Pacific Southwest

Title: Relative effects of human and feral hog disturbance on a wet forest in Hawaii

Author: Ralph, C. John; Maxwell, Bruce D.

Date: 1984

Source: Biological Conservation 30:291-303

Description: The effects of 20 months of intensive disturbance by humans, as well as the presence of feral hogs Sus scrofa, was measured on vegetation. Both forms of disturbance have been thought severely to affect Hawaiian rain forests by reduction of plant cover and allowing the proliferation of exotic plants. Despite much human use throughout the stud), area, the only significant (P ¡Ü 0.05) effects were within 2 m of a trail. This disturbance was limited to vegetation < 10 cm in height. No change in canopy cover or in incidence of exotic plants was noted. Feral hog usage was approximately three times higher in the study) area than outside, and caused a great deal of damage to the vegetation. The direct impact of humans is relatively minor, being restricted to < 5 % of the area. The greater frequency of hogs in the study area could have an undetermined but possibly serious effect on the vegetation.

Keywords: 

View and Print this Publication (536 KB)

Publication Notes: 

• We recommend that you also print this page and attach it to the printout of the article, to retain the full citation information.
• This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and is therefore in the public domain.

 Get the latest version of the Adobe Acrobat reader or Acrobat Reader for Windows with Search and Accessibility

Citation

Ralph, C. John; Maxwell, Bruce D.  1984.  Relative effects of human and feral hog disturbance on a wet forest in Hawaii.   Biological Conservation 30:291-303.