ESTIMATING AND APPLYING BIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS TO ENHANCE MANAGEMENT OF RAUVOLFIA VOMITORIA AN INVASIVE TREE IN NORTH KOHALA, HAWAIʻI
Date
2017-06
Authors
Contributor
Advisor
Instructor
Depositor
Speaker
Researcher
Consultant
Interviewer
Narrator
Transcriber
Annotator
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Volume
Number/Issue
Starting Page
Ending Page
Alternative Title
Abstract
Introduced tree species can cause environmental harm through invasive traits like fast growth rates, long-term seed longevity, and long-distance seed dispersal. I estimated these rates for Rauvolfia vomitoria, a tree native to tropical Africa, which was introduced to Hawaii Island in the 1950’s. I then compared these rates to other local trees species, both native and invasive, in order to understand R. vomitoria’s relative invasive risk. It appears to be slow growing at ~1.4mm DBH growth annually, but its seeds can survive over 3 years and can be dispersed up to 1km. Managers have concluded R. vomitoria warrants control, and have decided to contain the invasion. Based on my estimates for growth and dispersal, I calculated the cost for a number of containment scenarios, which ranged from $36,000-$88,000 annually. Given that average annual funding for R. vomitoria control is ~$35,000, managers may need to request more funding or change management-tactics.
Description
Keywords
Conservation biology, Ecology, Hawaii, Invasive containment, Invasive management, Invasive species, Invasive trees, Rauvolfia vomitoria
Citation
Extent
73 pages
Format
Geographic Location
Time Period
Related To
Related To (URI)
Table of Contents
Rights
All UHH dissertations and theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission from the copyright owner.
Rights Holder
Local Contexts
Email libraryada-l@lists.hawaii.edu if you need this content in ADA-compliant format.