A comparison of primary succession on Hawaiian lava flows of different morphologies and age
Kerr R. 2008. A comparison of primary succession on Hawaiian lava flows of different morphologies and age. University of Calgary. Calgary, Alberta, Canada
The introduction of seeds to new substrates such as lava flows are important for the process of primary succession. The type of substrate that the seed is attempting to colonize can affect this succession. In this study, primary succession was measured on lava flows of differing morphologies and ages. Five lava flows were chosen on the Big Island of Hawai'i, and the number of plants on each flow were sampled. Three of the lava flows had both a’a and pahoehoe morphologies, and two of them were only a’a. The lava flows measured were 1868, 1907, 1950, 1972, and 1974. Of these flows, only 1907 was found to have no vegetation. Limiting factors in the succession of vegetation included the amount of precipitation each site received, the amount of older vegetation and forestation that surrounded the flow, and the amount of volcanic aerosols (vog) that were present in the atmosphere. Six pioneer species were expected to be found, only four of those expected actually were. It was hypothesised that primary succession would be more successful on a’a lava flows, and that the amount of vegetation would increase linearly with the age of the lava flow.
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Authors
- Kerr, Roisin
- Date of Issue
- 2008-06
- Publisher
- University of Calgary
- Units
- HAVO
- Keywords
- Abundance (Biodiversity), Big Island, Endemic Species, Ferns, Hawaii, Kilauea, Lava Flow, Mauna Loa, Mauna Ulu, Morphology, Observations, ohia, Plant Studies, Presence (Biodiversity), primary succession, Vascular Plants, Vegetation, Volcanology/Geothermal