Terrestrial Biomes of the Cook Islands and the Pacific-Asia Biodiversity Transect

M. D. Merlin

Biology Program, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A.

The Cook Islands (total area 240 km²) include 15 small coral and volcanic islands located between 8^o and 23^o S latitude and 156^o and 167^o W longitude. Selected biomes in these islands are suggested for inclusion in the Pacific-Asia Biodiversity Transect (PABITRA). Horizontal and vertical approaches to transect selection are recommended for comparison with other transects in PABITRA. The horizontal perspective in the Cook Islands should focus on establishing transects in two biomes: the tropical montane cloud forest of Rarotonga, the only such forest in the archipelago, and the broadleaf forest on the rugged, raised limestone of Mangaia. In both of these biomes the flora is still, to a very large degree, comprised of indigenous and endemic species. A vertical approach for PABITRA in the Cook Islands could be accomplished by setting up a series of transects on Rarotonga, extending from the summit interior (above 600 m) down to the coastal zone. This transect series should stretch through one of the valley watersheds draining interior runoff, perhaps to include environments on and beyond the fringing coral reef. Scientific rationale for selection of these Cook Island ecological zones is described and critically evaluated in this paper.

Abstract from: XIX Pacific Science Congress, July 4-9, 1999, Sydney, Australia.