Montane Wet System

Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion
This page last revised 25 August 2006 -- S.M.Gon III

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Pollination interactions are an important process within the montane wet system.

Rare natural community
There are many rare plants in the montane wet system, such as these bog greenswords of East Maui

Montane bogs, such as the Alaka'i, are a hallmark of the Montane Wet System.

The Hawaiian happyface spider (Theridion grallator) is one of thousands of native invertebrates in the montane wet system.

Hawaiian predatory caterpillars in the genus Eupithecia show highest diversity in montane wet system.

Trematolobelia macrostachys

Lobeliads such as koli'i are prominent in the montane wet system, but are particularly vulnerable to pig disturbance.

Montane Wet System

Natural communities between 1,000 and 2,000 m (ca 3,000 - 6,000 ft) elevation, receiving greater than 75 inches annual precipitation, or otherwise bearing prevailingly wet substrate conditions comprise the montane wet system in the Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion. This system is found on the islands of Hawai‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i, and is best developed on the windward side of the highest islands (Maui and Hawai‘i) and the summit regions of the moderately high islands, for example, the east flank of Mauna Kea, the northeast flank of Haleakalā (Maui), the summit of East Moloka‘i, the summit of Lāna‘ihale (Lāna‘i), the summit of Ka‘ala (Wai‘anae, O‘ahu), and the summit plateau of Wai‘ale‘ale and Alaka‘i, Kaua‘i. It typically above the lowand wet system and wet cliff system, and on Maui and Hawai‘i, below the montane mesic system. There are a number of natural communities described within this system, including a variety of grasslands, shrublands, and forests. Biological diversity is moderate to high in this system, and specialized plants and animals occur there, such as predatory caterpillars and lobeliads. The montane wet system is important habitat for the forest bird concentration.

The 'ākohekohe, or crested honeycreeper (Palmeria dolei), is endemic to the montane wet forests of the East Maui conservation area.

wet forest, Hanawi

Lush, dense, and thick with epiphytic mosses, liverworts, and ferns, the 'ōhi'a / 'olapa montane wet forest of Hanawī, East Maui is one of dozens of Hawaiian natural communities nested within the montane wet system.

Natural communities and species of this system are listed among nested targets via the appendices.

The Montane Wet System on O'ahu (red area above) is restricted to the small summit section of the Wai'anae conservation area (left) at Ka'ala.

Montane Wet on Kaua'i

The Montane Wet System on Kaua'i (red areas above) is of substantial size and occurs on the high summit plateau in the remote central region of the island.

The Montane Wet System in Hawai‘i includes forests, bogs, and wet shrublands on the windward and summit regions of the high volcanoes.

The figures below depict the distribution of the Montane Wet System across the Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion:

The Montane Wet System on Hawai‘i Island (red areas above) occurs in five of the six conservation areas, being absent only from Pohakuloa - Pu'u Wa'awa'a.

The Montane Wet System on Maui (red areas above) occurs in the northern flank of the East Maui conservation area (right) and on the summit sections of the West Maui conservation area (left).

Montane Wet on Moloka'i

The Montane Wet System on Moloka'i (red areas above) occurs on the summit sections of the East Moloka'i conservation area.

Montane Wet on Lana'i

The Montane Wet System on Lāna'i (red area above) is of very limited size, and occurs at the summit peak (Lāna'ihale) of theLāna'i conservation area.

	Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion This page last revised 25 August 2006 -- S.M.Gon III
Home Introduction Ecoregion Conservation Targets Viability Goals Portfolio TNC Action Sites Threats Strategies Acknowledgements ▫ Tables Maps & Figures CPT Database Appendices Glossary Sources . Pollination interactions are an important process within the montane wet system. There are many rare plants in the montane wet system, such as these bog greenswords of East Maui Montane bogs, such as the Alaka'i, are a hallmark of the Montane Wet System. The Hawaiian happyface spider (Theridion grallator) is one of thousands of native invertebrates in the montane wet system. Hawaiian predatory caterpillars in the genus Eupithecia show highest diversity in montane wet system. Lobeliads such as koli'i are prominent in the montane wet system, but are particularly vulnerable to pig disturbance.	Montane Wet System Natural communities between 1,000 and 2,000 m (ca 3,000 - 6,000 ft) elevation, receiving greater than 75 inches annual precipitation, or otherwise bearing prevailingly wet substrate conditions comprise the montane wet system in the Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion. This system is found on the islands of Hawai‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i, and is best developed on the windward side of the highest islands (Maui and Hawai‘i) and the summit regions of the moderately high islands, for example, the east flank of Mauna Kea, the northeast flank of Haleakalā (Maui), the summit of East Moloka‘i, the summit of Lāna‘ihale (Lāna‘i), the summit of Ka‘ala (Wai‘anae, O‘ahu), and the summit plateau of Wai‘ale‘ale and Alaka‘i, Kaua‘i. It typically above the lowand wet system and wet cliff system, and on Maui and Hawai‘i, below the montane mesic system. There are a number of natural communities described within this system, including a variety of grasslands, shrublands, and forests. Biological diversity is moderate to high in this system, and specialized plants and animals occur there, such as predatory caterpillars and lobeliads. The montane wet system is important habitat for the forest bird concentration. The 'ākohekohe, or crested honeycreeper (Palmeria dolei), is endemic to the montane wet forests of the East Maui conservation area. Lush, dense, and thick with epiphytic mosses, liverworts, and ferns, the 'ōhi'a / 'olapa montane wet forest of Hanawī, East Maui is one of dozens of Hawaiian natural communities nested within the montane wet system. Natural communities and species of this system are listed among nested targets via the appendices. The Montane Wet System on O'ahu (red area above) is restricted to the small summit section of the Wai'anae conservation area (left) at Ka'ala. The Montane Wet System on Kaua'i (red areas above) is of substantial size and occurs on the high summit plateau in the remote central region of the island.	The Montane Wet System in Hawai‘i includes forests, bogs, and wet shrublands on the windward and summit regions of the high volcanoes. The figures below depict the distribution of the Montane Wet System across the Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion: The Montane Wet System on Hawai‘i Island (red areas above) occurs in five of the six conservation areas, being absent only from Pohakuloa - Pu'u Wa'awa'a. The Montane Wet System on Maui (red areas above) occurs in the northern flank of the East Maui conservation area (right) and on the summit sections of the West Maui conservation area (left). The Montane Wet System on Moloka'i (red areas above) occurs on the summit sections of the East Moloka'i conservation area. The Montane Wet System on Lāna'i (red area above) is of very limited size, and occurs at the summit peak (Lāna'ihale) of theLāna'i conservation area.