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A Cubic Foot of Tropical Forest<strong>SPECIAL REPORT: BIODIVERSITY AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE</strong>National Geographic photographer David Liittschwager photographed this Metrosiderous tree and all 58 species he found crawling, flying, or taking root in it. He and a team of scientists accounted for 49 arthropods, 2 reptiles, and 7 plant and fungus species.The forests of Mo‘orea are a combination of species introduced by the Polynesians and invasives introduced by European settlers, with a few scattered native species."There was a nest of Technomyrmex ants close to the cube," Liittschwager says. "This non-native ant had surely suppressed the local native diversity."(See more of Liittschwager's photos from Mo‘orea.)--Tasha Eichenseher and David Liittschwager

Photograph by David Liittschwager, National Geographic

Mo'orea Terrestrial Cubic Foot

National Geographic photographer David Liittschwager photographed this Metrosiderous tree and all 58 species he found crawling, flying, or taking root in it.

February 26, 2011