:Hawaiian tropical low shrublands
{{Short description|Tropical savanna ecoregion of the Hawaiian Islands in the United States}}
The Hawaiian tropical low shrublands are a tropical savanna ecoregion in the Hawaiian Islands.
{{coord|24|N|165|W|display=title}}
{{Infobox ecoregion
|name = Hawaiian tropical low shrublands
|image = Starr 050519-1786 Heliotropium anomalum var. argenteum.jpg
|image_size =
|image_caption = The Nature Conservancy's Mo{{okina}}omomi Preserve, Moloka{{okina}}i.
|map =
|map_size =
|map_alt =
|map_caption =
|country = United States
|state = Hawaii
|border = Hawaiian tropical dry forests{{cite web |url=http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/ecoregions/70702frame.htm |title=Hawaii tropical low shrublands |work=Bioimages |publisher=Vanderbilt University |access-date=2011-11-19}}
|bird_species =
|mammal_species =
|plant_species =
|habitat_loss =
|habitat_loss_ref =
|area = 1500
|biogeographic_realm = Oceanian
|biome = Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
|climate = Tropical savanna (Aw)
|conservation = Critical/Endangered{{WWF ecoregion|id=oc0702|name=Hawaii tropical low shrublands|accessdate=2011-11-19}}
|protected = 0 km² (0
|embedded =
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Geography
These shrublands cover an area of {{convert|1500|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} in the leeward lowlands of the main islands and most of the smaller islands, not including the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands which form an ecoregion of their own.
Flora
The ecoregion includes both grasslands and mixed shrublands. Kāwelu (Eragrostis variabilis), mau{{okina}}u {{okina}}aki{{okina}}aki (Fimbristylis cymosa), {{okina}}aki{{okina}}aki (Sporobolus virginicus), and Lepturus repens are common grassland plants. Shrublands are dominated by {{okina}}ilima (Sida fallax), {{okina}}a{{okina}}ali{{okina}}i (Dodonaea viscosa), naupaka (Scaevola spp.), hinahina kū kahakai (Heliotropium anomalum var. argenteum), kīpūkai (Heliotropium curassavicum), ma{{okina}}o (Gossypium tomentosum), {{okina}}akoko (Euphorbia spp.), {{okina}}āheahea (Chenopodium oahuense), naio (Myoporum sandwicense), kolokolo kahakai (Vitex rotundifolia), and pūkiawe (Styphelia tameiameiae). More than 90% of the plant species found in this ecoregion are endemic, including {{okina}}ōhai (Sesbania tomentosa),{{NatGeo ecoregion |id=oc0702|name=Hawaii tropical low shrublands|accessdate=2009-10-30}} {{okina}}āwiwi (Schenkia sebaeoides), and wahine noho kula (Isodendrion pyrifolium).{{cite web |url=http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/cwcs/files/Flora%20fact%20sheets/Iso_pyr%20plant%20NTBG_W.pdf |title=Wahine noho kula Isodendrion pyrifolium |work=Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy |publisher=Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources |access-date=2009-10-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616075438/http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/cwcs/files/Flora%20fact%20sheets/Iso_pyr%20plant%20NTBG_W.pdf |archive-date=2011-06-16 }}
Protected areas
Protected areas that cover part of the ecoregion include Koko Head District Park, Diamond Head, Mākua Kea'au Forest Reserve, Ka'ena Point State Park, and Kuaokala Forest Reserve on Oahu.
See also
- {{C|Flora of Hawaii}}
- Hawaiian tropical high shrublands
- List of ecoregions in the United States (WWF)
- Oceanian realm
- {{C|Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands|Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands ecoregions}}
External links
- {{WWF ecoregion|name=Hawaiian tropical low shrublands|id=oc0702}}
References
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Category:Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands of the United States
Category:Natural history of Nihoa
Category:Natural history of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
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