Aboveground biomass in primary and second-growth forests in Hawai‘i

We collected data on trees in five distinct successional forest stand types in the Puna District of Hawai‘i Island: secondary succession dominated by native tree Metrosideros polymorpha (ʻŌhiʻa); secondary succession dominated by invasive non-native tree Falcataria moluccana (albizia); secondary succession dominated by invasive non-native tree Psidium cattleianum (strawberry guava); mature primary forest dominated by M. polymorpha; and primary succession dominated by young M. polymorpha. Over the period from December 2011 through July 2013 we sampled 47 plots to collect 18,255 observations on 22 woody species in these stand types. Using observed diameter at breast height (cm) data, we provide calculated values for individual biomass (kg), as well as the sampled stem’s contribution to stems/ha and basal area/ha (m²).
Successional processes ultimately determine and define carbon (C) accumulations in forested ecosystems. Although primary succession on wholly new substrate occurs across the globe, secondary succession, often following storm events or anthropogenic disturbance, is more common and is capable of globally significant C accumulations, which can offset anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. In Hawai‘i, prior studies have investigated ecosystem development during primary succession on lava flows, including estimates of C mass accumulation. Relatively little is known regarding secondary succession of Hawai‘i’s native forests, particularly regarding C mass accumulation. To improve our understanding of this process, we investigated above-ground biomass accumulation by native- and non-native-dominated 2nd-growth forests following deforestation of mature native lowland rainforests in the Puna District of Hawai‘i Island. For comparison, we also investigated above-ground biomass by native-dominated early and mature primary growth forests.
For more information about this study and these data see Hughes et al. (2021).