Assg: ALL
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Name
Date pd.
Introduction: Hawai‘i is a very unique place in that the islands are isolated. Therefore, the Hawaiian Islands have ecosystem that are unlike anywhere else in the world. There are plants, decomposers, and animals that live in the
Hawaiian ecosystems and are not found anywhere else in the world. Many living organisms in Hawaii’s ecosystems are indigenous and now endangered. However, introduction of invasive organisms to the islands have had drastic effects on the native species and causing them to extinction. Thus, the following lessons will explain the unique Hawaiian
Ecosystems, how invasive species are altering them, and what can be done to ensure Hawaii’s ecosystems will be available for future generations.
Hawaii has 9 main ecosystems that cover the ocean to the mountain and are controlled by the climate. A very important element in climate is the prevalence of Trade Winds, which bring moisture-laden air to the windward slopes of the
Hawaiian Islands. These ecosystems consist of various living things and also have unique environments. The chart below describes a short summary of each ecosystem.
Hawaiian Name Description Ecosystem
Coral Reef Zone - Kohola
Elevation in meters
0-50 m
Strand Zone
(Beaches)
Arid Coastal
Zone
- Kahakai 0-100 m
100-300m
Warm, shallow water of tropical coastal oceans. It is among the most diverse and productive environments on Earth. Hawaii examples include
Otec, Kahalu, etc.
Area is defined by salt spray and the presence of dunes and rocky sites
(basaltic rocks) and sand. Most hotels and resorts are built in this area.
In land, but still near the coastline. Beyond salt spray zone. Arid Coastal zone is found mostly in Leeward section of Hawaiian Islands. This is where most urban homes are built.
Mesic Coastal
Zone
Dry land
Forest and
Shrub
Mesic/Wet
Forest
Rain Forest
Sub Alpine
Zone Alpine
Shrub
Alpine
Desert Zone
- Kula Kai
- Kula Waena
- Kula Uka
- Kula Kai
- Kula Waena
- Kula Uka
- Pahe‘e
- ‘Ilima
- ‘Apa‘a
- Wao Kanaka
- Wao Nahea
- Wao akua
- Wao
- Ma‘ukele
- Wao Nahele
- Kua Hea
- Kuamauna
- Kuahiwi
- Kualono
100-300 m
200-900 m
750-1250 m
450-1700 m
1800-2000 m
2000-3000 m
4250 m
Includes wetlands, estuaries, mangrove swamps. Beyond salt spray zone. Found on Windward side of the Hawaiian Islands.
Covers more area on Leeward side of islands. Impacted by agriculture, ranching, and burning.
Greatly altered by human activity due to homes that are on mountainside. Lots of rain, but less than rain forest. More Native plants and animals are found in this vegetation. Hawaii examples include
Waipio and Polulu.
High rainfall (150-300 inches per year). Example is Lyon Arboretum in
Manoa Valley, Pali/Windward cliffs, Kauai, Akaka Falls and roads of
Volcanoes National Park. Watersheds are created here.
Occurs in windward and leeward slopes of Haleakala, Mauna Kea,
Mauna Loa, and Hualalai. Conditions are relatively dry and periodic cold temperatures. Rain only 20-50 inches per year.
Summits of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. No rainfall and experience a variation of temperature, which drops from below freezing. Very few living organisms in this ecosystem.

Hawaiian Ecosystems consist of food webs that include many food chains. Food chains show the one-way flow of energy of an ecosystem using arrows. The bottom of the food chain consist both Producers (plants, algae, etc) and decomposers
(earthworms, mushroom, etc). The next level of the food chain consists of Primary consumers, which are herbivores.
Then, secondary consumers, which are omnivores, and at the top are the tertiary consumers, which include carnivores.
Your assignment!
1.
You are to choose one of the 9 ecosystems.
2.
Create a presentation (using PowerPoint or Prezi).
3.
Your food web must contain at least 8 food chains. a.
You must identify each organism in the food web and what trophic level its falls under (producer, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, producers, decomposers, detrivores, etc) b.
You must include arrows showing the flow of energy c.
If your presentation is animated (pictures and arrows move) – you get extra credit points!