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    Composition and structure of the cloud forest on Mt. Delaco, Gau, Fiji

    171221_171221.pdf (107.0Kb)
    Access Status
    Open access
    Authors
    Keppel, Gunnar
    Thomas, N.
    Date
    2009
    Type
    Journal Article
    
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Citation
    Keppel, Gunnar and Thomas, Nunia T. 2009. Composition and structure of the cloud forest on Mt. Delaco, Gau, Fiji. The South Pacific Journal of Natural Science. 27 (1): pp. 28-34.
    Source Title
    The South Pacific Journal of Natural Science
    DOI
    10.1071/SP09005
    ISSN
    10139877
    School
    Department of Environment and Agriculture
    Remarks

    Copyright © 2009 CSIRO

    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/31362
    Collection
    • Curtin Research Publications
    Abstract

    The composition and structure of cloud forest on Mt. Delaco (715m), Gau, Fiji Islands, is investigated using a transect following a ridge. Diameter (dbh), height, epiphyte cover and distance to the nearest neighbour were measured for each plant of 5 or more cm in dbh. A total of 42 vascular species were identified. The canopy was 3-5m tall, with Alpinia boia reaching 7m in height. The tree fern Dicksonia brackenridgei dominated the vegetation, accounting for 56% of the total basal area. Rapanea myricifolia, Hedycarya dorstenoides and Ascarina diffusa were other common species. Epiphytes were abundant and epiphyte cover for most trees was more than 50%. The most common epiphytes were Nephrolepis tuberosa and Nephrolepis saligna, Collospermum montanum, Peperomia spp., mosses and filmy ferns (Hymenophyllaceae) were other common species. A species of Freycinetia was the dominant climber. There was a moderately strong correlation between epiphyte richness and dbh of the host species (r = 0.59). The limited literature on cloud forest in the tropical insular Pacific suggests that while many taxa are shared, the species composition may vary considerably on different mountains.

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