strawberry guava invasion of a Hawaiian rainforest: changing population pattern

Strawberry guava (waiawī, Psidium cattleyanum O. Deg., Myrtaceae) is a small tree invasive on oceanic islands where it may alter forest ecosystem processes and community structure. To better understand the dynamics of its invasion in Hawaiian rainforests in anticipation of the release of a biocontrol agent, we measured growth and abundance of vertical stems >= 0.5 cm DBH for 16 years (2005-2020) in an intact Metrosideros-Cibotium rainforest on windward Hawai'i Island. Specifically, we compared the growth and abundance of both shoots (originating from seed or from the root mat) and sprouts (originating above ground from established stems) in four replicate study sites. Mean stem density increased from 9562 stems/ha in 2005 to 26,595 stems/ha in 2020, the majority of which were stems < 2 cm DBH. Mean annual rates of population growth (lambda) varied between 1.03 and 1.17. Early in the invasion, both density and per capita recruitment of shoots was greater than that of sprouts, but a..., Sites: We measured guava stem diameters annually between 2005 and 2020 at each of four replicate study plots selected to represent early stages of strawberry guava invasions in intact Metrosideros-Cibotium rainforest on windward Hawai'i Island (Juvik and Juvik 1998). Wet forests in Hawai'i are high priority conservation areas because of the biological diversity they harbor and their importance in the water economy of the islands (Jacobi and Warshauer 1992, Tunison 1992). Our study plots were established in the following conservation areas: Kahauale'a Natural Area Reserve (KAH, 19o10'N, 155o10'W), Pu'u Maka'ala Natural Area Reserve (MAK, 19o34'N, 155o11'W), Ola'a Forest Reserve (OLA, 19o27'N, 155o11'W), and Upper Waiakea Forest Reserve (WAI, 19o35'N, 155o12'W).  All sites are at approximately 900 m elevation and distances between sites are 2 to 17 km. Estimated annual rainfall is 3000-4000 mm at OLA and KAH and 4000-5000 mm at WAI and MAK (Giambelluca et al. 1996). Projected mean annual ..., , # Strawberry guava invasion of a Hawaiian rainforest: Changing population pattern

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.dr7sqvb42](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.dr7sqvb42)
This file provides information on the contents of the file “Psicat Demog 2005-2020 values 20231203.csv”. It is intended to accompany the manuscript titled “Strawberry guava invasion of a Hawaiian rainforest: Changing population pattern” authored by J. S. Denslow, M. T. Johnson, N. L. Chaney, E. C. Farrer. C. C. Horvitz, E. R. Nussbaum, and A. L. Uowolo which appears In the journal *Biotropica*. Please see the “Methods” section of that paper for more detail.

The file provides diameter at breast height (DBH, 1.37 m) of vertical strawberry guava (*Psidium cattleyanum* O. Deg. f. *lucidum*) stems measured annually (2005-2020) at 4 study sites in rainforest on windward Hawai'i Island.

KAH: Kahauale'a Natural Area Reserve

MAK: Puu Maka'ala Natural Area Reserve

OLA: Ola'a Forest Reserve

WAI: Upper Waiakea Forest Reserve

The ...