Subalpine Vegetation Change 14 Years after Feral Animal Removal on Windward East Maui, Hawai'i

What do we know about Hawaiian ferns and lycophytes?

“…Hughes et al () quantified the change in plant and lichen abundance at a subalpine site on East Maui 14 years (1994–2008) after feral animal removal (pigs and goats). They specifically focused on the ground cover (0–1 m) and understory (1–2 m) layers in subalpine shrubland and forest habitats.…”

“…Among other outcomes, the most dramatic changes were increases in native fern cover, which typically increased 2 to 6 times. Hughes et al (2014) quantified the change in plant and lichen abundance at a subalpine site on East Maui 14 years (1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008) after feral animal removal (pigs and goats). They specifically focused on the ground cover (0-1 m) and understory (1-2 m) layers in subalpine shrubland and forest habitats.…”

Hawaiian Subalpine Plant Communities: Implications of Climate Change

“…Additionally, all subalpine communities have been impacted to varying extents by non-native ungulates (goats, sheep, mouflon, pigs) (Gagné and Cuddihy 1990). Despite dramatic recovery of subalpine vegetation following fencing and ungulate removal in some managed sites, the legacy of past disturbance persists in many of these protected ecosystems (Jacobi 1981, Hughes et al 2014, Krushelnycky et al 2019.…”