Composition and structure of the cloud forest on Mt. Delaco, Gau, Fiji
dc.contributor.author | Keppel, Gunnar | |
dc.contributor.author | Thomas, N. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2017-01-30T13:24:59Z | |
dc.date.available | 2017-01-30T13:24:59Z | |
dc.date.created | 2012-01-18T07:57:15Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2009 | |
dc.identifier.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. | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/31362 | |
dc.identifier.doi | 10.1071/SP09005 | |
dc.description.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. | |
dc.publisher | CSIRO Publishing | |
dc.title | Composition and structure of the cloud forest on Mt. Delaco, Gau, Fiji | |
dc.type | Journal Article | |
dcterms.source.volume | 27 | |
dcterms.source.number | 1 | |
dcterms.source.startPage | 28 | |
dcterms.source.endPage | 34 | |
dcterms.source.issn | 10139877 | |
dcterms.source.title | The South Pacific Journal of Natural Science | |
curtin.note |
Copyright © 2009 CSIRO | |
curtin.department | Department of Environment and Agriculture | |
curtin.accessStatus | Open access |