'Ohi'a Lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha): A Most Resilient and Persistent Foundation Species in Hawaiian Forests

authored by

James D. Jacobi, Hans Juergen Boehmer, Lucas Berio Fortini, Samuel M.Ohukani ohi a. Gon, Linda Mertelmeyer, Jonathan Price

Abstract

Metrosideros polymorpha ('ohi'a, 'ohi'a lehua) is an important foundation species in Hawaiian forest habitats. The genus originated in New Zealand and was dispersed to the Hawaiian archipelago approximately 3.9 million years ago. It evolved into five distinct endemic species and one of these, Metrosideros polymorpha, further differentiated into eight varieties across what are now the main Hawaiian Islands. 'Ohi'a is a tree that has great significance in indigenous Hawaiian culture. It is considered a physical manifestation of several principal Hawaiian deities, and serves a broad range of uses in Hawaiian material culture. It occupies a wide diversity of habitats, extending from sea level to over 2,200 m elevation, occupying habitats that range from extremely wet to dry rainfall zones. It is the dominant or co-dominant tree species in wet and mesic forests and is also one of the first woody species to become established on young lava flows. Although 'ohi'a is a dominant forest tree it also exhibits many characteristics of a pioneer species. 'Ohi'a provides the matrix for a wide diversity of endemic plants and animals found in these habitats and functions as the primary vegetation cover on native Hawaiian watersheds, facilitating groundwater recharge and regulating surface runoff. 'Ohi'a has shown remarkable resilience by recolonizing forests that were opened up by disturbance, such as the widespread 'ohi'a canopy dieback that occurred on East Maui in the 1900s and on the east side of the Island of Hawai'i in the 1970s. Several human-related conditions threaten the continued stability of Hawaii's native ecosystems, including invasive plants, plant diseases, introduced animals, and changing climate. The research and conservation legacy of Dr. Dieter Mueller-Dombois helped to expand our knowledge of the ecology and importance of 'ohi'a forests, and to increase awareness and appreciation of the remarkable Hawaiian ecosystems that are unique to the world.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Geobotany

External Organisation(s)

University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo
Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
Hawai‘i Program Office

Type

Article

Journal

Pacific science

Volume

77

Pages

177-186

No. of pages

10

ISSN

0030-8870

Publication date

07.2024

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being, SDG 13 - Climate Action

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.2984/77.2.4 (Access: Closed)