invasive species and, thus, require restoration. Little is known about their original structure and function due to the large-scale alteration of the lowland landscape since Eu
Authors
Judith Z. Drexler, Helen Raine, James D. Jacobi, Sally House, Pūlama Lima, William Haase, Arleone Dibben-Young, Brett T. Wolfe
Updates for Wake Atoll biosecurity management, biological control, survey, and management, and integrated pest management plans
Pests and invasive species have been defined as any organism that can have real or perceived adverse effects on operations, or the well-being of personnel, native plants, animals, their environment and ecosystem processes; attack or damage real property, supplies, equipment, or are otherwise undesirable (paraphrased from many sources including 53 Federal Register [FR] 15975, May 4, 1988, as amende
Authors
Stacie A. Hathaway, James D. Jacobi, Robert Peck, Robert N. Fisher
Landscape level effects of invasive plants and animals on water infiltration through Hawaiian tropical forests
Watershed degradation due to invasion threatens downstream water flows and associated ecosystem services. While this topic has been studied across landscapes that have undergone invasive-driven state changes (e.g., native forest to invaded grassland), it is less well understood in ecosystems experiencing within-system invasion (e.g. native forest to invaded forest). To address this subject, we con
Authors
Lucas Fortini, Christina Leopold, Kimberlie Perkins, Oliver A. Chadwick, Stephanie G. Yelenik, James D. Jacobi, Kaiena Bishaw, Makani Gregg
Local to landscape-level controls of water fluxes through Hawaiian forests: Effects of invasive animals and plants on soil infiltration capacity across substrate and moisture gradients
Given the potential effect of invasive plants and animals to water fluxes through forests, the invasive-driven degradation of native ecosystems is a topic of great concern for many downstream land and water managers. The infiltration rate determines the partitioning between runoff and infiltration into soil in Hawaiian forests and beyond. Thus, to explore the ecohydrological effects of plant and a
Authors
Lucas B. Fortini, Christina Leopold, Kimberlie Perkins, Oliver A. Chadwick, Stephanie G. Yelenik, James D. Jacobi, Kaiena Bishaw, Makani Gregg, Sarah N. Rosa
Successful restoration of Metrosideros polymorpha (ʻōhiʻa) is possible in forest sites with active Rapid ‘Ōhiʻa Death infections
Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD), caused by the fungal pathogen Ceratocystis, is killing large numbers of ʻōhiʻa trees (Metrosideros polymorpha) in Hawaiʻi. ʻŌhiʻa are a dominant tree in Hawaiian forests, have a range that goes from arid to wet forest climates, and are important for endangered species habitat and ecosystem function. To test whether actively planting ʻōhiʻa seedlings is a viable restoratio
Authors
Stephanie G. Yelenik, Kylle Roy, Jeff Stallman
The evolving threat of rapid Ohia death (ROD) to Hawaii’s native ecosystems and rare plant species
Hawai‘i’s most widespread native tree, ‘ōhi‘a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), has been dying across large areas of Hawai‘i Island mainly due to two fungal pathogens (Ceratocystis lukuohia and Ceratocystis huliohia) that cause a disease collectively known as Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death (ROD). Here we examine patterns of positive detections of C. lukuohia as it has been linked to the larger mortality events
Authors
Lucas B. Fortini, Lauren R. Kaiser, Lisa Keith, Jonathan Price, R. Flint Hughes, James D. Jacobi, J. B. Friday
Regeneration of Metrosideros polymorpha forests in Hawaii after landscape‐level canopy dieback
Questions(a) Have Metrosideros polymorpha trees become re‐established in Hawaiian forests previously impacted by canopy dieback in the 1970s? (b) Has canopy dieback expanded since the 1970s? (c) Can spatial patterns from this dieback be correlated with habitat factors to model future dieback in this area?Study SiteAn 83,603 ha study area on the eastern slopes of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea volcanoes o
Authors
Linda Mertelmeyer, James D. Jacobi, Dieter Mueller-Dombois, Kevin W. Brinck, Hans Juergen Boehmer
Identifying opportunities for long-lasting habitat conservation and restoration in Hawaii’s shifting climate
Conservation efforts in isolated archipelagos such as Hawaii often focus on habitat-based conservation and restoration efforts that benefit multiple species. Unfortunately, identifying locations where such efforts are safer from climatic shifts is still challenging. We aimed to provide a method to approximate these potential habitat shifts for similar data- and research-limited contexts. We modele
Authors
Lucas B. Fortini, James D. Jacobi
Potential impacts of projected climate change on vegetation-management strategies in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Climate change is expected to alter the seasonal and annual patterns of rainfall and temperature in the Hawaiian Islands. Land managers and other responsible agencies will need to know how plant-species habitats will change over the next century in order to manage these resources effectively. This issue is a major concern for resource managers at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (HAVO), where curre
Authors
Richard J. Camp, S. Paul Berkowitz, Kevin W. Brink, James D. Jacobi, Rhonda Loh, Jonathan Price, Lucas B. Fortini
Potential impacts of projected climate change on vegetation management in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park
Climate change will likely alter the seasonal and annual patterns of rainfall and temperature in Hawai`i. This is a major concern for resource managers at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park where intensely managed Special Ecological Areas (SEAs), focal sites for managing rare and endangered plants, may no longer provide suitable habitat under future climate. Expanding invasive species’ distributions
Authors
Richard J. Camp, Rhonda Loh, S. Paul Berkowitz, Kevin W. Brinck, James D. Jacobi, Jonathan Price, Sierra McDaniel, Lucas B. Fortini
Vegetation response of a dry shrubland community to feral goat management on the island of Moloka‘i, Hawai‘i
The Hawaiian Islands are well known for their unique ecosystem assemblages that have a high proportion of endemic flora and fauna. However, since human colonization of this archipelago—starting with the arrival of Polynesian sailors approximately 1,200 years ago, and particularly following western contact in 1778—thousands of non-native species have been introduced to the Islands and many of these
Authors
James D. Jacobi, Jonathan D. Stock
Monitoring Hawaiian biodiversity: Pilot study to assess changes to forest birds and their habitat
Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is the variety and abundance of species in a defined area, and is one of the oldest and most basic descriptions of biological communities. Understanding how populations and communities are structured and change over space and time in response to internal and external forces is a management priority. Effective management practices and conservation strategies d
Authors
P. Marcos Gorresen, Richard J. Camp, Jacqueline Gaudioso, Kevin W. Brinck, Paul Berkowitz, James D. Jacobi
Science and Products
- Science
Global Climate Change Impacts on Plants of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Climate change is expected to alter the seasonal and annual patterns of rainfall and temperature in the Hawaiian Islands. Warming temperatures and altered precipitation patterns both impact ecological systems, but managing these impacts is difficult without detailed information on the magnitude and timing of these climate-related changes.Studies on the Rapidly Eroding Reef
This study focuses on assessing changes in vegetation cover and composition inside and outside a fenced exclosure within the USGS Ridge-to-Reef study area on the island of Moloka‘i. This information will be delivered to federal, state, and private land managers who are trying to determine best management practices to reduce erosion and sediment runoff from this dry habitat which has been heavily...Hawai‘i Carbon Storage and Greenhouse Gas Flux Assessment
In recent years, the U.S. Geological Survey has been conducting a national biologic carbon sequestration assessment in the conterminous U.S. The assessment is designed to meet the requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which calls for coverage of all 50 states and all ecosystems (including forests, grasslands, wetlands, agricultural lands, and rivers, lakes, and...Impact of Sea-Level Rise on Coastal Plants and Cultural Sites
One of the impacts of global climate change for the Hawaiian Islands is a projected increase in sea level of about one meter by the year 2100. This change will impact both biological and cultural resources located along the coastline. Few intact native coastal and lowland plant communities remain in Hawai‘i. Many of those that remain contain listed endangered species and provide important habitat...Monitoring Hawaiian Biodiversity: Changes to forest birds and their habitat
Hawaiian forests are beset by many stressors, resulting in a complex pattern of altered ecosystems, impeirled species, and (in some areas) substantial protection and restoration. Short-term studies focused on specific sites or biota have limited value in understanding landscape-level change. Long-term and spatialy extensive data are needed to understand how ecosystems are reacting to both stressor...HABITATS
•Resurvey selected HFBS transects on the island of Hawai‘i•Use original sampling methods to assess bird and plant populations•Analyze distribution and abundance changes for both native and alien speciesStatus and Trends of Hawaiian Flora and Fauna
Hawai‘i has more endangered species than any other state - over 394 species. In spite of this fact, there is not a central clearing house for information on the status and trends of these species. Information is spread over the following areas: 1. USGS maintains some information on Forest Birds. 2. USFWS maintains summary data on listed and proposed plants. 3. The University of Hawai‘i maintains...Climate change impacts on the landscape
Conduct research needed to provide the information and knowledge necessary for decision-makers to make informed decisions pertaining to management of biological resources in Hawai‘i and the Pacific island ecosystems relative to changing climate conditions.Assessing the Potential Effects of Climate Change on Vegetation in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Climate change in Hawaiʻi is expected to result in increasing temperatures and varying precipitation through the twenty-first century. Already, high elevation areas have experienced rapidly increasing temperatures and there has been an increase in the frequency of drought across the Islands. These climatic changes could have significant impacts on Hawaiʻi’s plants and animals. Changes in temperatu...Modeling Climate-Driven Changes to Vegetation in the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiʻi is home to a rich diversity of native plants, about 90 percent of which are found nowhere else in the world. However, changing climate conditions may reduce the amount of suitable habitat for native plants and contribute to the spread of invasive plant species. The goal of this project was to better understand how Hawaiian native and invasive plants will respond to climate change. Scientis... - Data
Moloka'i, Hawai'i rapid assessment of hydrology, soils, and vegetation in coastal wetlands 2022
In this project, we assessed the potential for twelve coastal wetland sites on the island of Molokaʻi, Hawaiʻi, to provide socio-cultural resources and habitat for flora and fauna following restoration. In April 2022, a rapid field assessment of hydrology, soils, and vegetation was carried out at each of the wetland sites. The data provided here were collected in order to inform a prioritization pHakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge Vegetation Map 2016
This data layer identifies the boundaries of the mapped plant communities for the vegetation map of the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge Hakalau Forest Unit and adjacent lands, island of Hawaii.Keaukaha Military Reservation Ohia Restoration under ROD-infected Trees 2019-2020
This data release includes data and metadata containing (1) Ohia (Metrosideros polymorpha) tree locations tested for Rapid Ohia Death (ROD) at Keaukaha Military Reserve, Hilo, HI (2) out-planted Ohia seedling information and survival status and (3) raw quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results for all Ceratocystis lukuohia and huliohia testing. Data were used in the analysis for the maHawaiian Islands datasets quantifying the effects of invasive animals and plants on native forests across the archipelago 2019
Dataset includes publicly available geologic and rainfall data, and environmental and ecological data derived or collected for this project. Specifically, water infiltration measurements, interpreted field-saturated hydraulic conductivity values, ungulate activity, vegetation cover, general soil and weather conditions data are included. Soil samples were collected, lab analyzed, and are included iHawaii Island Regeneration of Metrosideros polymorpha forests since landscape-level canopy dieback in the 1970s
We analyzed very-high-resolution imagery to assess status of Metrosideros polymorpha forests across an 83,603-hectare study area that experienced extensive canopy dieback in the 1970s on the eastern side of the island of Hawaii. Using GIS we generated 1,170 virtual vegetation plots with a 100-m radius; 541 plots in areas mapped in 1977 with trees dead or mostly defoliated (dieback), and 629 plotsHawaii Island biodiversity trends across time and space, 1977 and 2015
These are the datasets for the Hawaii Forest Bird Survey (HFBS) and the Hawaiian Biodiversity Trends Across Time and Space project that systematically characterized plant and bird communities. The HFBS sampled from transects spanning all major Hawaiian Islands except O'ahu. This extensive dataset has now been organized into a database and associated geographic information system (GIS) layers. ThisMolokai (Kawela) USGS ridge-to-reef vegetation monitoring study 2009-2014
This data release contains two files: 1) the raw data collected as part of a vegetation monitoring study that was conducted to assess the changes in plant species frequency inside and outside a fenced exclosure, constructed to eliminate browsing and grazing by feral goats, from 2009-2014 in the US Geological Survey's Kawela research site on the island of Molokai, Hawaii. 2) A list of species thatHawaiian Islands Coastal Vegetation Survey 2013-2015
This dataset provides information on the current status and various other habitat and descriptive attributes of the native coastal vegetation for seven of the main Hawaiian Islands (i.e., does not include Niihau). This study was focused on identifying sites that still retain relatively intact and highly diverse native coastal plant communities throughout seven of the main Hawaiian Islands (KauaHawaii Land Cover and Habitat Status
These two raster data layers depict the land cover and degree of human disturbance to plant communities on the seven main Hawaiian Islands, and were developed as part of a comprehensive USGS assessment of carbon sequestration potential by natural ecosystems in the State of Hawaii. - Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 45
A prioritization protocol for coastal wetland restoration on Molokaʻi, Hawaiʻi
Hawaiian coastal wetlands provide important habitat for federally endangered waterbirds and socio-cultural resources for Native Hawaiians. Currently, Hawaiian coastal wetlands are degraded by development, sedimentation, and invasive species and, thus, require restoration. Little is known about their original structure and function due to the large-scale alteration of the lowland landscape since EuAuthorsJudith Z. Drexler, Helen Raine, James D. Jacobi, Sally House, Pūlama Lima, William Haase, Arleone Dibben-Young, Brett T. WolfeUpdates for Wake Atoll biosecurity management, biological control, survey, and management, and integrated pest management plans
Pests and invasive species have been defined as any organism that can have real or perceived adverse effects on operations, or the well-being of personnel, native plants, animals, their environment and ecosystem processes; attack or damage real property, supplies, equipment, or are otherwise undesirable (paraphrased from many sources including 53 Federal Register [FR] 15975, May 4, 1988, as amendeAuthorsStacie A. Hathaway, James D. Jacobi, Robert Peck, Robert N. FisherLandscape level effects of invasive plants and animals on water infiltration through Hawaiian tropical forests
Watershed degradation due to invasion threatens downstream water flows and associated ecosystem services. While this topic has been studied across landscapes that have undergone invasive-driven state changes (e.g., native forest to invaded grassland), it is less well understood in ecosystems experiencing within-system invasion (e.g. native forest to invaded forest). To address this subject, we conAuthorsLucas Fortini, Christina Leopold, Kimberlie Perkins, Oliver A. Chadwick, Stephanie G. Yelenik, James D. Jacobi, Kaiena Bishaw, Makani GreggLocal to landscape-level controls of water fluxes through Hawaiian forests: Effects of invasive animals and plants on soil infiltration capacity across substrate and moisture gradients
Given the potential effect of invasive plants and animals to water fluxes through forests, the invasive-driven degradation of native ecosystems is a topic of great concern for many downstream land and water managers. The infiltration rate determines the partitioning between runoff and infiltration into soil in Hawaiian forests and beyond. Thus, to explore the ecohydrological effects of plant and aAuthorsLucas B. Fortini, Christina Leopold, Kimberlie Perkins, Oliver A. Chadwick, Stephanie G. Yelenik, James D. Jacobi, Kaiena Bishaw, Makani Gregg, Sarah N. RosaSuccessful restoration of Metrosideros polymorpha (ʻōhiʻa) is possible in forest sites with active Rapid ‘Ōhiʻa Death infections
Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD), caused by the fungal pathogen Ceratocystis, is killing large numbers of ʻōhiʻa trees (Metrosideros polymorpha) in Hawaiʻi. ʻŌhiʻa are a dominant tree in Hawaiian forests, have a range that goes from arid to wet forest climates, and are important for endangered species habitat and ecosystem function. To test whether actively planting ʻōhiʻa seedlings is a viable restoratioAuthorsStephanie G. Yelenik, Kylle Roy, Jeff StallmanThe evolving threat of rapid Ohia death (ROD) to Hawaii’s native ecosystems and rare plant species
Hawai‘i’s most widespread native tree, ‘ōhi‘a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), has been dying across large areas of Hawai‘i Island mainly due to two fungal pathogens (Ceratocystis lukuohia and Ceratocystis huliohia) that cause a disease collectively known as Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death (ROD). Here we examine patterns of positive detections of C. lukuohia as it has been linked to the larger mortality eventsAuthorsLucas B. Fortini, Lauren R. Kaiser, Lisa Keith, Jonathan Price, R. Flint Hughes, James D. Jacobi, J. B. FridayRegeneration of Metrosideros polymorpha forests in Hawaii after landscape‐level canopy dieback
Questions(a) Have Metrosideros polymorpha trees become re‐established in Hawaiian forests previously impacted by canopy dieback in the 1970s? (b) Has canopy dieback expanded since the 1970s? (c) Can spatial patterns from this dieback be correlated with habitat factors to model future dieback in this area?Study SiteAn 83,603 ha study area on the eastern slopes of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea volcanoes oAuthorsLinda Mertelmeyer, James D. Jacobi, Dieter Mueller-Dombois, Kevin W. Brinck, Hans Juergen BoehmerIdentifying opportunities for long-lasting habitat conservation and restoration in Hawaii’s shifting climate
Conservation efforts in isolated archipelagos such as Hawaii often focus on habitat-based conservation and restoration efforts that benefit multiple species. Unfortunately, identifying locations where such efforts are safer from climatic shifts is still challenging. We aimed to provide a method to approximate these potential habitat shifts for similar data- and research-limited contexts. We modeleAuthorsLucas B. Fortini, James D. JacobiPotential impacts of projected climate change on vegetation-management strategies in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Climate change is expected to alter the seasonal and annual patterns of rainfall and temperature in the Hawaiian Islands. Land managers and other responsible agencies will need to know how plant-species habitats will change over the next century in order to manage these resources effectively. This issue is a major concern for resource managers at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (HAVO), where curreAuthorsRichard J. Camp, S. Paul Berkowitz, Kevin W. Brink, James D. Jacobi, Rhonda Loh, Jonathan Price, Lucas B. FortiniPotential impacts of projected climate change on vegetation management in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park
Climate change will likely alter the seasonal and annual patterns of rainfall and temperature in Hawai`i. This is a major concern for resource managers at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park where intensely managed Special Ecological Areas (SEAs), focal sites for managing rare and endangered plants, may no longer provide suitable habitat under future climate. Expanding invasive species’ distributionsAuthorsRichard J. Camp, Rhonda Loh, S. Paul Berkowitz, Kevin W. Brinck, James D. Jacobi, Jonathan Price, Sierra McDaniel, Lucas B. FortiniVegetation response of a dry shrubland community to feral goat management on the island of Moloka‘i, Hawai‘i
The Hawaiian Islands are well known for their unique ecosystem assemblages that have a high proportion of endemic flora and fauna. However, since human colonization of this archipelago—starting with the arrival of Polynesian sailors approximately 1,200 years ago, and particularly following western contact in 1778—thousands of non-native species have been introduced to the Islands and many of theseAuthorsJames D. Jacobi, Jonathan D. StockMonitoring Hawaiian biodiversity: Pilot study to assess changes to forest birds and their habitat
Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is the variety and abundance of species in a defined area, and is one of the oldest and most basic descriptions of biological communities. Understanding how populations and communities are structured and change over space and time in response to internal and external forces is a management priority. Effective management practices and conservation strategies dAuthorsP. Marcos Gorresen, Richard J. Camp, Jacqueline Gaudioso, Kevin W. Brinck, Paul Berkowitz, James D. Jacobi