Alpine System

Natural communities above 3,000 m (9,000 ft) elevation comprise the Alpine system in the Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion. The Alpine system is restricted to two islands: Hawai‘i and Maui, and occupies the summit regions of the highest mountains on those islands (Haleakalā on Maui; Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on Hawai‘i). There are only three natural communities described within the alpine system; an alpine lake, aeolian desert, and a sparse shrubland of alpine adapted plants. Raw biological diversity is not high in this system, but highly specialized plants and invertebrates occur there, such as the wekiu bug (Nysius wekiuicola) and silverswords (Argyroxiphium macrocephalus). The ecological system adjacent to the alpine is the subalpine system.

The wekiu bug, named for Pu‘u Wekiu (the highest peak in the Hawaiian Islands), is a flightless, melanic insect specialized for alpine aeolian habnitats.

Silverswords bear a rosette of leaves covered
with reflective hairs that protect from both high
solar radiation levels and moisture loss at
alpine elevations.

Alpine natural communities are listed among nested targets via the appendices.

		Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion This page last revised 23 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 Alpine systems cap a series of wet, mesic and dry systems on the youngest islands. The highest alpine system areas are nival aeolian habitats with winter snow.		Alpine System Natural communities above 3,000 m (9,000 ft) elevation comprise the Alpine system in the Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion. The Alpine system is restricted to two islands: Hawai‘i and Maui, and occupies the summit regions of the highest mountains on those islands (Haleakalā on Maui; Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on Hawai‘i). There are only three natural communities described within the alpine system; an alpine lake, aeolian desert, and a sparse shrubland of alpine adapted plants. Raw biological diversity is not high in this system, but highly specialized plants and invertebrates occur there, such as the wekiu bug (Nysius wekiuicola) and silverswords (Argyroxiphium macrocephalus). The ecological system adjacent to the alpine is the subalpine system. The wekiu bug, named for Pu‘u Wekiu (the highest peak in the Hawaiian Islands), is a flightless, melanic insect specialized for alpine aeolian habnitats. Silverswords bear a rosette of leaves covered with reflective hairs that protect from both high solar radiation levels and moisture loss at alpine elevations. Alpine natural communities are listed among nested targets via the appendices.		The Alpine System in Hawai‘i includes nival aeolian desert at the summit of the highest volcanoes (>9000 ft elev). The Alpine System on Hawai‘i Island(red areas above) occurs in four conservation areas (Mauna Kea, Ka‘ū-Kapāpala, Kona, and Pōhakuloa-Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a) at >9000 ft elev. The Alpine System on Maui (red area above) occurs in the East Maui conservation area at the summit of Haleakalā >9000 ft elev.