Dry forest plants

The endangered Halapepe (Pleomele hawaiiensis) looks kind of like a truffula tree...

Fruiting Ulei (Osteomeles anthyllidifolia). It's fun to say. Try it!

Beautiful dry forest mural

This is some of the best artwork on Hawaiian dry forest plants I have ever seen...all done by kids! See their signatures in the last picture.

Pictures by Susan Cordell of the USDA Forest Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry.

Dried out in the dry forest

Things were looking extremely dry at the dry forest this month. I saw this last summer too, but didn't get pictures of it then. I wonder if the species wilt every summer, or only during drought years like this year and last?

Alahe'e (Psydrax odorata) looking pretty dry and wilted.

The new growth on lama (Diospyros sandwicensis) also looked wilted.

Mamane (Sophora chrysophylla) leaflets has turned brown.

 
This is an adult iliahi (Sandalwood; Santalum paniculatum) tree with wilted leaves.

I guess I was feeling pretty wilted by the end of it. It was a really hot day...but I got my seeds!. 

Leila Kekuewa, however, still managed to look cool. 

Preparing plant specimens

Excellent Olapa specimen (Cheirodendron trigynum)...fruits, flowers, and everything.

A whole table of lovely native plant specimens from the Hawaiian forest.

Field trip with IPIF staff

Jean Stoner, Rick Bottons, Faith and Pam Holton enter the forest.

Tailgate safety session. Rule #1. Don't get hurt! 

Pam Holton in her pink boots. Menehune watch out!

The finer points of pressing plants with Rick Bottoms.

These are the outbuildings of the new Forest Service house at Laupahoehoe.

Here's the main house...can't wait until it's ready for visiting researchers.

After a hard day in the field we get pie and sodas at the 50's diner in Laupahoehoe town. From left: Jean Stoner, Holli Tidwell, Faith Inman-Narahari, Pam Holton and Rick Bottoms. 

Seed counting supplies

All the stuff you need to get the data.

Spent today counting seeds from the dry-forest traps and found a few extra treasures.

 Female lama flower with petals removed (Diospyros sandwicensis)

Male lama flower with petals intact (Diospyros sandwicensis)

Fun with spatial statistics

Seedling recensus at Laupahoehoe

The last seedling plot of the Summer 2011 recensus!

Olapa seedling #21 (Cheirodendron trigynum)

Ohia seedling #76 (Metrosideros polymorpha) 

Presenting at the Hawaii Ecosystems meeting, Hilo HI

Results of my analysis of seed trap and seedling plot data from Laupahoehoe - species vary!

Cross-plot comparison of recruitment limitation  - not as different as we thought they would be.

Hawaii Ecosystems meeting, Hilo HI

Peter Vitousek reminding us why research in Hawaii is so important...and that we can't go over our time limit!

Following a morning of presentations we go outside to discuss what makes Hawaii a model system, and what are the most interesting research directions for comparing Hawaii with mainland forests.

Discussion about how scientists can get more involved with conservation. We made a list of the unique qualities that scientists can bring to the table and ways we can reach out to the public in a productive way.

Kye Epps showing us a diagram explaining her ideas for how to leverage existing organizational networks (agencies, universities, etc.) so scientists can reach a broader audience.

Seed counting at the Institute for Pacific Islands Forestry (IPIF)

 First we get everything set up: bags of seeds, paper bags, bins, sieves, paint brushes, funnels, and petri dishes.

Then we put on the "cool" magnifier headset, grab a set of forceps and....

 ....count the seeds from the sifted litter and record data.

 For extra fun we count tiny seeds under the scope. Here's Laura Super counting ohelo (Vaccinium calycinum) seeds in several fruits to get an average seeds per fruit. Mahalo for your patience, Laura!!

Ohelo (Vaccinium calycinum) seeds on a petri dish with a 1x1cm grid. So tiny and pretty!

Palamanui Dry Forest

A'ali'i fruit (Dodonea viscosa) at Palamanui.

Laura Super and Jenni Diep help measure seedlings in the Palamanui HIPPNET plot.

A'ali'i seedling (Dodonea viscosa) at Palamanui.

Native forest seedling census

Here's a picture of my new research assistant, Laura Super. Look for her blog for even more photos.

Slug on an Olapa seedling (Cheirodendron trigynum).

 Faith checking the seed traps at Laupahoehoe.

 Girl power!! Laura Super and Holli Tidwell get 'er done!

Hawaiian Forest Research

Aloha, I just started this blog today to keep my committee, collaborators, friends, and family updated on my research projects. Please check back as I update this site with more photos from this summer's field season!