Abstract: The objective of this study was to quantify net primary productivity as a function of rainfall in mesic to wet montane rainforests in Maui, Hawaii. The Maui Moisture Gradient is a sequence of 6 sites located on the island of Maui that range from 2200 mm to 5050 mm mean annual rainfall, while temperature and all other state factors (parent material, substrate age, organisms, and topography) that control NPP remain relatively constant. This data set contains annual estimates of net primary productivity made in 1996 and 1997.The data provided are estimates of the accumulation of biomass by plants for a given year, or net primary productivity (NPP). Estimates are given for aboveground and belowground productivity, and the sum as net primary productivity. These data are part of a larger study that focused on the dynamics of carbon cycling and storage in everwet rainforest as a function of changes in rainfall regime. The Maui Moisture Gradient sites were located within a geographic distance of less then 5 km in the Makawao and Koolau Forest Reserves on the north flank of Haleakala volcano. Temperature regimes were similar at the constant altitude of the sites (approximately 1300 m) while mean annual precipitation ranged systematically from 2200 mm/yr (mesic) to over 5000 mm/yr (wet) as a function of aspect relative to the prevailing trade winds. The sites were located on lava flows from the Kula volcanic series (mean age 410,000 years), which was part of the shield-building phase of Haleakala volcano. The original shield surface has been dissected by stream channels, so the study sites were located on shield volcano remnant surfaces on broad, flat (< 5 % slope) interfluve areas to minimize variation in local topography. The soils on this precipitation gradient are classified as Inceptisols and Andisols developed from lava with surface ash deposits. The Hawaiian Islands flora and fauna are relatively species-poor, thus a few species and genera occupy a broad range of environmental conditions. As a result, the forest canopy at all sites was consistently dominated by the native evergreen tree Metrosideros polymorpha (Myrtaceae) which comprises 80% to 100% of basal area in these forests. The understory vegetation was dominated by a variety of ferns and other herbaceous species at all sites, but the dominance of particular understory species shifted among sites. This watershed area has never been cleared by humans and all six sites were located in mature forests stands.
Purpose: Not Available
Supplemental Information: REFERENCE: Miller A.J., E.A.G. Schuur, and O.A. Chadwick. 2001. Redox control of phosphorus pools in montane forest soils in Hawaii. Geoderma 102:219-237. Schuur, E.A.G. 2001. The effect of water on decomposition dynamics in mesic to wet Hawaiian montane forests. Ecology 82:3182-3196. Schuur, E.A.G., and P.A. Matson. 2001. Aboveground net primary productivity and nutrient cycling across a mesic to wet precipitation gradient in Hawaiian montane forest. Oecologia 128:431-442. Schuur, E.A.G., O.A. Chadwick, and P.A. Matson. 2001. Carbon cycling and soil carbon storage in mesic to wet Hawaiian montane forests. Schuur, E.A.G. 2003. Productivity and global climate revisited: the sensitivity of tropical forest growth to precipitation. Ecology 84:1165-1170.

Progress: Complete
Update Frequency: As needed

Theme Keywords: ISO Topic Keyword, biota, GCMD SCIENCE PARAMETERS, EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > VEGETATION > BIOMASS, EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS > ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS > PRIMARY PRODUCTION, GCMD PLATFORM, FIELD INVESTIGATION, GCMD INSTRUMENT, BALANCE, STEEL MEASURING TAPE, PROJECT, ESIP > EARTH SCIENCE INFORMATION PARTNERS PROGRAM, EOSDIS > EARTH OBSERVING SYSTEM DATA INFORMATION SYSTEM, NPP > NET PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY DATABASE (ORNL), ANCILLARY KEYWORDS, Aboveground Npp, Maui Moisture Gradient, Net Primary Productivity, Net Primary Production, Tropical Forest, Litterfall, Analysis, Weighing Balance, ISO TOPIC CATEGORY, BIOTA, DATA SET LANGUAGE, ENGLISH
Place Keywords: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > HAWAII

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