In 1958 a botanical survey by noted Pacific Island botanist Raymond Rosberg recorded the various native plants growing along the Mauna Loa access road. Dr. James Juvik and his team resurveyed the Mauna Loa plants again after 50 years (2008) and 60 years (2018). Juvik will present fascinating study findings including documented changing patterns of alpine native plants and the alien plant invasion on Maunakea.
At 7 p.m. Thursday, Juvik will present his findings as part of the Maunakea Speaker Series at the UH-Hilo Science and Technology Building (STB), room 108.
Juvik is Professor Emeritus of geography and environmental studies at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. He specializes primarily in tropical forest climate, hydrology, ecology, paleo-ecology and international wildlife conservation and ecological studies. He was the first to core a number of Hawaiian swamps and bogs to secure peat/pollen records of past vegetation and climate change. He is an internationally recognized expert on conservation management of endangered land tortoises around the world. He has done extensive research into cloud mist in the mountains of Hawaii.