Biogeography

What is Biogeography?

Biography is the spatial variation of plants and animals with the land.  Different land features and climates, along with competition among organisms, limit what types of organisms can inhabit an area.  The age, structure and dynamics of a system (as measured by GPS, GPR, and Laser Leveling) play as important a role as available sunlight and substrate composition in "selecting" viable organisms.

Dan reviews his notes while getting down and dirty in the dunes.  The site surveyed was marked off into three 5m by 5m squares, and data concerning density, composition and structure were collected.

Why collect Biogeographic data at Hapuna Beach?

A biogeographic study at Hapuna Beach can determine the health and biotic composition of the system.  The health and composition of the biota can answer important ecological questions: Is the beach being managed in such a manner that promotes natural succession?  Are outside inputs to the beach (biological, chemical and physical) affecting the natural life?  

Plant life was the only biota recorded, given the complexity (and regulations) of sampling insects and other animals.  Several species were described and hypotheses presented concerning the reasoning for the ecological distribution.

GPS, GPR, Laser Leveling, Biogeography, Luau, Return to Hapuna Beach Contents