Comparison of local populations of D. erecta on different islands (Fig. 3a) shows that, according to the loglinear analysis, the stage structure of populations on different islands was significantly different (Pearson χ2 = 90.77, p < 0.001, df = 6). The population on Hawaii had significantly more mature individuals and less sporelings than expected (Freeman Tukey deviation test, p < 0.001) and thus represented a regressive type. The populations on Molokai and Maui both had significantly less sporelings than expected, which is a characteristic for a regressive population. The population on Oahu had significantly more sporelings and less mature individuals than expected and thus represented a dynamic type.