In the field — Page 2 — Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC)

Clearing the weeds for albatross

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Lissa Strohecker

Space is at a premium for nesting Laysan albatross on Midway atoll. Removal of the invasive golden crownbeard may have helped provide more nesting area. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr

Midway Atoll has gone to the birds. Every year 3 million seabirds flock to 1,500 acres of land 1200 miles northwest of Honolulu. The former Naval Air Station is also the most remote seabird colony in the world, home to 1.5 million Laysan albatross (65% of the global population) as well as 19 other species of seabirds – shearwaters, terns, boobies, noddies, curlews, and most recently, the translocated Laysan duck. But albatross and their feathered kin were not nearly as plentiful some years ago.

Hungry rats that devoured seabird eggs were the most obvious cause, but after rats were eradicated in the 1990s and seabird populations began to rebound, biologists were concerned that the birds’ continued recovery was blocked – literally – by an invasive plant.

Drought tolerant and fast-growing golden crownbeard, Verbesina encelioides, thrives in the harsh tropical sun on Midway Atoll. This yellow-flowered daisy-like plant grows head-high, creating a dense barricade that seabirds can’t walk through, much less nest in. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr.

Golden crownbeard, or Verbesina encelioides, is an aggressive annual herb from the desert southwest. This yellow-flowered daisy-like plant grows head-high, creating a dense barricade that seabirds can’t walk through, much less nest in. For the birds who do find a place to lay their eggs, the tangle of flowering stems limit airflow to nests, leaving chicks vulnerable to dehydration and death.

Like all invasive species in Hawaiʻi, golden crownbeard made the long journey to the Islands with the help of people. In 1903, the Commercial Pacific Cable Company was building a trans-Pacific cable and Midway was one of three intermediate stations, along with Honolulu and Guam. To transform a seabird colony into the semi-permanent home of a handful of cable operators, the Company constructed four two-story concrete buildings and shipped over 9,000 tons of soil from Hawaiʻi and Guam so the new human residents could plant shade trees and grow food. It’s possible that seeds of golden crownbeard were mixed in the soil or on equipment, but it’s equally plausible that the new islanders or later residents stationed there with the military planted this North American native as a reminder of home.

Regardless of how it arrived, golden crownbeard flourished in the harsh tropical sun. This weed is the most invasive of the more than 225 non-native plants on the low-elevation islands of Midway. It’s very drought tolerant and needs only a monthly sprinkling once the roots are established. This yellow scourge goes from seedling to flowering plant within months of germination and a single plant can produce 350 seeds.

Native Cyperus grass is replanted on Midway after invasive species are removed. The native grasses allow for more airflow to the nest as well as more space to build nests. In 2012-2013 Laysan and black-footed albatross nested at near-record levels. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr

Only a few years ago, golden crownbeard covered 80 percent of the three islands that make up Midway. In the late 1990s, the US Fish and Wildlife Service began removing the head high plants. With more funding the work pace quickened; crews head out almost daily to spray this pest. Tractors or heavy equipment can’t be used with so many seabirds above and below ground, so hand spraying is the way to go. All this work is starting to pay off.

Golden crownbeard will hopefully be eradicated from the smaller Eastern Island and Spit Islands by early 2017. The last batch of seedlings will be removed from the bigger Sand Island by 2018. As the invader is knocked back, the native grasses and coastal plants are being replanted to stabilize dunes and protect the reef.

The seabirds seem pleased with the efforts to restore their habitat. In 2012-2013, Laysan and black-footed albatross nested at near-record levels, though biologists won’t know if this increase is a result of the golden crownbeard removal efforts for several more years.

To learn more about golden crownbeard and the amazing birds on Midway visit the Friends of Midway Atoll website: www.friendsofmidway.org or the Papahānaumokuākea website: www.papahanaumokuakea.gov

Kia’i Moku, “Guarding the Island,” is prepared by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to provide information on protecting the island from invasive plants and animals that can threaten the island’s environment, economy and quality of life.

Originally published in the Maui News, August 9th, 2015 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Mapping the Kamehameha butterfly with your help

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Lissa Strohecker

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A Kamehameha butterfly on Waiheʻe ridge on Maui. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr

Brilliant orange and fluttering through the forest, the Kamehameha butterfly, or pulelehua, is our state insect. It’s one of only two butterfly species native to Hawaiʻi, and its ancestors flew to these Islands long before the first humans stepped ashore.

Knowing māmaki is in your area can cue you in to looking for Kamehameha butterflies. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr

“A lot of butterflies could have arrived here,” says University of Hawaiʻi researcher Will Haines. “But unless they could find a host plant they died.” The Kamehameha butterfly’s ancestors had suitable hosts: Hawaiian māmaki and other close relatives in the nettle family. The pulelehua caterpillars feed only on these native plants, once common throughout the Islands. But as humans transformed forests into fields and pastures, and invasive species spread from backyards, the māmaki, olonā, and ōpuhe plants became scarce. As this caterpillar food became less common at lower elevations, so did the Kamehameha butterfly. Today, any low-elevation populations of the butterfly depend on the scattered māmaki plants found in gulches, and this endemic butterfly is mostly found in the native forests higher in the mountains where food is more plentiful.

The ancestors of the Kamehameha butterfly found a food source in māmaki and related plants in the nettle family. Photo by Nathan Yuen

But thanks to an exciting citizen science activity, the Pulelehua Project, researchers are discovering that the Kamehameha butterfly is fluttering around in surprising places. Like a community on the North Shore of Oʻahu and a backyard in Kēōkea on Maui. “This butterfly is a strong flyer – it seems to be cruising through,” says Haines.

The Pulelehua Project emerged out of Haines’ research. With funding from the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Haines has been investigating various threats to the species’ survival in the field and mapping the Kamehameha butterfly’s distribution throughout the state. Mapping butterflies across the archipelago is a big job; Haines thought others may be interested in helping.

The tiny egg case of the Kamehameha butterfly. Photo by Will Haines

The tiny egg case of the Kamehameha butterfly resembles a sea-urchin shell. Photo by Will Haines.

Kamehameha butterflies are charismatic and relatively easy to recognize, so Haines started contacting other conservation groups for help for help. He created a website, www.kamehamehabutterfly.com, filled with resources to help amateur entomologists identify the species in its different and fascinating life stages, from tiny urchin-shell like eggs to colorful adults. The website has excellent photographs of the eggs, caterpillars, adults, and their favored host plants. Butterfly lovers across the state volunteered– reports came in from conservationists and the public alike.

The Kamehameha butterfly can be recogized by the pattern of white patches on the upper surface of the forewings. Pulelehua has only three main white patches in this area (though some are divided by dark wing veins). Look-alike butterflies have more white spots. Photo by Nathan Yuen

The Kamehameha butterfly can be recognized by the pattern of white or light patches on the upper surface of the forewings. Pulelehua has only three main white patches in this area (though some are divided by dark wing veins). Look-alike butterflies have more white spots. Photo by Nathan Yuen

To date, the reports have turned up 52 confirmed sightings of the iconic state insect. Anyone can participate and reports can be recent sightings or several years old, so long as there is a photo to accompany the information about when and where the butterfly, caterpillar, egg, or even feeding damage was observed. The data collected from the mapping project will help Haines and his colleagues better estimate the distribution of the pulelehua and could shape efforts to restore habitat for the Kamehameha butterfly.

The project is ongoing and you can help. Checking a māmaki patch is a good place to start. If you have māmaki in your area, or find māmaki while out hiking, inspect the leaves for eggs, caterpillars, and even feeding damage, and submit a report.

Caterpillars of the Kamehameha butterfly can be several different colors, from green to brown, but always covered in spines and bumps. Photo by Will Haines.

Use the photos on the website to make sure you’ve got the right butterfly. At one time, the Kamehameha butterfly was the only pair of orange wings around, but now, painted ladies, red admirals, monarchs, and gulf fritillary all flit through Hawaiʻi yards and forests. These exotic species, which can easily be confused with adult pulelehua, do not seem to pose a threat to the native butterfly. Other insects do. Ants, and potentially the little fire ant to a greater degree, can prey on caterpillars and the pupa in the chrysalis. Introduced katydids have an appetite for butterfly eggs. And, as the caterpillars of Kamehameha butterfly don’t dine on introduced nettles, it’s critical to protect their native food source.

The caterpillars create a distinctive pattern as the munch māmaki leaves. This distinct pattern can bu used to document the presence of the Kamehameha butterfly. Photo by Will Haines

These are all reasons to take your butterfly-hunting habit to the next level. To attract the Kamehameha butterfly to your yard, plant māmaki and encourage your neighbors to do the same. A single plant can support ten caterpillars, but according to Haines, it’s more about establishing a critical mass of māmaki across the landscape. Physical barriers, like tanglefoot, a tacky substance designed to keep crawling critters from climbing up plants, can protect eggs and caterpillars from ants and other predatory insects. Learn more about the Pulelehua Project and submit sightings at www.kamehamehabutterfly.com.

Lissa Strohecker is the public relations and education specialist for the Maui Invasive Species Committee. She holds a biological sciences degree from Montana State University. Kia’i Moku, “Guarding the Island,” is prepared by the Maui Invasive Species Committee to provide information on protecting the island from invasive plants and animals that can threaten the island’s environment, economy and quality of life.

Originally published in the Maui News, June 14th, 2015 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Got Guano?

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Lissa Strohecker

This albatross colony on Midway Atoll is representative of what the historic density of seabirds may have been throughout Hawaiʻi. Declines in the seabird population have an impact throughout the ecosystem. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr.

When horticulturalists at Maui Nui Botanical Gardens want to give an extra boost to their most sensitive and critically endangered Hawaiian plants, they bring out the seabird and bat guano. Why guano? It’s the natural nutrient-packed fertilizer that Hawaiian plants are used to.

Prior to the first canoe reaching Hawaiian shores, taloned and feathered beasts ruled these Islands. Scientists estimate that seabird populations on the main Hawaiian Islands were equivalent to what the 18^th century explorers found on the Northwest Hawaiian Islands–in other words, plentiful. Some accounts indicate seabirds were so abundant they blackened the sky. And if they could darken the sky with their wings, they were certainly capable of whitening the ground with their poop, aka guano.

Bird droppings may not be welcome on your car, but plants benefit from the splattered remains of a seabird’s meal. Guano is a gift for growing seedlings: high in nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium–nutrients essential for plant development. The more guano drops from the sky, the more plants sprout from the ground. This growth affects the entire ecosystem. As plants decompose, they provide plentiful and nutritious food for insects, nematodes, snails, and assorted detritivores, as well as soil bacteria and fungus.

An ʻuʻau chick in a burrow. Once plentiful, the ground nesting Hawaiian petrel is critically endgangered, threatened by feral cats, mongoose, and barn owls. Photo by Jay Penniman

An ʻuaʻu chick in a burrow. Once plentiful, the ground nesting Hawaiian petrel is critically endangered, threatened by feral cats, mongoose, and barn owls. Photo by Jay Penniman

Hawaii’s seabird populations are only a fraction of what they once were. The ‘ua‘u, or Hawaiian petrel, was once the most abundant seabird in the Islands. Today this burrowing resident is endangered. In Maui County, remnant populations exist atop the summits of Haleakalā on Maui and Lānaʻihale on Lānaʻi. The reason for the species’ decline is simple, yet irreversible. They were gobbled up by people, rats, mongoose, and barn owls; the hillsides where the birds nested are now pastures, golf courses, farms, and shopping centers. Other seabirds, such as the wedge-tailed shearwater, Newell’s shearwater, and Bulwer’s petrel once filled the air with their cries; these species now live in scattered, isolated populations.

If efforts to restore seabird colonies on the main Hawaiian Islands are successful, this may be a site any resident or visitor to Hawaii can see. For now, you have to visit Midway to see Laysan albatross this dense. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr.

Fewer seabirds mean fewer plant fertilizers. We may never fully understand how declines in pelagic bird populations impact the environment in Hawaiʻi, but research on islands in New Zealand offers some insight into what happens when avian populations crash due to introduced predators. Comparing islands that had been invaded by rats with those still dominated by seabirds, researchers found that the soil on rat-infested islands had a much different nutrient composition and pH. Additionally, the types and abundance of insects and other invertebrates varied, possibly due to differing rates of plant growth and nutrient uptake. The scientists concluded that reducing the seabird population triggers effects that cascade through entire ecosystems, down to the smallest microorganism.

Back in Hawaiʻi, there’s an opportunity to find out what happens in reverse–how a seabird-based ecosystem can recover when the invaders are removed. At Kaʻena point on Oʻahu, rats have been eradicated A predator-proof fence now prevents rodents from re-entering the 59-acre protected area. The resurgence of seabirds, with their increasing deposits of poop, will soon boost nitrogen and stimulate the recovery of native plants.

The loss of a single species has implications for the entire ecosystem. In this case, it’s just about the birds, it’s about what they leave behind, what lives off that, and on and on, all the way down.

You can support the restoration of Hawaiian seabird populations. Visit websites for Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project (www.mauinuiseabirds.org/restoration/) and Hawaiʻi Offshore Islet Restoration Committee to learn more (http://www.hawaiioirc.org/about-us/).

Originally published in the Maui News, February 8th, 2015 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Pueo or barn owl: here’s the difference

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Lissa Strohecker

A pueo chick peers out from its nest. Ground nesting birds, like this native owl, are vulnerable to predation by introduced rats and mongoose. Photo by Forest & Kim Starr

In Hawai‘i , owls are creatures of myth. Owls are said to rescue lost souls from the underworld and guide armies to safety. Hawaiian legends say the god Kāne took the form of an owl in battle to protect his people. Seeing an owl is always exciting, and it’s easy to overlook the fact that today there are two species of owls in Hawai‘i : the native pueo and the introduced barn owl.

The pueo, known to scientists as Asio flammeus sandwichensis, is a subspecies of the short-eared owl; it’s found only in Hawai‘i . For many Hawaiian families, both ancient and modern, pueo are ‘aumakua, ancestral guardians that protect the family from harm. Pueo are skilled hunters, dining on mice, insects, and small birds. Scientists believe they arrived in Hawai‘i after the Polynesians and it’s possible that introduced rats helped the population establish. Unlike many owls, pueo hunt during the day but like the fate of many birds native to Hawai‘i , their population levels are now low and they are rarely seen.

A pueo perches on a tree branch in Ulupalakua. The native pueo are darker in color than the introduced barn owl. Photo by Forest & Kim Starr

Pueo can be distinguished from the introduced barn owl (Tyto alba) by appearance as well as hunting behavior. Pueo are smaller, stockier, and darker in color than the barn owl with brown streaking and a brown, round face whereas barn owls are lanky and light in color with a nearly white, heart-shaped face. Pueo nest on the ground, making them more vulnerable to introduced mammals like rats, mongoose, and cats, whereas barn owls nest in tree cavities. Pueo are more active during the day than the barn owl.

Most owl sightings today are likely to be barn owls. Between 1958 and 1963, the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture

Introduced barn owls are the owl most often seen in Hawaii. Photo by Forest & Kim Starr

and Forestry imported 86 barn owls to Hawai‘i Island, Moloka‘i, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i to control rats in cane fields. The population took off and today this generalist predator is common on all the main Hawaiian Islands and has also been seen in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that the barn owl has had a significant impact on rat populations.

This introduced species may start hunting around dusk, but mostly stalks its prey under the cover of darkness. Its nocturnal habits raise concerns for resource managers working to protect native birds as barn owls can take advantage of species that may be naïve to a nocturnal raptor.

Jay Penniman of the Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project has seen the impacts first hand. His project works to protect ‘ua‘u, or Hawaiian petrel, an endangered ground-nesting seabird. On Lanai, crews regularly recovered carcasses from ‘ua‘u killed by barn owls. “In the area we were working, we’d find a half dozen kills in a year,” says Penniman. “This indicates it’s a relatively common occurrence.” They know pueo are not the culprit as pueo are active during the day and the ‘ua‘u only return to their burrows at night. Additionally pueo are slightly smaller than the ‘ua‘u, making the native seabird an unlikely target. Penniman suspects that the barn owls learn to specialize on seabirds and once that happens, become very effective. Other native birds are vulnerable as well: barn owls have been known to snatch Newell’s shearwaters, Hawaiian stilts, Bulwer’s petrels, brown noddies, Hawaiian ducks, and nēnē goslings. Barn owls are protected under the migratory bird act, but exemptions are allowed to remove these predators in critical refuge areas.

Meanwhile, pueo populations have declined dramatically. At the end of the 19^th century, pueo were widespread and often seen throughout the islands. But despite being active during the day, these owls are rarely seen today. Besides predation, other possible causes include disease, collisions with vehicles and habitat loss.

You can help. If you find an injured pueo, the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center on Hawai‘i Island can help rehabilitate it. Find out more information on their website: www.hawaiiwildlifecenter.org

By Lissa Fox Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News, November 9th, 2014 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee

Hawaiian Hoary Bat-Our Only Native Land Mammal

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Lissa Strohecker

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Opeapea is a subspecies of the North American hoary bat and is the only terrestrial mammal native to the Hawaiian Islands.

Under the cover of night a skilled hunter twists and turns in the Hawaiian sky, darting and dodging trees with acrobatic skill to catch dinner. Little is known about this hunter: scientists don’t have an estimate of its population size, and outside of the scientific community, few people even realize that Native Hawaiian bats exist.

Prior to the arrival of humans, other species traveled to Hawai‘i one of three ways: on the wind, via water, or by wing (either flying here themselves or being carried by a winged creature). It follows that the only native land mammal would bear wings.

‘Ōpe‘ape‘a is a subspecies of the North American hoary bat. Found only in Hawai‘i , it’s listed as a federally endangered species. Its Hawaiian name means “half-leaf,” and refers to the bat’s open wing, which resembles the bottom half of a taro leaf.

‘Ōpe‘ape‘a are more common than most people realize, but researchers have only recently begun to study this species more closely. Genetic evidence indicates that bats colonized the Hawaiian Islands in the not-too-distant past—first arriving approximately 10,000 years ago with a second colonization as late as 800 years ago.

An opeapea, sleeps hanging from a tree branch. Little is known about the Hawaiian hoary bat in part because of their tendency to roost alone in trees. Photo courtesy of Forest and Kim Starr

Like all bats, ‘ōpe‘ape‘a are nocturnal but you won’t find them roosting in caves. These bats are solitary tree roosters, attaching themselves to the tips of branches on a tall tree. Weighing in at only ½ oz, these little acrobats are hard to find and even harder to study. Mist nets, the kind used to catch and study songbirds, are not very effective when catching bats, as the tiny mammal quickly learns to avoid the net.

The most effective way to detect ‘ōpe‘ape‘a is with ultrasonic bat detectors that pick up the bats’ vocalizations as they travel and hunt. Recent improvements in ultrasonic detection technology have made bats easier to study, and researchers in Hawai‘i are working to find out more about these mysterious mammals.

On Hawai‘i Island, researchers detected ‘ōpe‘ape‘a more frequently during the summer at lower elevations, possibly because food is abundant during the summer at lower elevations or because the warmer temperatures mean less stress for newborns and lactating mothers. Mother ‘ōpe‘ape‘a give birth to pups, typically one set of twins, in May or June and stay with the pups until they are 6-7 weeks old. When the pups are young, the mother will carry them with her on her nightly hunts. When they are old enough to hold on to the roosting site themselves, she will leave them safe in the tree until they are old enough to fly with her and learn to hunt. ‘Ōpe‘ape‘a’s diet is mostly moths, but includes mosquitoes, beetles, crickets, and termites.

When temperatures began to cool, researchers on Hawai‘i Island found increased bat activity at higher elevations. Whether that means they “migrate” up and down the mountain is still uncertain. Even movement between islands is unknown, but bats are on all the main Hawaiian Islands so inter-island movement occurred at some time in the past.

Researchers studying the opeapea are learning more about this federally endangered species. It has been seen throughout Maui, from sea level to the top of Haleakala as it swoops through the sky. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr

On Maui, researchers know ‘ōpe‘ape‘a are in Haleakalā National Park, both at the summit and in the crater. The flying insectivores are often spotted at sea level as well. There is a good chance they are in your neighborhood.

Look for bats at twilight, particularly along pasture edges pastures and clearings. Bats dart back and forth as they catch insects, whereas the rare birds returning to roost take a direct path.

The threats to ‘ōpe‘ape‘a not yet clear but one cause of death is collisions with man-made objects such as communication towers, wind turbines, and barbed wire. This may happen as the bats catch an insect and “turn off” their echolocation for a few seconds to eat.

You can help protect this endangered species. If you know you have ‘ōpe‘ape‘a in your area, protect roosting sites–don’t cut tall trees until after the summer pupping season. If you are installing a fence in a pasture, consider using barbless wire on the top strand to prevent snagging a hunting bat. If you find a dead bat on Maui, contact Fern Duvall, Wildlife Biologist with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, at 873-3502. You can help scientists learn more about the genetics and habits of this cryptic creature—far more spectacular than spooky.

By Lissa Fox Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News, October 12th, 2014 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committe

Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit: the fingers on the keyboards that get the boots on the ground

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Lissa Strohecker

Crew with the West Maui Mountains Watershed Partnership build fence in some of the most difficult terrain imagnable. This and other resource managment efforts are possible thanks to the work behind the scnese at the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit. Photo by Chris Brosius

On any given day, there are hundreds of people at work throughout Hawai‘i to protect the ‘āina.

Fence crews pound ungulate-proof fences into place in thickly forested terrain, spending weeks away from their families. Botanists scale cliff faces, tracking down the last populations of rare and endangered plants. A researcher on Hawai‘i Island loads gallons of peanut butter into a ceiling spackler testing new ways to control little fire ants in trees.

These people all have one thing in common: the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, based out of the Botany Department at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. The unit’s staff works behind the scenes, helping project managers buy helicopter time, hire staff and pool funds from different sources so that conservation crews can stay in the field and focused on their work.

The Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit began 40 years ago when the University of Hawai‘i was providing scientific services to the state’s national parks.

Today, the unit facilitates funding for many of the “boots on the ground” projects throughout the state. It enables multiple funders and agencies to work together. In Maui County, the unit administers three watershed partnerships, two bird projects, one seabird project and two invasive species committees. Each of these projects has field staff, baseyards or offices, vehicles and equipment to maintain, safety concerns and multiple funding sources.

They work on land that falls under various types of management, from private to public and county to federal. A project might have funds from 10 different sources in one year, each with different deadlines and contract requirements. Having a single organization to pool and manage these resources allows the project to remain effective.

Despite supporting 350 staff across five islands and an annual budget of approximately $12 million per year, the unit is a surprisingly low-key organization, an approach mirrored in the philosophy of Unit leader David Duffy, a professor of botany with UH- Mānoa.

“We’re not top down. We try to give projects as much autonomy as possible,” he said.

So, the unit’s role in protecting natural resources in Hawai‘i may be overlooked.

One of the main benefits the unit offers its projects is flexibility. “We can do things that other people can’t, and we can do them faster,” Duffy said. State and federal organizations can be limited by mandates and jurisdiction, whereas a unit project may work wherever the need is.

Need drives the continued presence of the unit. If invasive species were no longer a threat, or endangered plants were safeguarded across the archipelago, it could go by the wayside. “In the best of worlds, we would go away,” Duffy said. “We continue to exist because we’re useful.”

The unit’s efforts mean that researchers and field crews can get the funding needed to continue monitoring and preserving rare native ecosystems across the ‘āina.

To learn more about PCSU and the projects it manages, visit manoa.Hawai‘i .edu/hpicesu/pcsu.htm.

By Lissa Fox Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News, September 14th, 2014 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committe

Protecting the Northwest Hawaiian Islands from Invasive Species

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Lissa Strohecker

Laysan, a remote island in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, is a refuge for seabirds. Strict decontamination protocols protect these islands from non-native species. Photo courtesy of Forest and Kim Starr

Stretching 1,200 miles across the Pacific, past Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, lies a sting of tiny islands and obscure atolls ringed by coral reefs. Though the total land area occupies only six square miles, the Northwest Hawaiian Islands host over 14 million nesting seabirds and provide the only habitat for four endangered land birds. The extreme isolation of the islands, and hence the relative lack of human presence, mean the Northwest Hawaiian Islands serve as critical refuges for the survival of coastal plants and animals now threatened or no longer present on the main Hawaiian Islands. But human presence has not been entirely lacking—military and private interests, and the plants and animals carried along, have left a lasting legacy on the islands.

Introduced species can have dramatic and devastating effects on the plants and animals that have evolved to live in such remote isolation, and the isolation can affect the way these species behave. Take the big-headed on Kure Atoll, which probably arrived as a stowaway with human cargo. On the main Hawaiian Islands and nearby islets, big-headed ants are a pest, but don’t seem to cause a measurable reduction in fledgling success of seabird chicks. Not so on Kure, where the density of these ants is five times greater than it ever was on Moku‘auia islet off O‘ahu before biologists eradicated the ant. The ants are so numerous on Kure they attack everything they encounter, including seabird hatchlings.

On Laysan, the intentional release of rabbits in 1902 caused the extinction of numerous plants and animals and three species of land birds found nowhere else in the world. The rabbits have since been eradicated and the atoll is still home to a number of endemic species, including the Laysan duck, a bird once widespread in Hawai‘i.

Lessons learned from the intentional and accidental introduction of non-native species have shaped the management practices for travel today. To protect some of the last remaining examples of intact native coastal habitat in Hawaii, along with millions of

The Laysan duck is a small dabbling duck that nearly went extinct due to invasive species. Today it is found on three of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Photo by Forest and Kim Starr

seabirds, land birds, and insects that live there, natural resource managers have taken steps to prevent hitchhiking plants and insects.

University of Hawai‘i early detection specialists Forest and Kim Starr know the drill. They have visited most of the islands in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, conducting surveys of native and non-native birds, plants and insects. They’ve gone through rigorous preparations to ensure they’re not bringing unwelcome guests with them. In September 2013, the Starrs traveled to Laysan, one of the islands with the greatest levels of protection. “Everything, from boots and tents, down to the fabric sunglasses retainers has to be new,” Kim said, in accordance with procedures established by the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

They freeze everything they pack for 48 hours to kill any insects or larvae and help sterilize any overlooked seeds. The strict decontamination protocols help prevent the spread of

Once found on the main Hawaiian Islands, The Laysan Finch is only found on a handful of atolls in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. This ground-nesting finch is extremely vulnerable to introduced species like rats and ants. Photo courtesy of Forest and Kim Starr

biological material from the main Hawaiian Islands to these spectacular but vulnerable atolls. “Fewer people have been to Laysan than Everest,” explains Kim. Even food is restricted on the more isolated islands. Fresh fruit and vegetables are not permitted and food not in cans or jars must be frozen for 48 hours as well. All gear must be packed in plastic tubs and buckets, as cardboard or wood can harbor insect larvae.

To maintain some of the healthiest intact reefs in the world, divers must rinse all their gear in a mild bleach solution to remove fragments of invasive algae. Boats and ships must maintain clean hulls and exchange ballast water at sea. And all vessels must be free of rodents—one of the single greatest threats to ground nesting seabirds.

To protect the species found on the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, rigorous protocols help prevent “forward contamination.” Every island in Hawai‘i is unique; each has species found only on that island. You can protect the rare species of your island by taking simple measures to prevent spreading invasive species. Make sure potted plants and cut flowers are inspected by the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture before you carry them interisland and that soft gear, like tents, boots, even the cuffs of your pants are free of seeds, insects, and other hitchhikers. To learn more about the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, look online at www.papahanaumokuakea.gov.

By Lissa Fox Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News, February 9th, 2014 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Roomba on the Reef–Native collector urchins on the prowl for invasive algae

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Lissa Strohecker Leave a Comment

A diver holds native collector urchin in his hand. Monitoring has shown these tiny urchins are successfully controlling invasive algae. Photo courtesy of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources-Division of Aquatic Resources

Let’s say you are trying to remove tiny piece of invasive plant material from an area 8 miles long and almost 3 miles wide. If you miss any, it will take over again. And you are working under water.

This is the situation the Department of Land and Natural Resources-Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) faces at Kāne‘ohe Bay on O‘ahu. An invasive algae, Kappaphycus spp., also known as smothering seaweed has overrun the reef causing a cascade of impacts. “They’re so aggressive they outcompete native limu [seaweed]; they grow so dense they kill coral and dominate habitat for tako [octopus] and small fish,” explains Jono Blodgett, aquatic species project leader with DAR.

First DAR tackled the alien algae with the Super Sucker, a giant vacuum mounted on a boat. Divers worked their way across the reef, sucking up the algae. Technicians would sort through it, tossing native limu back to colonize the reef, and bagging the invasive algae to give to local farmers to be used for compost. Unfortunately, gains were temporary–fragments of invasive algae left behind would regrow. DAR next called in native Hawaiian sea urchins with an appetite for invasive algae.

If the Super Sucker was a giant vacuum, native collector urchins (Tripneustes gratilla) are more like a Roomba, that small robotic vacuum that automatically cleans house floors. Once released, these spiny herbivores move across the reef munching algae as they find it. They would eat native limus as well, if the invasive algae hadn’t taken over all the natives.

Volunteers help rehome tank-raised native collector urchins to the reef in Kāne‘ohe Bay on O‘ahu. Photo courtesy of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources-Division of Aquatic Resources

The first urchins were released by DAR in January of 2011 and they’ve proven their worth. Although this urchin is native to Hawai‘i, it wasn’t abundant enough on the reef to control the algae in Kāne‘ohe Bay. Their numbers used to be much greater in the Bay, but unknown reasons have caused their populations to decline. By elevating the urchin populations, resource managers are getting ahead of the invasive algae.

The urchins used are a native species, selected because they stay on the reef and munch algae day and night. Adult urchins are collected from the wild and bred in captivity. After juvenile urchins reach 15mm, typically within 5-6 months, they are sent to work: released in Kāne‘ohe Bay to settle out over the reef and eat to their hearts’ content. Currently 5000 urchins are released each month in Kāne‘oheBay.

Density numbers are still being analyzed, but initially, urchins are released at a density of two per square meter and once the algae are under control, one urchin per square meter keeps the reef maintained. With some patch reefs as large as 30,000 square meters, it will take a lot of urchins. “We’re hoping to double production by next year,” says Blodgett.

Native collector urchins dine happily on invasive alage in Kāne‘ohe Bay. Photo courtesy of Photo courtesy of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources-Division of Aquatic Resources

Monitoring in Kāne‘ohe has shown that the collector urchins are effectively controlling invasive algae. Based on the success of the cleanup in Kāne‘oheBay, collector urchins could become invasive algae cleanup crews across the state. DAR has done trials to see if the urchins will control another alien alga: the gorilla ogo (Gracilaria salicornia) that plagues Waikīkī and much of Moloka‘i.

In the meantime, Blodgett advises leaving urchins and other herbivores alone and making sure dive and snorkel gear is free of any pieces of algae when you leave a site. Invasive algae spread through fragmentation, explains Blodgett, “Rinse gear before leaving a site.”

By Lissa Fox Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News, December 8th, 2013 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

Premiere of the new documentary Invasion: Little Fire Ants in Hawaii

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Lissa Strohecker Leave a Comment

In 2009, Waihee farmer Christina Chang was stung on the eye by a tiny ant at her home on Maui. She suspected, and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture confirmed, that this ant was the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, never before found on Maui. The detection spurred creation of a new documentary, Invasion: Little Fire Ants in Hawaii.

Invasive species introductions to Hawaii often end in regret and a list of should-haves. This film, produced by the Maui Invasive Species Committee, aims to change the result of the arrival of little fire ants in Hawaii. Featuring videography from award-winning film makers Masako Cordray and Chris Reickert, this half-hour film examines the biology, impacts, and potential solutions to the spread of little fire ants through interviews with scientists, farmers, and community on the Big Island reeling from the impacts of this miniscule, but devastating, ant. Viewers will learn how to identify and report new infestations, helping to protect Hawaii from this small stinging ant

The Waihee site is on target for eradication. However, little fire ants have recently been detected moving between islands, raising concern about the establishment of new infestations. On Hawaii Island, the little fire ant is now widespread in the Hilo area where efforts are focused on educating landowners about control options. Infestations are now occurring on the Kona side as well. Research on effective control continues by the Hawaii Ant Lab, a joint project of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) and University of Hawaii. The little fire ant on Kauai is contained within a 12-acre area under active control by HDOA

The film will premiere on Maui January 8^that the McCoy Theater at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. Doors open at 5pm. An awards ceremony and panel discussion will follow the screening. Food and beverages are available for purchase on site beginning at 4:30pm.

Screenings on other islands will follow. Please RSVP to miscpr@hawaii.edu to reserve a seat. Below is the current screening schedule:

Maui: January 8, McCoy Theater and the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, 5pm
Oahu: January 13, Cafe Julia at the YWCA, 1040 Richard St, 4:30pm
Kauai: January 18, Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center
Hilo: TBA (February 18)
Kona: February 19, Aloha Performing Arts Center, 5pm

The film will also air throughout the state on KITV

Sat 1/11 630-7PM

Sunday 1/12 9-9:30AM

Sat 1/19 4-4:30PM

Sunday 1/20 10:30-11P

Funding and support for the film was provided by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, County of Maui-Office of Economic Development, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Hawaii Community Foundation-Pikake Fund, Maui Electric Company, Alexander and Baldwin Foundation, Tri-Isle RC&D. MISC and the Hawaii Ant Lab are collaborative projects of the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit.

The public health threat of invasive species-mosquitoes and dengue

Posted on August 23, 2013 by Lissa Strohecker Leave a Comment

Aedes aegypti is famous the world over for spreading dengue. This species is not established statewide, but it has shown up at the Honolulu International Airport five times since January of 2012. Photo by Muhammad Mahdi Karim

Back in 2001, several East Maui residents started reporting fever, body aches, and rashes. One of the people sickened had just traveled in French Polynesia during a dengue fever outbreak. The Department of Health eventually confirmed 20 cases of dengue fever in East Maui and a crew hired with funds allocated for environmental emergencies went to work removing mosquito habitat. What made this outbreak interesting was that it was spread by the tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, common in Hawai‘i.

“We may be the only place in the world to confirm [that] dengue could be spread by the albopictus mosquito. It’s not an efficient carrier of the disease,” explains Gary Gill, Deputy Director of the Environmental Health Administration with the Hawai‘i Department of Health. “In places where dengue is endemic [regularly occurring], it is the aegypti mosquito that is the carrier.”

The invasive mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is famous for spreading dengue. Neither the mosquito nor dengue is widespread in Hawai‘i. Both periodically appear, but luckily not at the same time. Though conditions are prime as Hawai‘i is a global hub for tourism and commerce..

Dengue outbreaks in Hawai‘i are rare and typically occur when someone travels to an infested area, returns to Hawai‘i and is bitten by a mosquito, as happened in 2001. According to Gill, immediate family members and neighbors are at risk, but the common tiger mosquitoes rarely eat from more than one source. The female mosquito finds a person (or animal), and, given the chance, feeds until her belly is about to burst.

In contrast, Aedes aegypti flit from person to person, taking a blood meal from multiple people and spreading any disease carried by the bloodsuckers. Aedes aegypti is not normally found on O‘ahu. “We have not, up until last year, identified any aegypti since the 1940s,” says Gill.

In January of 2012, a Department of Health entomologist collected a trap containing what was later identified as Aedes aegypti at the Honolulu International Airport. “We’ve found aegypti five times in the last year. Every indication is that this mosquito is either living and breeding at the airport, or it is regularly being reintroduced,” Gill says. Mosquitoes can survive in the cabin, cargo hold, or underbelly of an airplane coming from an infested area. Aedes aegypti are originally from Africa but have spread to tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world including Mexico, Asia, and Australia.

Dengue fever is a widespread subtropical disease that is continuously present in areas with established population of Aedes aegypti. This map shows the distribution of Aedes aegypti (blue) and Aedes aegypti and dengue fever (red). Image from Centers for Disease Control

From a public health standpoint having a thriving population of dengue-spreading mosquitoes at the airport is a worst case scenario according to Gill. “A person carrying the virus walks through the airport, and then it spreads to any number of people at the airport who will then take it to wherever they are going. A single population of aegypti could easily spread dengue throughout the state. A dengue-carrier mosquito would be a concern for people who come here as much as for people who live here.” If Aedes aegypti became established throughout Hawai‘i, it would set the stage for a consistent presence of dengue, like does in parts of Central and South America, India, Southeast Asia, and Africa.

Ongoing surveys for mosquitoes are the best way to ensure early detection of this species. The Department of Health continues to monitor mosquitoes at Honolulu International Airport, but surveys are limited to that airport and don’t include surrounding areas. Funding cuts in 2009 gutted the Department of Health. At one point 40 people worked on O‘ahu on environmental health but now only seven positions remain. Staff cuts throughout the state have left no capacity for mosquito monitoring elsewhere. “What’s at Kahului? We have no idea,” worries Gill.

The Department of Health is working with Hawai‘i’s Departments of Agriculture Transportation to explore options for mosquito surveys at airports and harbors statewide. They are working to reduce mosquito habitat at the airport, removing bromeliads and dark undergrowth and replacing it with less mosquito-friendly landscaping. Gill encourages homeowners to do the same, along with removing or changing water in outside open containers every week. For now it’s our best hope. Unless and until capacity is restored at the Department of Health, early detection of this devastating mosquito is up to the public.

By Lissa Fox Strohecker. Originally published in the Maui News, August 11, 2013 as part of the Kia‘i Moku Column from the Maui Invasive Species Committee.

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