Assessment of light quality, variability, and seedling presence in Hawaiian lowland wet forests

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dc.contributor.advisorOstertag, Rebecca
dc.contributor.authorRosam, Jodie Ray
dc.contributor.departmentTropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science
dc.date.accessioned2015-08-04T23:00:32Z
dc.date.available2015-08-04T23:00:32Z
dc.date.issued2015
dc.description.abstractHawaiian lowland wet forest (HLWF) plant species are light-limited, yet no information exists on how the understory light varies in relation to species invasion, or if patterns of seedling regeneration and light are linked. I measured the red-to-far-red ratio (R:FR) of light to assess light quality and quantified diurnal variability in three forest types: native-dominated, partially-invaded, and fully invaded by strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum). I asked: (1) how does understory light quality vary relative to invasion? (2) Are there differences in light quality moving vertically among forest types? (3) Are patterns of seedling regeneration and understory light related? Native-dominated forests had the greatest light quality (highest R:FR), and Psidium cattleianum-dominated forests had the lowest. While I predicted that native seedlings would prefer high-quality light sites, all seedlings preferred medium quality environments. In invaded HLWF, native seedling regeneration is hindered, and restoration efforts should focus on non-native understory removal.
dc.description.degreeM.S.
dc.description.institutionUniversity of Hawaii at Hilo
dc.format.extent41 pages
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10790/2477
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectEcology
dc.subjectEnvironmental science
dc.subjectHawaiian lowland wet forest
dc.subjectlight quality
dc.subjectregeneration
dc.subjectrestoration
dc.titleAssessment of light quality, variability, and seedling presence in Hawaiian lowland wet forests
dcterms.rightsAll 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.

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