Restoration of forest process in Pacific island landscapes to provide sustainable services and goods.

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
123	0199	1070	50%
123	0640	1060	50%

Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Dr. Giardina organized a three day workshop on climate change and ecosystem C storage, with invited participants from the US and Germany. He continued to lead research efforts with university colleagues in fragmentation effects on ecosystems and on climate change impacts on tropical forests (USDA Strategic Goal 2: Ensure our national forests and private working lands are conserved, restored and made more resilient to climate change, while enhancing our water resources; FS Strategic Goal 1, Restore, Sustain, and Enhance the Nation's Forests and Grasslands,).He continued to mentor NSF-funded REU interns through the UH PIPES program. Dr. Giardina continued to play leadership roles with the Hawaii Restoration and Conservation Initiative (Co-lead), Hawaii Conservation Alliance (Chair, Executive Committee), while serving as Acting Program Manager for PSW's Ecosystem Function and Health Program (FS Strategic Goal 7, Provide science-based applications and tools for sustainable natural resources management). Dr. Cordell continued to work with local, regional, national, and international partners to conduct research on restoration of degraded and endangered tropical dry forest ecosystems on islands of the Pacific (currently over $2 million in extramural support). Reducing the threats associated with introduced grass/fires cycles and other woody invasive species is one focus of her research (FS Strategic Goal 1, Restore, Sustain, and Enhance the Nation's Forests and Grasslands. In her role as Science Leader for the Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest (HETF), Cordell facilitated numerous planning and infrastructure activities aimed at developing of HETF as a highly functional and effective EF (FS Strategic Objective 5.2 "Improve the administration of Experimental Forest lands including facilities and research infrastructure in support of the agency's mission"). Dr. Cordell addressed FS Strategic Goal 7 Provide Science-Based Applications and Tools for Sustainable Natural Resources Management by providing opportunities through recruitment and mentorship of students and scientists from diverse backgrounds including underrepresented groups. Scowcroft continued collaborative research aimed at developing successful restoration methods for degraded mesic and wet forests of Hawaii (FS Strategic Goal 1, "Restore, Sustain, and Enhance the Nation's Forests and Grasslands"), including developing silvicultural tools and demonstrated forestry success stories. His research showed that merchantable wood volume yields from unmanaged plantations of Acacia koa at a rotation age of 45 years will be 90% less than the target levels used in the most recent financial analysis of commercial koa forestry. Although the financial analysis indicated substantial profits, projected timber shortfalls indicate otherwise. The research also showed that selecting progeny from superior formed parent trees greatly improved yield, which emphasized the importance of building on the limited amount of koa genetics work to date, and seriously engaging in a well-funded, long-term koa improvement and regeneration effort. PARTICIPANTS: Forest Service: Christian Giardina, Susan Cordell, Paul Scowcroft, Thomas Cole, Cheyenne Perry, Bernice Hwang, Mike Long, Samuel Brooks, Meagan Selvig, Rachel Mosely Non-Forest Service: faculty at University of Hawaii, Carnegie Institution, Stanford University, University of Puerto Rico, and University of California at Los Angeles, Davis, and Santa Cruz, California State University, Michigan Tech University, and University of Maryland. TARGET AUDIENCES: In Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, the target audiences for forest restoration research are federal, state, local and private landholders of degraded or deforested landscapes. Included are the Hawaii Departments of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Defense, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Hawaii Conservation Alliance, Three Mountain Alliance, Kamehameha Schools, the ranches of Haleakala, Umikoa, Kukaiau and Kealakekua, The Nature Conservancy, Hawaii Forest Industries Association, Guam, Palau, and Yap Forestry, Belau Museum, and the Palau Conservation Society. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: none

Impacts
Giardina's efforts have lead to: the first application of modern remote sensing techniques to understand how spatial attributes of fragments impact avian biodiversity; the establishment of a state wide initiative with initial funding ($1 million+) to pilot landscape scale approaches in restoration and conservation; and the first Hawaii Conservation Conference to integrate traditional native Hawaiian protocols and perspectives. Cordell's peer-reviewed, web and spatially explicit products are being used by land management agencies to improve their effectiveness. Scowcroft's findings provides private landowners with a reality check and encourages them to make sure that their planting stock is from superior formed parents if they want a profitable return on investment. Substantial genetic gain in koa tree performance appears likely from simple tree breeding work.

Publications

Ellsworth, Lisa M.; Ammondt, Selita; Deignan, Lindsey; Litton, Creighton M.; Kauffman, J.Boone. 2010. Managing the grass-wildfire cycle in non-native-dominated grassland ecosystems of leeward Oahu, Hawaii. Hawaii Conservation Conference, Honolulu, HI, August 4-6. (Published abstract)
Ellsworth, Lisa M.; Litton, Creighton M.; Kauffman, J. Boone. 2010. Using soil moisture and antecedent weather to predict live and dead fuel moisture in nonnative guinea grasslands (Urochloa maxima) on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, August 1-6. (Published abstract)
Fissore, Cinzia; Giardina, Christian P.; Swanston, Christopher W.; King, Gary M.; Kolka, Randall K. 2009. Variable temperature sensitivity of soil organic carbon in North American forests. Global Change Biology. 15: 2295-2310.
Flaspohler, David J.; Giardina, Christian P.; Asner, Gregory P.; Hart, Patrick; Price, Jonathan; Lyons, Cassie Ka'apu; Castaneda, Xeronimo. 2010. Long-term effects of fragmentation and fragment properties on bird species richness in Hawaiian forests. Biological Conservation 143 (2010) 280-288.
Heider, Chris; Salminen, Ed; Dube, Kathy; Giardina, Christian. 2010. The effects of temperature and invasive species on modeled watershed function in windward Hawaii Island. Hawaii Conservation Conference, Honolulu, HI, August 4-6. (Published abstract)
Holl, K. D.; Zahawi, R. A.; Cole, R. J.; Ostertag, R.; Cordell, S. 2010. Planting seedlings in tree islands versus plantations as a large-scale tropical forest restoration strategy. Restoration Ecology: Early View (Articles online in advance of print) as of June 7, 2010. DOI: 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2010.00674.x
Inman-Narahari, F.; Giardina, C.; Ostertag, R.; Cordell, S.; Sack, L. 2010. Digital data collection in forest dynamics plots. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 1(3): 274-279 10.1111/j.2041-210X.2010.00034.
Inman-Narahari, Faith.; Ostertag, Rebecca; Cordell, Susan; Giardina, Christian; Sack, Lawren. 2010. First census results and ongoing research. Botanical Society of America, Providence RI, July 31-August 4. (Published abstract)
Inman-Narahari, Faith; Ostertag, Rebecca; Cordell, Susan; Giardina, Christian; Sack, Lawren. 2010. Seedling dynamics in native dominated Hawaiian rain forest. Botanical Society of America, Providence RI, July 31-August 4. (Published abstract)
Ise,T.; Litton, C.M.; Giardina, C.P.; Ito, A. 2009. Comparison of modeling approaches for carbon partitioning: impact on estimates of global net primary production and equilibrium biomass of woody vegetation from MODIS GPP. Annual Meeting, American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA, December 14-18. (Published abstract)
Kellner, James R.; Asner, Gregory P.; Kinney, Kealohanuiopuna M.; Loarie, S.R.; Knapp, David E.; Kennedy-Bowdoin, Ty; Questad, Erin; Cordell, Susan; Thaxton, Jarrod M. 2009. Seasonal dynamics and woodland community type regulate the fire fuel properties of the invasive grass Pennisetum setaceum. SERDP/ ESTCP Partners in Environmental Technology Technical Symposium & Workshop, December 1-3. Washington D.C. (Published abstract)
Kellner, James R.; Cordell, Susan. 2010. Remote sensing landscape fuel loads and an annual forb invasion. Western Society of Weed Science, Annual Meeting. Waikoloa, HI, March 8-11. (Published abstract)
Kinney, Kealoha M.; Asner, Gregory P.; Kellner, James R.; Knapp, David E.; Kennedy-Bowdoin, Ty; Questad, Erin J.; Cordell, Susan; Thaxton, Jarrod M. 2010. Remote sensing of potential restoration in a Hawaiian subalpine dry forest. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, August 1-6. (Published abstract)
Ammondt, S.; Litton, C.M. 2010. Competition between native Hawaiian plants and the invasive grass Urochloa maxima: implications of functional biodiversity for restoration. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA. (Published abstract)
Chynoweth, M.W.; Litton, C.M.; Lepczyk, C.A.; Cordell, S. 2010. Movement ecology of feral goats (Capra hircus) in Hawaiian dryland ecosystems. Hawai⿿i Conservation Conference, August 4-6, 2010, Honolulu, HI. (Published abstract)
Cordell, S.; Ostertag, R.; Rowe, B.; Sweinhart, L.; Vasquez-Radonic, L.; Michaud, J.; Cole, T.C.; Schulten, J.R. 2009. Evaluating barriers to native seedling establishment in an invaded Hawaiian lowland wet forest. Biological Conservation 142(12): 2997-3004
Cordell, Susan. 2010. Restoration of ecosystems invaded by arid perennial grasses. Western Society of Weed Science, Annual Meeting. Waikoloa, HI, March 8-11. (Published abstract)
Cordell, Susan; Kellner, James R. 2010. The potential for restoration to break the grass/fire cycle in dryland ecosystems in Hawaii. DoD Pacific Islands Threatened, Endangered and At-Risk Species Workshop II, February 2-4. Honolulu, HI (Published abstract)
Crow, S.; Litton, C.; Giardina, C. 2009. Carbon input and partitioning along a mean annual temperature gradient in Hawaiian wet tropical forests. Annual Meeting, American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA, December 14-18. (Published abstract)
Crow, S.; Litton, Creighton; Giardina, Christian. 2009. Temperature-dependant shifts in a wet tropical Hawaiian forest ecosystem: impact on belowground carbon stocks, dynamics, and processes. Annual Meeting, American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA, December 14-18. (Published abstract)
Scowcroft, Paul G. 2010. A western approach to restoring Acacia koa to abandoned upland pastures: natural regeneration and stand development over 21 years. Hawaii Conservation Conference, Honolulu, HI, August 4-6. (Published abstract)
Leopold, Devin; Fukami, Tad; Giardina, Christian; Gruner, Daniel S.; Flaspohler, David J. 2010. The effects of fragment size on ecosystem composition, structure and function in a model kipuka landscape. Hawaii Conservation Conference, Honolulu, HI, August 4-6. (Published abstract)
Litton, Creighton; Giardina, Christian. 2009. Carbon input and partitioning across a 5°C mean annual temperature gradient in Hawaiian wet tropical forests. Annual Meeting, American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA, December 14-18. (Published abstract)
Litton, Creighton; Giardina, Christian. 2010. Effects of mean annual temperature on carbon input and partitioning in Hawaiian wet tropical forests. Annual Meeting, Ecological Society of America, Pittsburg, PA, August 1-6. (Published abstract)
Scowcroft, Paul G.; Friday, James B.; Haraguchi , Janis; Idol , Travis ; Dudley, Nicklos S. 2010. Poor stem form as a potential limitation to private investment in koa plantation forestry in Hawaii. Small-scale Forestry 9:243-262.
Selvig, Meagan; Moseley, Rachel; Questad, Erin; Cordell, Susan; Thaxton, Jarrod. 2010. Restoration potential in three Hawaiian dryland ecosystems. Hawaii Conservation Conference, Honolulu, HI, August 4-6. (Published abstract)
Thaxton, Jarrod M.; Cole, T. Colleen; Cordell, Susan; Cabin, Robert J.; Sandquist, Darren R.; Litton, Creighton M. 2010. Native species regeneration following ungulate exclusion and nonnative grass removal in a remnant Hawaiian dry forest. Pacific Science 64(4): 533-544. 10.2984/64.4.533

Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Cordell and Giardina continue to co-lead with UH colleagues the Hawaii NEON program, and participated in the first Domain 20 Science and Education Coordination Committee meeting. Giardina continues to lead the NEON Microbiology Pilot study in Laupahoehoe. Cordell continues her dry forest restoration research to understand how restoration can break the non-native grass/wildfire cycle in tropical dry forest systems (DOD, $1.8 million). Cordell and Giardina have been invited to speak at national and international conferences and workshops to discuss restoration and invasive species research, climate change and ecosystem function. Cordell and Giardina have initiated research in the Republic of Palau to understand how the replacement of tropical forests with savanna vegetation impacts ecosystem services. State foresters on Palau assisted with the project, as well as other locally based scientists from the Belau National Museum. Cordell continues to participate in leadership roles (advisory committees, and resource consultant) on tropical dry forest issues in Hawaii. Cordell and Giardina, together with University colleagues have completed the first census of a permanent plot system on the Island of Hawaii which has recently been included in a global network (Center for Tropical Forest Science). In her role as Science Leader for the HETF, Cordell has facilitated numerous planning and infrastructure activities towards the development of HETF as a highly functional and effective EF. Cordell continues to serve as a delegate for the Organization for Tropical Science and co-mentored 4 Native American students through the OTS Native American and Pacific Island Internship Program. Giardina continues to lead research efforts in fragmentation effects on ecosystems with Stanford University, on climate change impacts on native forests with UH colleagues, and mentor NSF REU funded interns through the UH PIPES program. Giardina also continues to play leadership roles with the Hawaii Restoration and Conservation Initiative (Co-lead), Hawaii Conservation Alliance (Executive team), and Pacific Island Climate Change Committee. Scowcroft continues to examine factors regulating productivity of secondary stands of Acacia koa⿿a highly valuable timber tree and keystone species in montane Hawaiian forests. Scowcroft and University of Hawaii collaborators established a NRCS-funded project to examine the efficacy of alternative site preparation treatments to naturally regenerate koa on deforested high-elevation sites. Scowcroft has presented this work to federal, state, and NGOs as well as the effectiveness of soil scarification as a tool for establishing natural koa regeneration in former pasture land. Scowcroft supplied the manager of Hakalau Forest NWR with a report describing tree survival, growth, crown architecture, height and diameter class distributions, and the effects of aspect and micro-topography on tree and stand characteristics of the oldest plantings in the Refuge. To determine the impact of game management on critical habitat of the palila (Loxioides bailleui), an endangered Hawaiian forest bird, Scowcroft collaborated with UC Davis faculty and graduate students in the reinventory of vegetation inside and outside sheep exclosures. PARTICIPANTS: Forest Service: Christian Giardina, Susan Cordell, Paul Scowcroft, Thomas Cole, Cheyenne Perry, Bernice Hwang, Mike Long. Non-Forest Service: faculty at University of Hawaii, Carnegie Institution, Stanford University, University of Puerto Rico, and University of California at Los Angeles and Davis, and University of California Santa Cruz. TARGET AUDIENCES: In Hawaii and the Pacific Islands, the target audiences for forest restoration research are federal, state, local and private landholders of degraded or deforested landscapes. Included are the Hawaii Departments of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Defense, Kamehameha Schools, the ranches of Haleakala, Umikoa, Kukaiau and Kealakekua, The Nature Conservancy, Hawaii Forest Industries Association, Guam, Palau, and Yap Forestry, Belau Museum, and the Palau Conservation Society. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: none

Impacts
Research impacts include a detailed understanding of the role of exotic species in landscape restoration; the first prescriptions for dry forest restoration in Hawaii, including procedures and products for controlling invasive grasses, and using remote sensing and satellite imagery to model and predict the timing of grass ⿿green-up⿝ which will assist land managers towards effective fire fuel control and restoration activities. Cordell's research was recently highlighted as a 2008 Healthy Forests and Rangelands Success Story. Giardina⿿s leadership has lead to the establishment of a state wide initiative poised to address larger landscape scale questions in restoration in conservation. Natural Resources Conservation Service staff located on the island of Hawaii have been given the latest information on the effectiveness of Imazypir herbicide and disk plowing to simultaneously stimulate germination of buried koa seeds and control introduced pasture grasses during tree establishment, and they are using that information to advise landholders of their silvo-pasture management options.

Publications

Baker, Patrick J.; Scowcroft, Paul G.; Ewel, John J. 2009. Koa (Acacia koa) ecology and silviculture. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-211. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. 129 p
Brooks, S.; Cordell, S.; Perry, L. 2009. Broadcast seeding as a potential tool to reestablish native species in degraded dry forest ecosystems in Hawaii. Ecological Rest. 27(3): 300-305. (doi:10.3368/er.27.3.300).
Cavaleri, M.A.; Sack, L.; Cordell, S.; Michaud, J.D.; Ostertag, R. 2009. Hawaiian ecohydrology: Water use of native and invasive trees in a lowland tropical rainforest. 94th Ecological Society of America Meeting, Albuquerque NM. August 2-7, 2009. (Published abstract).
Cordell, S. 2009. Research Approaches to Invasive Species Issues and Restoration of Ecosystem Processes in Hawaii and the Pacific. International Workshop on Forest Restoration After Ice-snow Disaster and Forest Health & Restoration. May 27-28, 2009. Lijiang, China.
Cordell, S.; Asner, G.P.; Thaxton, J.; Kellner, J.R.; Knapp, D.E.; Kennedy-Bowdoin, T.; Ambagis, S.; Kinney, K.M.; Questad, E.; Selvig, M.; Biggs, M.; Johansen, J. 2008. The Potential for Restoration to Break the Grass/Fire Cycle in Dryland Ecosystems in Hawai`i. SERDP/ ESTCP Partners in Environmental Technology Technical Symposium & Workshop, December 2-4. Washington D.C. (Published abstract).
Cordell, S.; McClellan, M.; Carter, Y.Y.; Hadway, L.J. 2008. Towards restoration of Hawaiian tropical dry forests: the Kaupulehu outplanting program. Pacific Conservation Biology 14(4): 279-284.
Cordell, S.; Sandquist, D.R. 2008. The impact of an invasive African bunchgrass (Pennisetum setaceum) on water availability and productivity of canopy trees within a tropical dry forest in Hawaii. Functional Ecology 22:1008-1017. (doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2008.01471.x).
Ewel, J.J.; Mazzarino, M.J. 2008. Competition from below for light and nutrients shifts productivity among tropical species. PNAS 105(48):18836-18841. (doi: 10.1073/pnas.0807216105
Fissore, C.; Giardina, C.P.; Kolka, R.; Trettin, C. 2009. Soil Organic Carbon Quality in Forested Mineral Wetlands in North America. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 41: 458-466.
Fissore, C.; Giardina, C.P.; Swanston, C.; Torn, M.; King, G.; Kolka, R. 2009. Variable temperature sensitivity of soil organic carbon in North American forests. Global Change Biology 15:1-9.
Friday, J.B.; Idol, T.; Scowcroft, P.G.; Meason, D.; Martinez Morales, R. 2009. Carbon sequestration possibilities in koa forest restoration. Hawaii Conservation Conference. July 28-30th, 2009. Honolulu, HI. (Published abstract).
Giardina, C.P. 2009. Methods for examining soil carbon decomposition to climate change: strengths and weaknesses. International Soil Organic Matter Workshop. July 6-9th, 2009. Colorado Springs, CO. (Invited).
Giardina, C.P.; Wichman, C. 2009. Establishing a Large Scale Restoration Initiative for Hawaii - an Overview. 2009 annual meeting of the Hawaii Conservation Conference. July 27-30th, 2009, Honolulu, HI (Invited).
Inman-Narahari, F.; Nelson-Kaula, K.K.; Ostertag, R.; Cordell, S.; Giardina, C.P.; Sack, L. 2009. Regeneration patterns in a native dominated Hawaiian montane wet forest. 94th Ecological Society of America Meeting, Albuquerque NM. August 2-7, 2009.
Inman-Narahari, F.; Ostertag, R.; Giardina, C.P.; Cordell, S.; Sack, L. 2009. The Hawaii Permanent Plot Network: Research Infrastructure for Studying the Effects of Climate Change and Forest Dynamics. Hawaii Conservation Conference. July 28-30th, 2009. Honolulu, HI. (Published abstract).
Karberg, N.J.; Scott, N.A.; Giardina, C.P. 2008. Methods for estimating litter decomposition. C.M. Hoover (ed.) Field Measurements for Forest Carbon Monitoring (Chp. 8). Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 240 p.
Kinslow, F.; Cordell, S.; Perry, C. 2009. The Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest: New Opportunities for Research in Hawaii. . Hawaii Conservation Conference. July 28-30th, 2009. Honolulu, HI. (Published abstract).
Leary, J.; Friday, J.B.; Idol, T.; Scowcroft, P.; Sporleder, R. 2009. Koa pasture scarification, silvopasture and plantation. Proceedings of a workshop at Kukaiau Ranch, 17 August 2009. Accessed October 1, 2009. Available online at: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/Workshops/kukaiau17Aug09.html
Litton, C.; Giardina, C.P. 2008. Carbon allocation in response to temperature. December 5-9th, 2008. Annual Meeting, American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA. (Published abstract).
Litton, C.M.; Giardina, C.P. 2008. Below-ground carbon flux and partitioning: global patterns and response to temperature. Functional Ecology 22:941-954
Litton, C.M.; Sandquist, D.R.; Cordell, S. 2009. Impacts of nonnative grass invasion and precipitation variability on carbon partitioning in a Hawaiian tropical dry forest. 94th Ecological Society of America Meeting, Albuquerque NM. August 2-7, 2009. (Published abstract).
Liu, L.; King, J.; Giardina, C.P.; Booker, F. 2009. Transient effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 and tropospheric O3 on litter chemistry and decomposition in a northern hardwood ecosystem. Ecosystems 12: 401-416.
Liu, L.; King, J.S.; Booker, F.L.; Giardina, C.P.; Allen, H.L.; Hu, S. 2009. Enhanced litter input rather than changes in litter chemistry drive soil carbon and nitrogen cycles under elevated CO2: a microcosm study. Global Change Biology 15: 441-453.
Nelson-Kaula, K.K.; Inman-Narahari, F.; Ostertag, R.; Giardina, C.P.; Cordell, S.; Sack, L. 2009. Electronic data collection methods for tree and seedling census data in Forest Dynamics plots. 94th Ecological Society of America Meeting, Albuquerque NM. August 2-7, 2009. (Published abstract).
Ostertag, R.; Cordell, S.; Michaud, J.; Cole, T.C.; Schulten, J.R.; Publico, K.M.; Enoka, J.H. 2009. Ecosystem and restoration consequences of invasive woody species removal in Hawaiian lowland wet forest. Ecosystems 12: 503-515.
Questad, E.J.; Cordell, S.; Sandquist, D.. 2009. Functional diversity and invasive species in Hawaiian forests. The 10th International Congress of Ecology. Brisbane, Australia. August 16-21, 2009.
Questad, E.J.; Thaxton, J.M.; Cordell, S. 2009. Invasion resistance in Hawaiian tropical dry forests. 94th Ecological Society of America Meeting, Albuquerque NM. August 2-7, 2009. (Published abstract).
Sack, L.; Cordell, S.; Ostertag, R.; Giardina, C.; Inman, F.; Ellsworth, L. 2008. The Hawaii Permanent Plot Network for Monitoring, Research, and Education Nahelehele Dryland Forest Symposium, Keauhou Hawaii, February 22, 2008. (Published abstract).
Zahawi, R.A.; Holl, K.D.; Cole, R.J.; Ostertag, R.; Cordell, S. 2009. Growth and development of seedlings planted in plantations and tree islands to facilitate tropical forest recovery. 94th Ecological Society of America Meeting, Albuquerque NM. August 2-7, 2009. (Published abstract).

Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Giardina analyzed data from continental-scale global change experiments, resulting in two publications. Performed an assessment of the 500 acre Cetti Bay watershed in Guam in collaboration with Karen Bennett that resulted in a 10 year, $5,000,000 restoration plan. Giardina mentored 5 interns during the summer of 2008 through the University of Hawaii Hilo Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science. Giardina served on the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) Microbiology Organizing Committee, which met at two national workshops, and from which a white paper has been issued to the US National Science Foundation. Giardina reviewed 20 manuscripts for journals as a peer reviewer. Giardina led 14 tours of the HETF. Giardina participated on the Hawaii Conservation Alliance sub-committee for Strategic Conservation and Restoration Planning in Hawaii (four meetings in FY08). Giardina served on a Hawaii Leadership Team that developed a climate change white paper that is being used to shape the next funding proposal from the University of Hawaii to NSF's infrastructure improvement program - EPSCoR (Anticipated award - $15,000,000 over 5 years). Cordell and Giardina continue to co-lead with UH colleagues the Hawaii NEON program, and hosted a major site visit by NSF/NEON. Cordell initiated a DoD funded 4 year research program to understand how restoration of native forests can break the non-native grass/wildfire cycle in tropical dry systems in Hawaii and the Pacific ($1.8 million). Cordell continues to participate in leadership roles (advisory committees, resource consultant, and invited speaker) on tropical dry forest issues in Hawaii. Cordell and Giardina, together with University colleagues have initiated a permanent plot system on the Island of Hawaii which has recently been included in a global network (Center for Tropical Forest Science). In her role as Science Leader for the HETF, Cordell has facilitated numerous planning and infrastructure activities towards the development of HETF as a highly functional and effective EF. Cordell continues to serve as a delegate for the Organization for Tropical Science and co-mentored 3 native American students through the OTS Native American and Pacific Island Internship Program. Scowcroft continues to examine factors that regulate productivity of Acacia koa - one of the world's most valuable timber species and a keystone canopy species in Hawaii. Scowcroft provided data and expert information on the productivity, ecology and silviculture of Acacia koa to NGOs contracted by private and state landholders to evaluate the economics of koa forestry for conservation and commercial purposes. Scowcroft worked in collaboration with the University of Hawaii's weed specialist, to establish demonstrations of the effectiveness of the non-selective herbicide, Imazypir, in controlling invasive introduced grasses and facilitating koa reforestation on state and federal lands. PARTICIPANTS: Christian Giardina, Susan Cordell, Paul Scowcroft, Jan Haraguchi, Bernice Hwang, Faculty at University of Hawaii, Carnegie Institution, University of Puerto Rico, and University of California, Los Angeles TARGET AUDIENCES: In Hawaii, the target audiences for forest restoration research are federal, state, local and private landholders of degraded or deforested landscapes. Included are the Hawaii Departments of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Defense, Kamehameha Schools, Haleakala, Umikoa, Kukaiau and Kealakekua Ranches, The Nature Conservancy, and Hawaii Forest Industries Association. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Research impacts include a detailed understanding of the role of exotic species in landscape restoration; the first prescriptions for dry forest restoration in Hawaii, including procedures and products for controlling invasive grasses, applying a weed tolerant, fast growing native species seed mix to gain control of the understory, and protecting existing and developing regeneration from animals and fire; the first successful demonstrations of dry forest restoration in Hawaii while raising awareness of invasive species impacts on the biodiversity and functioning of this endangered ecosystem; leadership and information to private landowners and country, state and federal agencies designing and managing native plant restoration efforts in Hawaii, the Pacific and Costa Rica.Cordell's research was recently highlighted in the 2008 FS Science Perspectives titled "Repelling Invaders". Because publicly available information on the potential growth and yield of koa is limited, the data provided by the Institute to NGOs was essential to their developing realistic models of productivity and economic viability under alternative silvicultural regimes. Findings of silvicultural research on koa were publicized in Hawaii by a Station news release that was picked up by leading local newspapers and radio stations, including Hawaii Public Radio. That release was also featured in the April 4, 2008 issue of FS Today and in the March 8, 2008 release of Science Daily, an on-line source of recent scientific research findings. Based on the Institute's koa silviculture research findings, The Nature Conservancy has implemented a thinning program in over-stocked secondary stands of koa found in the Kona-Hema Preserve, island of Hawaii.

Publications

Giardina, C. 2008. Forests. Encyclopedia of Global Warming and Climate Change. Sage Publications, Inc, 1552 p. (Invited).
Giardina, C. 2008. Gross Primary Production. Encyclopedia of Global Warming and Climate Change. Sage Publications, Inc, 1552 p. (Invited).
Giardina, C. 2008. Soil Organic Carbon. Encyclopedia of Global Warming and Climate Change. Sage Publications, Inc, 1552 p. (Invited).
Hancock, J.; Bradley, K.; Giardina, C.P.; Pregitzer, K. 2008. The influence of soil type and altered lignin biosynthesis on the physiology, growth and carbon allocation in Populus tremuloides. Plant and Soil 308: 239-253.
Idol, T.; Baker, P.J.; Meason, D. 2007. Indicators of forest ecosystem productivity and nutrient status across precipitation and temperature gradients in Hawaii. Journal of Tropical Ecology 23: 693-704.
Baker, P.J.; Robinson, A.P.; Ewel, J.J. 2008. Sudden and sustained response of Acacia koa crop trees to crown release in stagnant stands. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 38: 656-666.
Fissore, C.; Giardina, C.P.; Kolka, R; Trettin, C.; King, G; Jurgensen, M.; Barton, C.; McDowell, D. 2008. Temperature and vegetation effects on soil organic carbon quality along a forested mean annual temperature gradient in North America. Global Change Biology 14:193-205.
Fissore, C.; Giardina, C.P.; Ryan, M.; Swanston, C.; Vucetich J. 2007. The response of soil carbon decomposition to temperature. Published Abstract of the American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, December 5-8, San Francisco.
Friday, J.B., Scowcroft, P.G., and Ares, A. 2008. Responses of native and invasive plant species to selective logging in an Acacia koa-Metrosideros polymorpha forest in Hawaii. Applied Vegetation Science. doi: 10.3170/2008-7-18538, published online 5 May 2008.
Idol, T.; Scowcroft, P.G.; Dudley, N.; Simmons, P.; Dancil, K.; Friday, J.B. 2008. The value of managing Acacia koa forests. Hawaii Forest Journal 2: 8-11.
Liu, L.; King, J.; Giardina, C.P. 2007. Effects of Elevated Atmospheric CO2 and Tropospheric O3 on nutrient dynamics: Decomposition of Leaf Litter in Trembling Aspen and Paper Birch Communities. Plant and Soil 299: 65-82.
Litton C.M.; Sandquist D.R.; Cordell S. 2008. A non-native invasive grass increases soil carbon flux in a Hawaiian tropical dry forest. Global Change Biology 14: 726-739.
Ostertag, R.; Giardina, C.P.; Cordell. S. 2008. Understory Colonization of Eucalyptus Plantations in Hawaii in Relation to Light and Nutrient Levels. Restoration Ecology 16: 363-374. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-100X.2007.00321.x
Ostertag, R.; Cordell, S.; Michaud, J.; Cole, T.C; Schulten, J.R.; Publico, K.; Enoka, J.; Rowe, B.; Sweinhart, L.; and Radonic, L. 2008. Restoration attempts through non-native species removal: experimental results from a lowland Hawaiian forest. Developing the Las Cruces Biological Station as a Center for Research on Tropical Forest Conservation and Restoration in Multi-use Landscapes. Las Cruces Biological Field Station, Costa Rica, July 23-August 1, 2008 (Published abstract).
Sack, L.; Cordell, S.; Ostertag, R.; Giardina, C.P.; Inman, F.; Ellsworth, L. 2008. The Hawaii Permanent Plot Network for Monitoring, Research, and Education Nahelehele Dryland Forest Symposium, Keauhou Hawaii, February 22, 2008 (Published Abstract)
Sack, L.; Cordell, S.; Ostertag, R.; Giardina, C.P.; Inman, F.; Ellsworth, L. 2008. HIPPNET The Hawaii Permanent Plot Network for Monitoring, Research, and Education, Hawaii Conservation Conference. July 25-27, Honolulu, HI. (Published abstract).
Schulten, J.R.; Cole, T.C.; Cordell, S.; Publico, K.M.; Ostertag, R.; Enoka, J.E.; Michaud, J.D. 2008. Resource competition of native and non-native species in Hawaiian lowland wet forests: Implications for restoration. Ecological Society of America. August 5-10. Milwaukee, WI. (Published abstract).
Scowcroft, P.G.; Haraguchi, J.E.; Fujii, D.M. 2008. Understory structure in a 23-year-old Acacia koa forest and 2-year growth response to silvicultural treatments. Forest Ecology and Management 255: 1604-1617.
Sweinhart, L.; Rowe, B.; Ostertag, R.; and Cordell, S. 2008. Re-establishment Efforts through Non-native Plant Species Removal: Experimental Results from a Hawaiian Lowland Wet Forest. AAAS, Waimea HI, June 2008 (Published Abstract)
Taylor, G.; Tallis, M.; Giardina, C.P.; Percy, K.; Miglietta, F.; Sharma, P.; Gioli, B.; Calfapietra, C.; Gielen, B.; Kubiske, M.; Scarascia-Mugnozza, G.; Kets, K.; Long, S.; D. Karnosky. 2008. Future atmospheric CO2 leads to delayed autumnal senescence. Global Change Biology 14: 264-275.

Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07

Outputs
Dr. Giardina has been conducting research investigating how forest restoration affects or enhances ecosystems services with a focus on carbon storage and sequestration, but also including biogeochemical function, canopy function and biodiversity recruitment, in Hawaii. Giardina also has been conducting research on how exotic plantations facilitate recruitment of native biodiversity in Hawaii and the western Pacific, and how forest fragmentation affects remaining plant and animal biodiversity. Dr. Cordell has been conducting research on the impacts of invasive grasses on dry forest ecosystems, and barriers to their restoration. Globally tropical dry forests are highly endangered. Remnant patches of Hawaii's diverse and once extensive native dry forests continue to be degraded as a result of land development, fire, grazing by nonnative ungulates, and invasion by alien plants, and now cover a small fraction of original range. These systems are so degraded that even the most pristine remnant patches cannot be passively restored, but instead require active restoration and management including removal of competing exotic vegetation and the propogation and planting of native plant species. To understand how this endangered ecosystem can be saved, Cordell and University collaborators have taken research conducted at the Kaupulehu Forest Reserve that develop prescriptions to overcome constraints on the regeneration of native dry forest species and are now applying these prescriptions to other locations in Hawaii. Cordell recently received a $1.5 million grant from the Dept. of Defense to examine how to restore native dry forest species to lands now degraded by introduced African savanah grasses. These grasses have established on Dept. of Defense lands and caused a grass invasion - wildfire cycle that threatens remaining stands of native dry forest as well as the health and well being of Island citizens. Dr. Scowcroft has examined biotic and abiotic factors that regulate productivity of young plantations of Acacia koa as well as developing management guidelines to mitigate constraints on koa forest restoration efforts. Koa is one of the world's most valuable timber resources as well as serving a critical ecological role in Hawaii's native forests, and Scowcroft continues to collaborate with partners at the U.S. Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Kamehameha Schools, and researchers from the University of Hawaii and Hawaii Agriculture Research Center to conduct research that is yielding basic information about forest responses to silvicultural treatments. Scowcroft recently completed with colleagues a GTR monograph on koa (now in press) that synthesizes all know information on the physiology, ecology and silviculture of this important tree. In addition, Scowcroft has been collaborating with University colleagues to understand how various herbicide and nutrition treatments can be used to facilitate stand establishment and enhance growth rates for koa.

Impacts
Research impacts include a detailed understanding of how forestry tree species selection and management decisions about nutrition and tree spacing may alter recruitment of native biodiversity and the invasion of weedy species, in Hawaii, Yap and Palau with plans to initiate studies in Guam; continued development of the first prescriptions for dry forest restoration in Hawaii, including procedures and products for controlling invasive grasses, applying a weed tolerant, fast growing native species seed mix to gain control of the understory, and protecting existing and developing regeneration from animals and fire; the first successful demonstrations of dry forest restoration in Hawaii while raising awareness of invasive species impacts on the biodiversity and functioning of this endangered ecosystem; leadership and information to private landowners and county, state and federal agencies designing and managing native plant restoration efforts in Hawaii.

Publications

Fisher, J.B.; Goldstein, G.; Jones, T. J.; Cordell, S. 2007. Wood vessel Diameter is related to elevation and Ecotype in the tree Metrosideros polymorpha (Myrtaceae). American Journal of Botany 94: 709-715.
Fissore, C. 2007. The effects of temperature and forest type on soil carbon quality and decomposition. Forest Resources and Environmental Sciences, Michigan Technological University. Number of pages unknown. Ph.D. dissertation.
Friend, A.; Pickens, J.; Froese, R.; Webster, C.; Giardina, C. P. ; Schmierer, J. 2007. Forest carbon sequestration potential in upper Michigan. Abstract. U.S. Department of Agriculture symposium on greenhouse gases and carbon sequestration in agriculture & forestry, 21-24 February, Baltimore, MD.
Froese, R.; Webster, C.; Giardina, C. P.; Pickens, J.; Schmierer, J.; Friend, A. 2006. Managing carbon in Michigan's upper peninsula carbon: Offset potentials in northern hardwoods under DOE 1605(b) voluntary reporting guidelines. Technical Report prepared for DTE Energy, Inc. Number of pages unknown.
Bradley, K. L.; Hancock, J.; Giardina, C. P.; Pregitzer, K. S. 2007. The response of microbial community composition and abundance to altered lignin biosynthesis in Populus tremuloides across diverse soil types. Plant and Soil 294: 185-201.
Cole, C.; Cordell, S; Ostertag, B.; Hart, P. J.; Hughes, R. F. 2006. Hawaii's vanishing heritage: lowland wet forests. Brochure. Number of pages unknown.
Cordell, C.; Kauffman, J. B.; Cole, C. 2007. The Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest: New opportunities for research, education, and demonstration in the Pacific. Abstract. 2007 Hawaii conservation conference. 25-27 July, Honolulu, HI.
Cordell, S.; Giardina, C. P.; Cole, C. 2007. Trip report to: The Republic of Palau and Yap, Federated States of Micronesia, submitted to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, International Programs. 13 p.
Cordell, S.; Kauffman, J. B. 2006. The Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest: New opportunities for research, education, and demonstration. Brochure. Number of pages unknown.
Cordell, S.; Kauffman, J. B. 2006. The Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest: New opportunities for research, education and demonstration. Abstract. In: The Association for Fire Ecology, Fire Congress, 13-17 November; San Diego, CA.
Cordell, S.; Sack, L.; Ostertag, B.; Giardina, C. P.; Cole, C. 2006. The Hawaii Permanent Plot Network (HIPPNET). Brochure. Number of pages unknown.
Cordell, S.; Thaxton, J. M.; Litton, C. M.; Cabin, R. J.; Sandquist, D. R.; Cole, C. 2007. The influence of native plant characteristics and site condition on restoration approaches in grass-invaded remnant Hawaiian dry forests. Abstract. Ecological Society of America. 5-10 August, San Jose, CA.
Gahagan, A. 2007. Carbon fluxes and storage after 60 years of stand development in red pine (Pinus resinosa) plantations and mixed hardwood stands in northern Michigan old fields. Forest Resources and Environmental Sciences, Michigan Technological University. Number of pages unknown. M.S. thesis.
Giardina, C. P.; Gahagan, A. 2007. Carbon storage and sequestration in pine and mixed hardwood stands established in Michigan old fields. Abstract. Annual meeting, Ecological Society of America, 5-10 August, San Jose, CA.
Giardina, C. P.; Litton, C. M.; Thaxton, J. M.; Cordell, S.; Sandquist, D. R. 2007. Science driven restoration: A candle in a demon haunted world - Response to Cabin (2007). Restoration Ecology. 15: 171-176.
Hancock, J. 2007. The influence of soil type and altered lignin biosynthesis on the physiology, growth and carbon allocation in Populus tremuloides. Forest Resources and Environmental Sciences, Michigan Technological University. Number of pages unknown. M.S. thesis.
Hancock, J.; Loya, W. M.; Giardina, C. P.; Li, L.; Chiang, V.; Pregitzer, K. 2007. Effects of altered lignin biosynthesis on physiology, growth, biomass partitioning, and soil carbon formation. New Phytologist 173: 732-742.
Sandquist, D. R.; Cordell, S. 2007. Functional diversity of carbon gain, water use and leaf allocation traits for trees of a threatened lowland dry forest in Hawaii. American Journal of Botany. 94: 1459-1469.
Scowcroft, P. G.; Friday, J. B.; Idol, T.; Dudley, N.; Haraguchi, J.; Meason, D. 2007. Growth response of Acacia koa trees to thinning, grass control and phosphorus fertilization in a secondary forest in Hawaii. Forest Ecology and Management 239: 69-80.
Scowcroft, P. G.; Friday, J. B.; Idol, T.; Meason, D. 2007. Plantation koa: another inconvenient truth? Abstract. 2007 Hawaii Conservation Conference. July 25-27, Honolulu, HI. (Published abstract).
Wong, C. P. 2007. Hawaiian lowland wet forests: Impacts of invasive plants on light availability, advisors: Susan Cordell (1) and Rebecca Ostertag (2) Journal of Young Investigators. 6 (16): http://www.jyi.org/research/re.php?id=1080.
Kauffman, J. B.; Ainsworth, A.; Cordell, S.; Litton, C. M.; Thaxton, J. M. 2006. Changing fire dynamics and ecosystem responses of Pacific Islands landscapes. Proceedings Paper. 3rd International Fire Ecology & Management Congress. cd format, no page numbers.
Kauffman, J. B.; Cordell, S.; Cole, C. 2007. The Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest: New opportunities for research, education and demonstration in the Pacific. Abstract. Ecological Society of America. 5-10 August. San Jose, CA.
King, J.; Giardina, C. P.; Pregitzer, K. S.; Friend, A. 2007. Biomass partitioning in red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) along a chronosequence in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 37: 93-102.
Leary, J. K.; Scowcroft, P. G.; Borthakur, D.; Hue, N. V.; DeFrank, J.; Leung, P. S. 2006. Ecological assessment and economic feasibility of a practical strategy for regenerating koa forests in Hawaii. Progress report for TSTAR project no. 2005-34135-16007. 10 p.
Leary, J. K.; Scowcroft, P. G.; DeFrank, J.; Borthakur, D. 2007. Influences of herbicide/fertilizer combination as repeated applications to control invasive stoloniferous kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) in abandoned pastures in Hawaii. Abstract. Weed Science Society of America, 47th annual meeting. 5-8 February, San Antonio, TX.
Leary, J. K.; Singleton, P. W.; Scowcroft, P. G.; Borthakur, D. 2006. Symbiotic diversity in the cosmopolitan genus Acacia. Symbiosis 41: 107-117.
McClure, J. 2006. Hydrologic contributions to baseflow for a northern old growth riparian area. Forest Resources and Environmental Sciences, Michigan Technological University. Number of pages unknown. M.S. thesis.
Meason, D.; Idol, T.; Friday, J. B.; Scowcroft, P. G. 2007. Potential mechanisms that limit koa growth and what it could mean for koa management - a case study. Abstract. 2007 Hawaii Conservation Conference. July 25-27, Honolulu, HI. (Published abstract).
Ostertag, R.; Cordell, S.; Michaud, J.; Cole, C. 2007. Restoration attempts through alien species removal: experimental results from a lowland wet forest in Hawaii. Abstract. The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation Annual Meeting. July 15-19, Morelia, Mexico. (Published abstract).
Sack, L.; Cordell, S.; Ostertag, R.; Giardina, C. P.; Cole, C. 2007. How do Hawaiian Native Forests Function over the Long-term? The Hawaii Permanent Plot Network (HIPPNET) for Monitoring, Research and Education. Abstract. 2007 Hawaii Conservation Conference. July 25-27, Honolulu, HI. (Published abstract).

Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06

Outputs
Giardina has been conducting research investigating how afforestation with exotic forestry trees enhances ecosystems services including biogeochemical function, canopy function and biodiversity recruitment, in Hawaii and elsewhere. Cordell has been conducting research on the impacts of invasive grasses on dry forest ecosystems, and barriers to their restoration. Globally tropical dry forests are highly endangered. In Hawaii, over 90% of the original dry forests are now gone, compared with 42% of Hawaii's original rain forests. Remnant patches of Hawaii's diverse and once extensive native dry forests continue to be degraded as a result of land development, fire, grazing by nonnative ungulates, and invasion by alien plants. This degradation is so extensive that there is little hope these systems can recover without active management including the reintroduction of native species. Even within a nearly pristine dry forest fragment on the Island of Hawaii (the Kaupulehu Preserve) where ungulates have been excluded for 40+ years, invading understory grasses have completely eliminated the regeneration of native canopy trees. To understand how this endangered ecosystem can be saved, Cordell and University collaborators at California State University - Fullerton have conducted research to understand the reproductive, physiological and environmental constraints on the regeneration of native dry forest species. Scowcroft has examined factors regulating productivity and management guidelines to mitigate those factors that have hindered koa (Acacia koa) forest restoration efforts. Scowcroft, in conjunction with partners at the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, and Kamehameha Schools, and researchers from the University of Hawaii and Hawaii Agriculture Research Center has conducted research that as yielded basic information about controls on productivity and forest responses to silvicultural treatments. Scowcroft recently developed stocking guidelines for koa, and showed that trees on moist windward sites not only require less canopy space for a given stem diameter than on drier leeward sites, they also maintain growth rates with smaller crown. The more efficient use of growing space by trees from moist than dry sites implies that thinning would be most effective if done early in stand development on moist sites and later on dry sites.

Impacts
Research impacts include a detailed understanding of how agroforestry and forestry tree species may alter air quality and air quality related values though emissions of isoprene; the effects of climate change variables, especially elevated warming, CO2 and ozone on growth performance of planted trees, as well as whole ecosystem carbon cycling; the role of exotic species in landscape restoration; the first prescriptions for dry forest restoration in Hawaii, including procedures and products for controlling invasive grasses, applying a weed tolerant, fast growing native species seed mix to gain control of the understory, and protecting existing and developing regeneration from animals and fire; the first successful demonstrations of dry forest restoration in Hawaii while raising awareness of invasive species impacts on the biodiversity and functioning of this endangered ecosystem; leadership and information to private landowners and country, state and federal agencies designing and managing native plant restoration efforts in Hawaii, Costa Rica, Guam, Madagascar, New Caledonia and Palau; providing land managers at The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii tools to manage secondary koa stands in their Koa-Hema Preserve, island of Hawaii.

Publications

King, J.S.; Kubiske, M. E.; Pregitzer, K. S.; Hendrey, G. R.; Giardina, C.P.; McDonald, E.: Quinn, V. S.; Karnosky, D. F. 2005. Ozone decreases the capacity of CO2 fertilization of forests to offset fossil fuel emissions. New Phytologist 168: 623-636.
Litton, C.M.; Sandquist, D.R.; Cordell, S. 2006. Aboveground live biomass in pristine, invaded and converted tropical dry forests of Hawaii. Forest Ecology and Management 231: 105-113.
Liu, L.; King, J.S.; Giardina, C.P. 2005. Effects of elevated concentrations of atmospheric CO2 and tropospheric O3 on leaf litter production and chemistry in trembling aspen and paper birch communities. Tree Physiology 25:1511-1522.
Norby, R.; DeLucia, E.; Gielen, B.; Calfapietra, C.; Giardina, C.P.; King, J.S.; Ledford, J.; McCarthy, H.; Moore, D.; Ceulemans, R.; De Angelis, P.; Finzi, A. C.; Karnosky, D. F.; Kubiske, M. E.; Lukac, M.; Pregitzer, K. S.; Scarascia-Mugnozza, G. E.; Schlesinger, W.; Oren, R. 2005. Forest response to elevated CO2 is conserved across a broad range of productivity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 102: 18052-18056. Karnosky, D.; King, J.; Darbah, J.; Sober, J.; Sober, A.; Kubiske, M.; Nelson, N.; Giardina, C.P.; Percy, K. 2006. Physiological and Genetic Responses to Ozone in Trees Growing Under Elevated Atmospheric CO2. The International Forestry Review: Forests in the Balance Linking Tradition and Technology 7:89.
Baker, P.; Scowcroft, P. 2005. Stocking guidelines for the endemic Hawaiian hardwood, Acacia koa. Journal of Tropical Forest Science 17: 610-624.
Funk, J.L.; Giardina, C.P.; Knohl, A.; Lerdau, M. 2006. The influence of nutrient availability and stand age on leaf- and canopy-level isoprene flux in a Eucalyptus saligna experimental forest. Journal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences. 111, G02012, doi:10.1029/2005JG000085.
Giardina, C., M. Coleman, J. Hancock, J. King, E. Lilleskov, W. Loya, K. Pregitzer, M. Ryan, and C. Trettin. 2005. The effects of global change on belowground carbon allocation in forests. Chapter 7 in D. Binkley and O. Menyailo (eds), The impacts of global climate change on plant-soil interactions. NATO Science Series, Kluwer Academic Press. Nonner, E.D. 2005. Seed Bank Dynamics and Germination Ecology of Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum). Honolulu: University of Hawaii; 59p. M.S. thesis.
Reed, J.L. 2006 Stand age and overstory effects on wood decomposition in northern Great Lakes red pine and aspen. Houghton: Michigan Technological University; 67p. M.S. thesis.
Brooks, S.; Cordell, S.; Perry, L. 2006. Forest Restoration as a Tool to Reduce Alien Grasses in Dry Forest Ecosystems in Hawaii. Hawaii Conservation Conference Annual Meeting, July 26-28. Honolulu, Hawaii. (Published Abstract).
Cole, C.; Cordell, S.; Ostertag, R.; Michaud, J. 2006. Is water a limiting resource in a Hawaiian rainforest? Hawaii Conservation Conference Annual Meeting, July 26-28. Honolulu, Hawaii. (Published Abstract).
Hancock, J.; Giardina, C.; Bradley, K.; Li, L.; Chiang, V.; Loya, W.; Pregitzer, K. 2006. Effects of Altered Lignin Biosynthesis and Soil Type on Properties of Populus tremuloides. The 92nd Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, August 6-11. Memphis, Tennessee. (Published Abstract).
Kauffman, J. B.; Conry, P.; Imoto, R.; Cordell, S.; Hughes, F. 2006. (Oral Presentation) The Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest: New opportunities for research, education and demonstration. Hawaii Conservation Conference Annual Meeting, July 26-28. Honolulu, Hawaii. (Published Abstract).
Kauffman, J.B.; Mackenzie, R. A.; Cordell, S. 2006. The Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest: New opportunities for tropical stream and watershed research. North American Benthological Society
Loya, W.; Hancock, J.; Giardina, C.; Pregitzer, K.; Li, L.; Chiang, V. 2005. Effects of altered lignin production on soil carbon dynamics. Organic Geochemistry Biannual Meeting. Santa Barbara, California. (Published Abstract).
Martinez, R.; Miura, T.; Idol, T.; Cordell, S. 2006. (Oral Presentation) Large-scale Assessment of Hawaiian Dry Forest Decline and Restoration Potential with Remote Sensing and GIS. Hawaii Conservation Conference Annual Meeting, July 26-28. Honolulu, Hawaii. (Published Abstract).
Scowcroft, P.; Friday, J.B.; Idol, T.; Dudley, N.; Haraguchi, J.; Meason, D. 2006. (Oral Presentation) Targeted silviculture improves koa (Acacia koa) tree growth. Hawaii Conservation Conference Annual Meeting, July 26-28. Honolulu, Hawaii. (Published Abstract).
Thaxton, J.M.; Cole, C.; Cordell, S.; Litton, C.M.; Cabin, R.J.; Sandquist, D.R. 2006. (Oral Presentation) Seedling abundance and diversity following alien grass removal in a disturbed Hawaiian dry forest. The 92nd Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, August 6-11. Memphis, Tennessee. (Published Abstract).
Thaxton, J.M.; Cole, C.; Cordell, S.; Litton, C.M.; Cabin, R.J.; Sandquist, D.R. 2006. (Oral Presentation) Seedling abundance and diversity following alien grass removal in a disturbed Hawaiian dry forest. Hawaii Conservation Conference Annual Meeting, July 26-28. Honolulu, Hawaii. (Published Abstract).

Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05

Outputs
Invasion by a non-native grass into a Hawaiian dry-forest ecosystem has impacted both carbon pools and fluxes. The presence of invasive, C4 fountain grass led to a 7.5-fold increase in understory biomass in grass plots compared to removal plots. Furthermore, tree aboveground net primary productivity was significantly higher in removal plots for both foliage and wood. Conversely, the belowground flux of carbon was significantly higher in grass plots than removal plots. Likewise, annual soil-surface CO2 efflux was about 25% higher in grass plots. Carbon isotope analysis of soil gas efflux indicated that as much as 75% of the C flux from soils in grass plots came from grass respiration and decomposition. We also examined the effects of shade (80% shade vs. ambient light), water (supplemental vs. ambient) and fountain grass removal (bulldozing vs. weed-whack plus herbicide vs. control) on growth and survival of native seedlings. In April 2004, we outplanted 1800 seedlings of 10 native species of trees, shrubs and vines. After one year, our results indicated significant effects of shade, water and fountain grass removal on seedling growth and survival. Seedling survival and growth tended to be highest in plots that were shaded and received supplemental water. In contrast, seedlings tended to perform poorly in plots where fountain grass was left intact, particularly when coupled with a lack of supplemental water. These results indicate that fountain grass may limit native seedlings primarily through competition for water. Furthermore, any positive effects of fountain grass shade appear to be outweighed by negative effects on water availability. Successful forestation of abandoned tropical lowland agricultural lands may be constrained by soil infertility, especially phosphorus (P), and metal toxicities. In Hawaii, acidic Oxisols can contain high concentrations of extractable manganese (Mn) and Ultisols can contain high concentrations of aluminum (Al). Phosphorus fertilizer applied to an Oahu Oxisol as triple superphosphate and at rates of at least 300 kg/ha significantly increased growth of Acacia koa grown from local seed sources, but not from off-site seed sources. Lack of response by off-site seedlings to increased P availability suggested that they might be poorly adapted to cope with the high soil concentrations of Mn. Growth of local koa seedlings was the same for both the Oxisol and Ultisol. Foliar concentrations of Mn were significantly elevated for trees growing in the high-Mn Oxisol. Growth of off-site koa was enhanced by liming to reduce acidity and availability of Al in the Ultisol. These findings indicated that excess Mn probably suppressed growth of koa in Oxisol and excess Al probably did the same in the Ultisol.

Impacts
Dry forest restoration research is designed to explicitly guide and facilitate management efforts that are urgently needed to control invasive grasses and preserve and restore what remains of Hawaii's native dry forests before more species are lost to extinction. In addition, changes in above- and belowground C pools and fluxes are particularly important in light of the ubiquitous presence of invasive species in most terrestrial ecosystems and the need for a better understanding of the role that they will play in global C cycling and climate change. By ameliorating soil infertility, low soil acidity and high concentrations of toxic metal ions land owners can increase the likelihood of successfully re-establishing the endemic koa tree on highly weathered lowland Oxisols and Ultisols, and greater success will encourage others to adopt similar approaches to reforestation of their lowlands.

Publications

Litton, C.M.; Sandquist, D.R.; Cordell, S. 2005. A non-native, invasive grass alters carbon cycling in Hawaiian dry forest. Abstract. In: Program, Ecological Society of America; 2005 August 7-12; Montreal, Canada: Ecol. Soc. Am.; http://abstracts.co.allenpress.com/pweb/esa2005/document/?ID=48583
Lovelock, C.E.; Ewel, J.J. 2005. Links between tree species, symbiotic fungal diversity, and ecosystem functioning in simplified tropical ecosystems. New Phytologist 167(1): 219-229.
Meason, D.; Idol, T.; Friday, J.B.; Scowcroft, P. 2005. Nutrient cycling dynamics in a 27-year-old koa (Acacia koa) forest and the effects of management options. Abstract. In: Program, Hawaii's restoration efforts, Hawaii conservation conference; 2005 July 28-29; Honolulu, HI: Hawaii Conservation Alliance; 75.
Murray C.; Cordell, S.; Thaxton, J.M.; Litton, C.M. 2005. Seedling dynamics and seed rain in a Hawaiian dry forest. Poster. In: Program, Hawaii's restoration efforts, Hawaii conservation conference; 2005 July 28-29; Honolulu, HI. Hawaii Conservation Alliance; 78.
Ostertag, R.; Cordell, S.; Michaud, J.; Murray, C.; Thurkins, C. 2005. Removing the aliens: Experimental results from a lowland wet forest on Hawaii Island. Abstract. In: Program, Hawaii's restoration efforts, Hawaii conservation conference; 2005 July 28-29; Honolulu, HI. Hawaii Conservation Alliance; 80.
Paritosh, B.; Litton, C.M.; Sandquist, D.R.; Cordell, S. 2005. Physiological response to water stress of the endemic Halapepe (Pleomele hawaiiensis) in Hawaiian dry forest. Poster. In: Program, Hawaii's restoration efforts, Hawaii conservation conference; 2005 July 28-29; Honolulu, HI. Hawaii Conservation Alliance; 81.
Scowcroft, P.G.; Silva, J.A. 2005. Effects of phosphorus fertilization, seed source, and soil type on growth of Acacia koa. Journal of Plant Nutrition 28: 1581-1603.
Scowcroft, P.; Haraguchi, J.; Fujii, D. 2005. Traditional silviculture and koa forest conservation are compatible. Abstract. In: Program, Hawaii's restoration efforts, Hawaii conservation conference; 2005 July 28-29; Honolulu, HI. Hawaii Conservation Alliance; 89.
Cornwell, W.K.; Bhaskar, R.; Sack, L.; Cordell, S. 2005. Hydraulic strategies of Metrosideros polymorpha at high and low precipitation. Abstract. In: Program, Ecological Society of America; 2005 August 7-12; Montreal, Canada: Ecol. Soc. Am.; http://abstracts.co.allenpress.com/pweb/esa2005/document/?ID=51617
Ewel, J.J.; Hiremath, A.J. 2005. Plant-plant interactions in tropical forests. In: Burslem, D.F.R.P.; Pinard, M.A.; Hartley, S.E., eds. Biotic interactions in the tropics: their role in the maintenance of species diversity. Cambridge UK: Cambridge University Press; 3-34.
Hooper, D.U.; Chapin III, F.S.; Ewel, J.J.; Hector, A.; Inchausti, P.; Lavorel, S.; Lawton, J.H.; Lodge, D.M.; Loreau, M.; Naeem, S.; Schmid, B.; Symstad, A.J.; Vandermeer, J.; Wardle, D.A. 2005. Effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning: a consensus of current knowledge and needs for future research. Ecological Monographs 75: 3-35.
Silver, W.L.; Thompson, A.W.; Reich, A.; Ewel, J.J.; Firestone, M.K. 2005. Nitrogen cycling in tropical plantation forests: potential controls on nitrogen retention. Ecological Applications 15(5): 1604-1614.
Thaxton, J.M.; Cordell, S.; Cabin, R.J.; Sandquist, D.R; Murray, C. 2005. Effects of grass removal, shade and supplemental water on Hawaiian dry forest restoration. Abstract. In: Program, Hawaii's restoration efforts, Hawaii conservation conference; 2005 July 28-29; Honolulu, HI. Hawaii Conservation Alliance; 95.
Thaxton, J.M.; Cordell, S.; Cabin, R.J.; Sandquist, D.R. 2005. Effects of shade, water and grass removal on Hawaiian dry forest restoration. Abstract. In: Program, Ecological Society of America; 2005 August 7-12; Montreal, Canada: Ecol. Soc. Am.; http://abstracts.co.allenpress.com/pweb/esa2005/document/?ID=50005

Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04

Outputs
Dry forest restoration research showed that during periods of extreme drought or rainfall saturation competition is minimal between invasive alien grasses and native tree species, whereas during periods of intermediate water availability grasses appear to out-compete native species. New studies that manipulate fountain grass and water and light availability are underway to investigate the mechanisms by which the alien grass Pennisetum setaceum limits native plant establishment and growth. Another new study was begun to determine how fire affects the population demography, phenology, and seed viability of P. setaceum within an area formerly containing native dry forest. Initial results of silvicultural research on Acacia koa indicate that monoculture stands respond positively to thinning with intensive thinning producing a greater response than light thinning. Likewise, grass control results in faster growth, implying that belowground competition is involved, as well as competition for light. Amending soils with 300 kg P per yr increased soil P availability and foliar P concentrations, but did not affect growth of koa. There are initial hints that bole form may be best shaped by neighboring tree species other than koa. Of the four most abundant native tree species found in the under story of a windward stand, only Myoporum sandwicense responded to thinning with increased growth. It too was the only species that responded to under story treatments-significantly greater growth occurred where grass control was combined with P fertilization. Observed responses of under story trees probably reflected their relative shade tolerance and inherent growth rates. A 13-year study to assess the roles of cutting frequency and life form diversity on ecosystem sustainability in Costa Rica ended during the year. One of the significant conclusions centered on the controversial issue of the importance of biodiversity in ecosystem functioning. Results indicated that relationships among species shift dramatically with time, thereby affecting ecosystem functioning. This is illustrated by the three Cs of plant interactions: Competition, Compensation, and Complementarity. Interactions that were originally assessed as compensatory or complementary became competitive (i.e., one life form dominated the ecosystem), while interactions that started out with a clearly superior competitor eventually developed into complementary relationships.

Impacts
Dry forest restoration research is designed to explicitly guide and facilitate management efforts that are urgently needed to control invasive grasses and preserve and restore what remains of Hawaii's native dry forests before more species are lost to extinction. By understanding fire effects on fountain grass, we will gain insight into how fire and fountain grass can be managed to limit further invasion and restore native forest. Successful development of silvicultural tools for management of secondary stands of koa should provide private landowners with strong financial motivation to restore and retain koa-rich forests for both financial and conservation values. The resource manager who strives for diversity as a means of enhancing an ecosystem's functional attributes must be certain of the trajectories likely to develop as species increase in age and stature. Projections made on short-term observations are likely to be misleading, and the result can be far different than those intended.

Publications

Sandquist, D.R.; Cordell, S.; Litton, C.M. 2004. Water and carbon-use responses to removal of non-native fountain grass in a Hawaiian lowland dry forest. Abstract, International Association of Vegetation Science annual symposium, 2004 July 18-23, Kailua-Kona, HI; p. 162.
Scowcroft, P.G.; Haraguchi, J.E.; Hue, N.V. 2004. Reforestation and topography affect montane soil properties, nitrogen pools, and nitrogen transformations in Hawaii. Soil Science Society of America Journal 68: 959-968.
Thaxton, J.M.; Platt, W.J. 2004. Fire intensity affects population dynamics of a rhizomatous shrub in frequently-burned pine savanna. Abstract. 47th annual meeting of the International Association of Vegetation Science conference; 2004 July 18-23 Kailua-Kona, HI; 180.
Thaxton, J.M.; Platt, W.J. 2004. Fire intensity affects population dynamics of a rhizomatous shrub in frequently-burned pine savanna. Abstract, 89th annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America; 2004 August 2-6; Portland, OR; 503.
Walstad, J.D.; Reed, M.D.; Doescher, P.S.; Kauffman, J.B.; Miller, R.F.; Shindler, B.A.; Tappeiner, J.C. 2003. Distance education a new course in wildland fire ecology. Journal of Forestry 101: 16-20.
Wilson, J.K.; Kauffman, J.B. 2004. Structural and community development following severe wildfire in a montane forest. Abstract, 89th annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America; 2004 August 2-6; Portland, OR; 547 p.
Ewel, J.J. 2004. Life zone maps of Pacific islands. Pacific Islands Forests and Trees. June 2004, p. 14-15.
Ewel, J.J.; Putz, F.E. 2004. A place for alien species in ecosystem restoration. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 2: 354-360.
Falanruw, M.C. 2004. Pacific canaries. Online web-only article available at http://www.ourplanet.com/imgversn/151/falanruw.html.
Guild, L.S.; Cohen, W.B.; Kauffman, J.B. 2004. Detection of deforestation and land conversion in Rondonia, Brazil using change detection techniques. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 25: 731-750.
Guild, L.S.; Kauffman, J.B.; Cohen, W.B.; Hlavka, C.A.; Ward, D. 2004. Modeling biomass burning emissions from Amazon forest and pastures in Rondonia, Brazil. Ecological Applications 14: S232-S246.
Jaramillo, V.J.; Ahedo-Hernandez, R.; Kauffman, J.B. 2003. Root biomass and carbon in a tropical evergreen forest of Mexico: changes with secondary succession and forest conversion to pasture. Journal of Tropical Ecology 19: 456-464.
Jaramillo, V.J.; Kauffman, J.B.; Renteria-Rodriguez, L.; Cummings, D.L.; Ellingson, L.J. 2003. Biomass, carbon, and nitrogen pools in Mexican tropical dry forest landscapes. Ecosystems 6: 609-629.
James, S. A.; Cordell, S.; Puttock, C.F.; Adams, R.P. 2004. Morphological and genetic variation within Metrosideros polymorpha (Myrtaceae) populations from different habitats on Hawaii. New Zealand Journal of Botany 42: 263-270.
Jobse, J.C.; Kauffman, J.B.; Watson, V.; Hughes, R.F. 2004. Ecosystem carbon pools after forest-to-pasture conversion along a climatic gradient in Costa Rica. Abstract, 89th annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America; 2004 August 2-6; Portland, OR; 249 p.
Kauffman, J.B. 2004. Death rides the forest: Perceptions of fire, land use, and ecological restoration of western forests. Conservation Biology 18: 878-882.
Kauffman, J.B. 2004. The Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry. Poster prepared for the USDA Forest Service Centennial Forum on Tropical Forests. 2004 August 23; San Juan, PR.
Kauffman, J. B. 2004. Fire and land use in tropical ecosystems. Abstract. International Association of Vegetation Science annual symposium; 2004 July 18-23; Kailua-Kona, HI; p. 96.
Kauffman, B.; Hughes, F.; Jobse, J.; Watson, V.; Cifuentes, M.; Tosi, J.; Cummings, D.L. 2004. Carbon pools of primary forest ecosystems along climatic gradients in Costa Rica. Abstract, 89th annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America; 2004 August 2-6; Portland, OR; 261 p.
Litton, C.M.; Ryan, M.G.; Knight, D.H. 2004. Effects of tree density and stand age on carbon allocation patterns in postfire lodgepole pine. Ecological Applications 14: 460-475.
Litton, C.M.; Sandquist, D.R.; Cordell, S. 2004. Fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum) affects ecosystem function in a Hawaiian dry forest. Abstract, Hawaii conservation conference, 2004 July 18-23; Honolulu, HI; 34-35.
Litton, C.M.; Sandquist, D.R.; Cordell, S. 2004. An invasive grass species affects carbon cycling in Hawaiian dry forest. Abstract, International Association of Vegetation Science annual symposium; 2004 July 18-23; Kailua-Kona, HI; p. 114.
Litton, C.M.; Santelices, R. 2003. Effect of wildfire on soil physical and chemical properties in a Nothofagus glauca Forest, Chile. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 76: 529-542.
Liu, S.; Kauffman, B.; Hughes, F.; Sanchez, A.; Watson, V.; Jara, M.; Jobse, J.; Kerr, S. 2004. Spatially explicit modeling of historical and future carbon dynamics in Costa Rica. Abstract, 89th annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America; 2004 August 2-6; Portland, OR; p. 304.
Reich, A.; Ewel, J.J.; Nadkarni, N.M.; Dawson, T.; Evans, R.D. 2003. Nitrogen isotope ratios shift with plant size in tropical bromeliads. Oecologia 137: 587 - 590.
Reich, A., Holbrook, N.M.; Ewel, J.J. 2004. Developmental and physiological correlates of leaf size in Hyeronima alchorneoides (Euphorbiaceace). American Journal of Botany 91: 582-589.
Russell, A.E.; Cambardella, C.A.; Ewel, J.J.; Parkins, T.B. 2004. Species, rotation, and life-form diversity effects on soil carbon in experimental tropical ecosystems. Ecological Applications 14:47-60.
Baker, P.J. 2003. Tree age estimation for the tropics: A test from the Southern Appalachians. Ecological Applications 13: 1718-1732.
Baskin, J.M.; Davis, B.H.; Baskin, C.C.; Gleason, S.M.; Cordell, S. 2004. Physical dormancy in seeds of Dodonaea viscosa (Sapindales, Sapindaceae) from Hawaii. Seed Science Research 14: 81-90.
Bigelow, S.W.; Ewel, J.J.; Haggar, J.P. 2004. Enhancing nutrient retention in tropical tree plantations: no short cuts. Ecological Applications 14: 28-46.
Carney, K.M.; Matson, P.A.; Bohannan, B.J.M. 2004. Diversity and composition of tropical soil nitrifiers across a plant diversity gradient and among land-use types. Ecology Letters 7: 684-694.
Carney, K.M. 2003. The influence of plant diversity and land use on the composition and function of soil microbial communities. Stanford University; 115 p. Ph.D. dissertation.
Cabin, R.J.; Cordell, S.; Sandquist, D.R.; Thaxton, J.; Litton, C. 2004. Restoration of tropical dry forests in Hawaii: Can scientific research, habitat restoration and educational outreach happily co-exist within a small private preserve? In: Proceedings of the 16th international conference, Society of Ecological Restoration, 2004 August 24-26, Victoria, Canada. On CD only.
Cifuentes Jara, M.; Kauffman, B.; Watson, V.; Hughes, F. 2004. Carbon accumulation by secondary forests in five Costa Rican life zones. Abstract, 89th annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America; 2004 August 2-6; Portland, OR; 94 p.
Cordell, S.; Sandquist, D.R.; Litton, C.; Cabin, R.J.; Thaxton, J.; Hadway, L.; Castillo, J.M.; Bishaw, D. 2004. An invasive grass has significant impacts on tropical dry forest ecosystems in Hawaii: The role of science in landscape level resource management and native forest restoration in West Hawaii. In: Proceedings of the Society for Ecological Restoration annual meeting, 2004 August 24-26; Victoria, Canada; 4 p.
Cordell, S.; Sandquist, D.R. 2004. Constraints that beget functional variation of Hawaiian native tree species; Abstract, annual meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation; 2004 July 12-16; Miami, FL; 56 p.
Cordell, S.; Sandquist, D.R.; Litton, C.M. 2004. Functional diversity of native Hawaiian dry forest species. Abstract, International Association of Vegetation Science annual symposium, 2004 July 18-23; Kailua-Kona, HI; 43.
Clark, M.L.; Clark, D.B.; Roberts, D.A. 2004. Small-footprint lidar estimation of sub-canopy elevation and tree height in a tropical rain forest landscape. Remote Sensing of Environment 91: 68-89.
Ellsworth, L.; Kauffman, B.; Kellogg, L.; Augustine, A.; Rasmussen, M. 2004. Decrease in Bromus tectorum germination following prescription fire at Lava Beds National Monument. Abstract, 89th annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America; 2004 August 2-6; Portland, OR; 141 p.

Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03

Outputs
Competition for water between native plants and fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum), a highly invasive, fire-promoting introduced species, can severely limit growth, vigor, and reproduction of native species in remnant dry forests on the Island of Hawaii. Competition is greatest during summer months when evaporative demand is highest, rainfall is lowest, and grass growth is highest. The dominant canopy tree species, lama Diospyros sandwicensis, responds to grass removal by increasing growth, increasing leaf, flower and fruit turnover rates, and decreasing leaf mass per unit leaf area, rather than increasing leaf level gas exchange. Unit scientists are using stable isotopes to determine if competition with fountain grass limits access by native plants to water provided by small, but common summer rainfall events. Preliminary results indicate that fountain grass uses shallow water from recent rainfall events. Native trees also access such shallow water if fountain grass is not present. Common native canopy trees use water from different soil depths, which probably affects their vulnerability to competition with fountain grass. In collaboration with The Nature Conservancy unit scientists are developing basic Acacia koa silvicultural tools to allow landowners to make informed forest management decisions. Allometric equations are being developed to examine growth efficiency in different stand structures and to analyze tradeoffs among silvicultural regimes of varying economic and conservation value. Early results of a thinning study suggest that reducing density in overstocked koa stands yields rapid and sustained growth responses in the residual trees across a wide range of thinning intensities. We have developed stand-level stocking guidelines for koa on both the leeward and windward sides of Hawaii to provide a quantitative basis for thinning decisions. We have begun a project in collaboration with University of Hawaii colleagues to develop a model of site quality for koa based on simple variables such as total annual rainfall and the age of the underlying geological substrate. The results will allow landowners to gauge the relative productivity of their sites and guide silvicultural planning. Reforestation reverses adverse changes in soils due to conversion of forest to grassland. Effects of re-establishment of koa trees in +100-year-old montane grassland on amounts of available soil nitrogen (N) and rates of microbial-mediated N transformations were studied using standard and 15N-isotope pool dilution methods. Ten years after koa trees were re-introduced to grassland, the concentration of soil ammonium-N increased above levels found even in intact forest, and the concentration of nitrate-N was intermediate between forest and grassland. Ammonium dominated the inorganic N pools in grassland soil and nitrate dominated in forest soil. Under planted koa, ammonium domination was giving way to nitrate domination. Soil microorganisms were potentially strong competitors for inorganic N on grassland slopes where they took up nearly all the inorganic N that was produced, thus leaving little for plant growth. Planting koa corrected the N deficiency.

Impacts
Attainments have provided additional knowledge about plant needs for growth and reproduction and the ability of physically and biologically altered environments to meet those needs. Managers are using such knowledge to guide rehabilitation of degraded forest landscapes and manage forest resources in Hawaii.

Publications

Baker, P.J.; Wilson, J.S. 2003. Coexistence of tropical tree species. Nature 422: 581-582.
Beachy, J.R. 2001. The potential of native tree plantations for forest restoration in Hawaii: Comparison on an Acacia koa plantation and mature rainforest in Kilauea, Hawaii. Environmental Science and Public Policy, Harvard College. 64 p.
Bunyavejchewin, S.; Baker, P.J.; LaFrankie, J.V.; Ahston, P.S. 2002. Floristic composition of a seasonal evergreen forest, Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, western Thailand. Natural History Bulletin of the Siam Society 50: 125-134.
Bunyavejchewin, S.; LaFrankie, J.V.; Baker, P.J.; Kanzaki, M.; Ashton, P.S.; Yamakura, T. 2003. Spatial distribution patterns of the dominant canopy dipterocarp species in a seasonal dry evergreen forest in western Thailand. Forest Ecology and Management 175: 87-101.
Cordell, S., Cabin, R.J.; Hadway, L.J. 2002. Physiological ecology of native and alien dry forest seedlings in Hawaii. Biological Invasions 4: 387-396.
Cordell, S. 2003. Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; poster for The National Convention of Chinese Americans, Honolulu, HI, 2003 August 7-10.
Cordell, S. 2003. Kaupulehu dry forest restoration project. Hawaii conservation conference; 2003 July 10-11; Honolulu, HI; 5.
James, S.A.; Cordell, S.; Puttock, C.F.; Adams, R.P. 2003. Genetic and morphological variation of Metrosideros polymorpha (Myrtaceae) on Hawaii. Hawaii conservation conference; 2003 July 10-11; Honolulu, HI; 11.
Ostertag, R.; Vuong, L.; Cordell, S. 2003. Cost of leaf construction among native and invasive plant life forms within and across biomes. Abstract. 88th annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America; 2003 August 4-8; Savannah, GA.