Population Size and Frequency of Branching in the Eke Silversword, Argyroxiphium Caliginis (Asteraceae), on Eke Crater, West Maui, Hawaii!

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Population Size and Frequency of Branching in the Eke Silversword, Argyroxiphium Caliginis (Asteraceae), on Eke Crater, West Maui, Hawaii! Pacific Science (1992), vol. 46, no. 3: 308-314 © 1992 by University of Hawaii Press. All rights reserved Population Size and Frequency of Branching in the Eke Silversword, Argyroxiphium caliginis (Asteraceae), on Eke Crater, West Maui, Hawaii! 2 ELIZABETH ANN POWELL ABSTRACT: The Eke silversword, Argyroxiphium caliginis, is a rosette plant endemic to the summit bogs ofEke Crater and Puu Kukui, West Maui, Hawaii . On 2 November 1985, a belt transect across Eke Crater was used to estimate the population of silverswords on the summit bog. Total population of the Eke silversword on Eke Crater was estimated to be about 76,000 plants. Although the plant has been described as a branching shrub that reproduces vegetatively, the majority of the individuals in the sampled population of the Eke silversword on Eke Crater were unbranched, monocarpic plants that appeared to reproduce by seed. THE EKE SILVERSWORD (Argyroxiphium calig­ different species from that found on either the . inis Forbes) is a rosette plant endemic to the uplands of the island of Hawaii or of East summit bogs and ridges of Eke Crater (1360 Maui. It differs from the other described m elevation) and Puu Kukui (1600 m) of West species in its much smaller size." Maui , Hawaii (Figure 1). The Eke silversword Monocarpic silverswords live for many is one of five extant species in the Hawaiian years as a vegetative single-stemmed rosette genus Argyroxiphium (family Asteraceae, sub­ and die after a single episode offlowering and tribe Madiinae). All members ofthe genus are subsequent seed set. Branching is extremely endemic to Hawaii . rare in the Haleakala silversword (A . mac­ The Eke silversword has been frequently rocephalum Gray) (pers . obs.), occurs in less described as a branching, dwarf shrub (Keck than 8% of the plants in a population of 1936, Degener 1937, Neal 1965, Carlquist the Ka'u silversword (A. kauense (Rock and 1974, Carr 1985, 1990). Degener (1930) de­ Neal) Degener and Degener) in the Upper scribed the growth habit of the Eke silver­ Waiakea Forest Reserve on the island of sword as "creeping profusely over the ground Hawaii (unpublished data), and is present in and progressively dying back at the base, about 26% of the remnant naturally occur­ thus isolating the branches into independent ring population of the Mauna Kea silversword plants." Carlquist (1974, 1980)suggested that (A. sandwicense De Candolle) (Powell 1992). the Eke silversword on Puu Kukui rarely Therefore, the habit described by Degener flowered and depended on branching for re­ (1930) for the Eke silversword is unusual for production. However, Forbes (1920), in his silverswords. No other silversword species description ofthe species, did not describe the has been reported as capable of vegetative Eke silversword as a branching plant, but reproduction. However, the greensword stated simply, "The plant proves to be a (A . grayanum (Hillebrand) Degener) may be capable of vegetative reproduction in nature I This study was partially funded by a fellowship from (G. Carr, pers. comm.). the National Wildlife Federation. Manuscript accepted The purpose of this paper is to present an 30 September 1991. estimate of the population size, frequency of 2 Department of Botany, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822. Corresponding ad­ branching, and mode of reproduction of the dress: P. O. Box 61872, Boulder City, Nevada 89006­ Eke silversword on the summit bog of Eke 1872. Crater. 308 The Eke Silversword-PowELL 309 FIGURE I. A flowering Eke silversword on the summit bog of Eke Crater, West Maui , Hawaii . 310 PACIFIC SCIENCE, Volume 46, July 1992 Study Site RESULTS Eke Crater is an extinct volcanic dome with The belt transect covered 720 m2 and rep­ eroded sides and gently concave summit. The resented 0.005% (1/189) of the area of the summit bog is underlain by a clay hardpan summit of Eke (13.6 ha), as determined by over a compressed lava core and is character­ planimeter. A total of 404 individual plants, ized by numerous pits and open water ponds. ofwhich three were in flower, occurred within The vegetation of the summit bog, which the belt transect. If one assumes that the consists primarily ofgrasses, sedges, and low­ density of silverswords within the transect growing shrubs, was in a pristine state at the (0.56 plants per m") is the same as the density time of this study: Alien plants were absent of silverswords on the summit of Eke Crater, and the vegetation appeared not to have been then the total population is estimated as the disturbed by humans or feral animals. The number of silverswords found in the transect summit of Eke Crater has been designated a (404) times the number of possible transect Natural Area Reserve by the State of Hawaii areas on the summit of Eke (189), or about Department of Land and Natural Resources. 76,000 silverswords. The distribution ofrosette diameters of the sampled silversword population showed a METHODS reverse J curve typical of expanding popula­ On 2 November 1985, a 2 m x 360 m belt tions (Figure 2). Forty-eight percent of the transect was extended in IO-m intervals from plants within the transect were < 10 cm in the north rim of Eke Crater across the center diam. There were, however, few seedlings < 3 of the summit to the edge of the south rim. em in diam. It is possible that the silverswords The number ofsilversword plants, the rosette in this bog grow more rapidly than 1 or 2 em diameter of each plant, and the number of per year. If so, seedlings that resulted from the rosette branches for each plant in the transect seed crop of 1984would have been larger than were recorded. The transect covered only flat 2 em by the time of this census in 1985. It is and gently sloping surfaces and did not in­ also possible that seedling recruitment occurs clude pits. Less than 25 m2 ofthe transect was irregularly and that few seedlings were re­ open water ponds. cruited in 1984. The number of flowering silverswords on Sixty-nine of the 404 silverswords (17%) the summit of Eke Crater was estimated by within the transect had multiple rosettes and counting the number of flowering plants en­ were considered branched; the remaining 335 countered and in view during a 5-hr walk had only one rosette and were unbranched around the perimeter of the summit bog. The (monocarpic). Of the branched individuals, rosette diameter and inflorescence height were 33% (n = 23) had two rosettes, 17% (n = 12) measured on 81 flowering individuals, and the had three rosettes, and 14% (n = 10)had> 10 number of flowering stalks from previous rosettes. The maximum number ofrosettes on flowering seasons that were encountered in any silversword plant in the transect was 36. the walk was recorded. The height of the Branched silverswords had several shoots inflorescence from the ground surface was that terminated in rosettes radiating from a measured for 39 flowering silverswords that central point on the aboveground shoot ofthe had fully elongated inflorescences. plant (Figure 3). The radiating shoots did not The area of Eke Crater was determined by extend farther than about 20 em from the planimeter from a I : 24,000, 7.5-min. series central shoot. In only one case was a radiating topographic map published by the U.S. Geo­ shoot found to be rooted in the soil and the logical Survey. However, because the surface connection between it and the parent shoot of the summit is not flat, but concave with broken. Although no silverswords were exca­ numerous pits, the planimeter reading for the vated to make these determinations, no con­ summit is an underestimate of the total sur­ nections between plants were obvious in the face area of the summit of Eke Crater. surface layers ofvegetation, nor were connec- The Eke Silversword- PoWELL 311 40 ~ 30 z ~ D... l..L. o 20 D::: W CD 2 ~ z 10 PlIA ~ IA l/l J~~ ~~ o Jr Jr IAIAPlIA o 10 20 30 40 50 ROSETTE DIAMETER (em) FIGURE 2. Distribution ofrosette diameters ofthesampled silversword population on Eke Crater. Graph does not include two plants: one had a rosettediameter of 61 em andtheother had a rosette diameter of 84 em. tions between silverswords fou nd by gently DISCUSSION probing the vegetation to the soil surface in areas between plants. It is, however, possible The estimated population of about 76,000 that mo re connections existed than were en­ Eke silversword plants on Eke Crater was countered by these methods. large r than the total estimated population of About 200 silverswords were in flower or any other species of silversword. The esti­ beginning to come into flower on the summit mated population of the Haleakala silver­ bog on 2 November 1985. Of the 81 flowering sword was about 50,000 plants in 1986 (Loope plants measured for inflorescence height, 39 and Crive llone 1986). The Haleakala silver­ plants (48%) had fully elongated inflores­ sword has suffered disturbance from humans cences; the remainder (42 plants) had por­ and feral goats. The Mauna Kea silverswo rd, tions of the inflorescence in bud. The rosette a federally listed endangered species, has been diameter of the 81 flowering silverswords reduced to a naturally occurring population ranged from 15 to 44 em. The mean diameter size ofless than 40 individuals from a popula­ was 27.0 em (n = 81, SD = 5.5) (Figure 4). tion that probably ranged over the alpine and The height of inflorescences ranged from subalpine slopes of Mauna Kea before the 29 to 81 em. The mean inflorescence height introduction of goats and sheep to Hawaii was 51.8 em.
Recommended publications
  • Outline of Angiosperm Phylogeny
    Outline of angiosperm phylogeny: orders, families, and representative genera with emphasis on Oregon native plants Priscilla Spears December 2013 The following listing gives an introduction to the phylogenetic classification of the flowering plants that has emerged in recent decades, and which is based on nucleic acid sequences as well as morphological and developmental data. This listing emphasizes temperate families of the Northern Hemisphere and is meant as an overview with examples of Oregon native plants. It includes many exotic genera that are grown in Oregon as ornamentals plus other plants of interest worldwide. The genera that are Oregon natives are printed in a blue font. Genera that are exotics are shown in black, however genera in blue may also contain non-native species. Names separated by a slash are alternatives or else the nomenclature is in flux. When several genera have the same common name, the names are separated by commas. The order of the family names is from the linear listing of families in the APG III report. For further information, see the references on the last page. Basal Angiosperms (ANITA grade) Amborellales Amborellaceae, sole family, the earliest branch of flowering plants, a shrub native to New Caledonia – Amborella Nymphaeales Hydatellaceae – aquatics from Australasia, previously classified as a grass Cabombaceae (water shield – Brasenia, fanwort – Cabomba) Nymphaeaceae (water lilies – Nymphaea; pond lilies – Nuphar) Austrobaileyales Schisandraceae (wild sarsaparilla, star vine – Schisandra; Japanese
    [Show full text]
  • Quantitative Genetic Variation in Declining Plant Populations
    Quantitative genetic variation in declining plant populations Ellmer, Maarten 2009 Link to publication Citation for published version (APA): Ellmer, M. (2009). Quantitative genetic variation in declining plant populations. Total number of authors: 1 General rights Unless other specific re-use rights are stated the following general rights apply: Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal Read more about Creative commons licenses: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. LUND UNIVERSITY PO Box 117 221 00 Lund +46 46-222 00 00 QUANTITATIVE GENETIC VARIATION IN DECLINING PLANT POPULATIONS Quantitative genetic variation in declining plant populations Maarten Ellmer ACADEMIC DISSERTATION For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Ecology and Systematics, to be publicly defended on October 2nd at 10.00 a.m. in Blå Hallen at the Department of Ecology, Ecology Building, Sölvegatan 37, Lund, by permission of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Lund.
    [Show full text]
  • THE STATUS of the MAUNA KEA SILVERSWORD Gerald D. Carr And
    34 THE STATUS OF THE MAUNA KEA SILVERSWORD Gerald D. Carr and Alain Meyrat Department of Botany University of Hawaii 3190 Maile Way Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 The Mauna Kea silversword was first brought to the attention of the scientific community through the efforts of Scottish botanist James M~crae. Macrae ascended Mauna Kea from Laupahoehoe in 1825 and at a point near the summit, after walking three miles over sandy pulverized lava, noted, "The last mile was destitute of vegetation except one plant of the Syginesia tribe, in growth much like a Yucca, with sharp pointed silver cou1oured leaves and green upright spike of three or four feet producing pendulous branches with br9wn flowers, truly superb, and almost worth the journey of coming here to s~e it on purpose" (Wilson 1922, p. 54). Specimens of t;hese 'truly superb' plants reached De Candolle and in 1836 were christened Argyroxiphium sandwicense DC. Early in 1834, David Douglas ascended Mauna Kea and observed the same species, specimens of which reached W. J. Hooker and were initially given the name Argyrophyton douglasii Hook. (1837a.), but Hooker very soon a.ccepted De Candolle's earlier name for the taxon (Hooker 1837b). ,The species was again collected on Mauna Kea by Charles Pickering in 1841 as part of the U. S. South Pacific Exploring Expedition (cf. Pickering 1876, Keck 1936). Pickering also collected material he presumed to belong to the Same taxon on Haleakala, Maui, but this was considered distinct by Asa Gray and was named Argyroxiphium macrocephalum (cf. Gray 1852, Pickering 1876). Both Pickering and Douglas observed Argyroxiphium on Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, Hawai'i and considered them to be the same taxon (Pickering 1876, Wilson 1922).
    [Show full text]
  • Endemic Plants of Kipahulu Valley, Maui, Hawaiian Islands Hawaiian Plant Studies 361 HAROLD ST
    Endemic Plants of Kipahulu Valley, Maui, Hawaiian Islands Hawaiian Plant Studies 361 HAROLD ST. JOHN2 MUCH OF THE MOUNTAIN HALEAKALA on elliptica, granis 1.7 mm longis ellipsoideis Maui is of easy access and has a flora quite well stramineis. known. Kipahulu Valley is an outer valley at DIAGNOSIS OF HOLOTYPE: Perennial, forming the southeast corner of the great volcano. It is dense tussocks up to 3 dm in diameter, partly remote, difficult of access, and its middle and submerged, at the margins of the tussock short upper parts have a dense, wet, virgin vegetation. stoloniferous; culms 5-10 cm tall filiform' in­ An attempt is now being made to acquire title ternodes 2-6 mm long; sheaths 7":'10 mm l~ng, to it and to preserve it as a wilderness or na­ glabrous , with raised longitudinal nerves; ligule ture preserve. a line of white hairs 0.2 mm long ; blades 10­ Botanical explorations of it were made in 15 (-20) mm long, 1.5-1.8 mm wide lance 1919 by C. N. Forbes, in 1936 by H . St. John ligulate, glabrous, strongly veined, the ~argins and R. J. Catto, in 1945 by H. St. John and involute and completely so for at least the outer A. L. Mitchell, in 1967 by C. H. Lamoureux half; panicle 3-12-flowered, usually the lower and R. E. DeWreede, and in 1969 by J. Hen­ enclosed in the leaf sheaths; rhachis white rickson. The writer has made a close study of Yz-7'3 pilosulous; pedicels 2-3 mm long, glabrous; many of these collections, and here announces spikelets 2-2.3 mm long, glabrous; first glume the discovery among them of the following 15 as long as the spikelet, ovate, 3-nerved; new species and 5 new varieties.
    [Show full text]
  • Articole De Fond Buletinul AŞM
    Articole de fond Buletinul AŞM. Ştiinţele vieţii. Nr. 1 (316) 2012 ARTICOLE DE FOND САНОКРЕАТОЛОГИЧЕСКАЯ ТЕОРИЯ ПСИХИЧЕСКОГО ЗДОРОВЬЯ. I. ОСНОВНЫЕ СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ ПРЕДСТАВЛЕНИЯ О ПСИХИЧЕСКОМ ЗДОРОВЬЕ Фурдуй Ф.И., Чокинэ В.К., Фурдуй В.Ф., Вуду Г.А., Балмуш В.В., Бешетя Т.С., Георгиу З.Б., Штирбу Е.И., Вуду Л.Ф., Фрунзе Р.И. Институт физиологии и санокреатологии Академии наук Молдовы Rezumat În articol este prezentată analiza principalelor concepţii despre sănătatea psihică, în rezultat la ce se demonstrează insufi cienta studierii fenomenologiei, structurii şi mecanismelor formării şi menţinerii acesteia. Se menţionează necesitatea elaborării unui concept nou al sănătăţii psihice în baza cunoştinţelor contemporane ale neuroştiinţei, care ar orienta specialiştii spre realizarea obiectivelor sanocreatologiei vizavi de formarea şi menţinerea dirijată a sănătăţii. Cuvinte-cheie: Sănătate-sănătate psihică-sănătate mentală-normă psihică-personalitate- adaptare- homeostazie-organism-comportament. Depus la redacţie 05 mai 2012 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adresa pentru corespondenţă: Ciochină Valentina, Institutul de Fiziologie şi Sanocreatologie al Academiei de Ştiinţe a Moldovei, str. Academiei, 1, MD-2028, Chişinău, Republica Moldova, e-mail: [email protected], tel. (+373 22) 73-71-42. Проблема психического здоровья является одной из наименее изученных в современной медицине, хотя ее актуальность никем не оспаривается. Вряд ли можно указать другую область исследований организма человека, чем исследование психо-физиологического состояния, в которой мнения специалистов столь противоречивы даже в части концепции определения самого феномена психического здоровья как такового. Вместе с тем, без ясной, научно-обоснованной его дефиниции, нельзя ожидать особого прогресса в раскрытии механизмов формирования, поддержания и повышения уровня психического здоровья, а тем более, в разработке важнейшей задачи санокреатологии – теории и практики целенаправленного влияния на психическое здоровье.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogeography and Conservation Genetics of Two Endangered
    Phylogeography and Conservation Genetics of Two Endangered Amphibians, Blanchard's Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans blanchardi) and the Puerto Rican Crested Toad (Peltophryne lemur) Kaela B. Beauclerc A thesis submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts and Science TRENT UNIVERSITY Peterborough, Ontario, Canada © Kaela B. Beauclerc 2009 Environmental and Life Sciences Ph.D. Program May 2009 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Abstract Phylogeography and Conservation Genetics of Two Endangered Amphibians, Blanchard's Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans blanchardi) and the Puerto Rican Crested Toad (Peltophryne lemur) Kaela B. Beauclerc I investigated the genetic diversity and structure of two endangered amphibians with the goal of developing conservation recommendations. The Puerto Rican crested toad (Peltophryne lemur) is a critically endangered tropical bufonid, for which one wild population remains. Declines are primarily due to habitat modification, and recovery efforts include captive breeding of northern and southern populations. In contrast, Blanchard's cricket frog (Acris crepitans blanchardi) is a temperate hylid that is declining at the northern edge of its range, but for which many large southern populations exist. The causes of declines are not well understood, and few conservation efforts have been initiated. I profiled the captive and wild populations of P. lemur, and 185 locations encompassing all Acris taxa, at the mitochondrial control region and several novel microsatellite loci. P. lemur had moderate microsatellite allelic diversity, but northern and southern populations were each fixed for a different mitochondrial haplotype.
    [Show full text]
  • Origin and Evolution of Hawaiian Endemics: New Patterns Revealed by Molecular Phylogenetic Studies
    4 Origin and evolution of Hawaiian endemics: new patterns revealed by molecular phylogenetic studies S t e r l i n g C . K e e l e y a n d V i c k i A . F u n k The current high islands of the Hawaiian archipelago are among the most remote land masses in the world. They lie 3500 km from California, the nearest contin- ental source, and approximately 2300 km from the Marquesas , the nearest islands ( Fig. 4.1 ). They are the southernmost islands in the Hawaiian Ridge , formed succes- sively over a ‘hot spot’ that has allowed magma to penetrate the Pacifi c Plate. The plate has moved gradually north and northwestwards over the past 85 Ma, leaving the previously formed islands to gradually erode and subside (Clague, 1996 ). The current high islands ( Fig. 4.1 , inset) range in age from Kauai /Niihau (5.1–4.9 Ma), to Oahu (3.7–2.6 Ma), to Maui Nui (2.2–1.2 Ma), during the Pleistocene compris- ing several islands – West Maui (1.3 Ma), East Maui (0.75 Ma), Molokai (1.76–1.90 Ma), Lanai (1.28 Ma) and Kaho’olawe (1.03 Ma) – and Hawaii (0.5 Ma to present) (Price & Clague, 2002 ). Important for the establishment and evolution of the extant Hawaiian fl ora is the historic pattern of island formation within the archipelago. For example, islands with elevations greater than 1000 m did not exist from 30 to 23 Ma and from c . 8 to 5 Ma when the current high islands began to emerge (Clague, 1996 ; Price & Clague, 2002 ; Clague et al ., 2010 ).
    [Show full text]
  • A Remnant Greensword Population from Pu'u 'Alaea, Maui, with Characteristics of Argyroxiphium Virescens (Asteraceae)L
    Pacific Science (1998), vol. 52, no. 1: 61-68 © 1998 by University of Hawai'i Press. All rights reserved A Remnant Greensword Population from Pu'u 'Alaea, Maui, with Characteristics of Argyroxiphium virescens (Asteraceae)l 2 2 GERALD D. CARR AND ARTHUR C. MEDEIROS ,3 ABSTRACT: Two unusual greenswards occurring on Pu'u 'Alaea in 1989 re­ portedly possessed vegetative features characteristic of the presumed extir­ pated species Argyroxiphium virescens Hillebr. One of these Pu'u 'Alaea plants flowered in August 1989, allowing detailed comparisons with preserved speci­ mens of A. virescens as well as other species and hybrids of Argyroxiphium native to East Maui. These comparisons suggest that the unusual Pu'u 'Alaea greenswords represent remnants of hybridization between the now presumably extinct A. virescens and the more common HaleakaHi silversword, A. sandwi­ cense subsp. macrocephalum (A. Gray) Meyrat, that still occurs at and adjacent to this site. The estimated pollen fertility of 62% in the Pu'u 'Alaea plant is consistent with this interpretation. Recovery ofa few embryos from fruits ofthe plant that flowered in 1989 and the possibility of tissue culture of the remaining living plant at Pu'u 'Alaea apparently represent the last opportunities to con­ serve any vestige of A. virescens. THE HIGHER SLOPES and summit areas of Ha­ Originally described by Hillebrand (1888), leakala, East Maui, compose the aboriginal Argyroxiphium virescens was collected about home of three distinctive species of the genus a dozen times between 1840 and 1945, from Argyroxiphium. The most common and con­ Ko'olau Gap and adjacent slopes, and from spicuous of these is the well-known Halea­ the eastern summit of Haleakala.
    [Show full text]
  • THE HAWAIIAN SILVERSWORDS Systematics, Affinities, and Phytogeographic Problems of the Genus Argyroxiphium
    THE HAWAIIAN SILVERSWORDS Systematics, Affinities, and Phytogeographic Problems of the Genus Argyroxiphium By DAVID D. KECK BERNICE P. BISHOP MUSEUM OCCASIONAL PAPERS VOLUME XI, NUMBER 19 HONOLULU, HAWAII PUBLISHED BY THE MuSEUM March 20, 1936 THE HAW AllAN SILVERSWORDS: Systematics, Affinities, and Phytogeographic Problems of the Argyroxiphium By DAVID D. KF;CK Carnegie Institution of Washington, Stanford University, California INTRODUCTION Theories as to the origin of the Hawaiian islands and the deriva­ tion of their flora and fauna have appeared with frequency and aroused the greatest interest among biologists. Probably no other region in the world has developed so extraordinary a degree of endemism, which, according to Hillebrand (9) 1, for the indigenous vascular plants is 75.93 percent. Much more recent figures for the indigenous flowering plants given by Campbell (5) reach the remark­ able figure of 9°04 percent! This endemism is directly connected with the fact that the Hawaiian Archipelago is the most isolated area of equal size in the world. There have been many advocates of the theory that the Hawaiian islands are of oceanic origin, that they were elevated from the bottom of the ocean by volcanic action, and that they have always been completely isolated. Others have taken the opposing view that the islands have not always been so isolated, but may even be considered of continental origin. Those with the latter viewpoint believe that the present archipelago represents but the tips of volcanic mountain masses superimposed upon a large block that has undergone sub­ sidence. For instance, Campbell (4) believes there may have been a more or less direct connection.
    [Show full text]
  • Atoll Research Bulletin No. 311 a Bibliography of Plant
    ATOLL RESEARCH BULLETIN NO. 311 A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PLANT CONSERVATION IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS: ENDANGERED SPECIES, HABITAT CONVERSION, INTRODUCED BIOTA BY ROBERT A. DEFILIPPS ISSUED BY NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A. October 1987 @ COPYKTGHT 1.987 by IIAIJP~I' J GECIGRAPIITC SOCIETY & HAWAIIAN TELEPHONE COMPANY - -a]. 1 r i.~htsreserved Permission to use or reprint must be obtained in writing from ~awai'iGeographic Society .5A*.* Northern / I .LYCU." An 18 x 25" (45 x 62 cm) en- .I.. "l-*ln i Y",W Mariana 1.................................................................. I I rour* rrc,rr courllllor I ........ I largement of this map is avail- able postpaid for $5; the same size, deluxe edition, sent rolled in a tube via airmail is $10. A complete list of available maps will be sent on request. Send orders, requests for informa- tion, and suggestions to: Hawai'i Geographic Society Post Office Box 1698 Honolulu, 96806-1698, HAWAII 2oS-53&-3S52 ......... 80U-323-3723-~h5~......... I i I A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PLANT CONSERVATION IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS: ENDANGERED SPECIES, HABITAT CONVERSION, INTRODUCED BIOTA BY ROBERT A. DEFILIPPS Introduction To plant conservationists who must fervently gather botanical intelligence against a time-frame of rapidly dwindling plant populations and habitats, the following statements expressed by M.-H. Sachet and F.R. Fosberg (1955, 1971) are both pertinent and self-explanatory: "The great unsolved problem of modern scientific methodology is that of bibliography, that of knowing what has been accomplished already. In starting any line of investigation the scientist is faced with the choice of ignoring his predeces- sors, possibly wasting much time on work that has already been done and missing valuable information and ideas, or of spending a large proportion of his time in study of current and past literature on the field.
    [Show full text]
  • Revised Recovery Plan for Hawaiian Forest Birds 2-1
    II. SPECIES ACCOUNTS Section II contains accounts of all species covered in this recovery plan, presented in taxonomic order following the American Ornithologists’ Union checklist (1998). These accounts are not meant to be a complete reference, but rather to summarize sufficient relevant information about each species in order to understand the prescribed recovery strategy and the prioritization of recovery actions. All of the Hawaiian forest birds face the same set of threats, but the relative importance of those threats varies among species depending on their life history, current distribution and status, and habitat requirements. The priority placed on each component of the recovery strategy therefore varies among species. The species accounts build on and refine the overall recovery strategy discussed in the Introduction (Section I), and justify the recovery criteria presented in Section III as well as the recovery actions and priorities presented in the Recovery Actions Narrative (Section IV). Each account also includes a summary of previous and ongoing conservation efforts, including Federal and State regulations, land acquisition, research, and management directed at or relevant to the recovery of the species. All of the accounts follow the same format and contain the following section headings: description and taxonomy; life history; habitat description; historical and current range and status; reasons for decline and current threats; conservation efforts; and recovery strategy. Longer accounts for better-studied species contain additional subheadings to help locate information. When available, maps showing the historical and current distribution of the species and recovery areas appear in the accounts (Figures 6 through 21). Recovery plans are prepared following a determination that a species merits listing as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (Act).
    [Show full text]
  • Reintroducing Hawaii's Silverswords
    Reintroducing Hawaii’s by Robert Robichaux, Steven Bergfeld, Marie Bruegmann, Joan Canfield, Patrice Moriyasu, Tanya Silverswords Rubenstein, Timothy Tunison, and Frederick Warshauer Of the many endangered plant lates, however, the Mauna Loa species in the Hawaiian Islands, silversword suffered a severe decline. silverswords have the highest profile The surviving individuals, numbering due to their radiant beauty and the fewer than 1,000 plants, are confined to severity of the threats confronting them. three small natural populations widely The large-scale reintroduction of scattered across Mauna Loa. greenhouse-grown seedlings is raising In addition to direct threats from hopes for the recovery of these spec- alien ungulates, Mauna Kea and Mauna tacular endemic species, although Loa silverswords may face serious serious challenges remain. indirect threats from alien insects, The Mauna Kea silversword especially ants and wasps. These alien A Mauna Loa silversword being planted at Kulani Correctional (Argyroxiphium sandwicense ssp. predators have the potential to decimate Facility. Inmates from the facility sandwicense) had an historical range populations of native bees and moths have participated in an innovative that encircled Mauna Kea volcano at that serve as pollinators, thereby greatly volunteer program to help with 8,500-12,500 feet (2,600-3,800 meters) limiting seed set in silverswords. silversword reintroduction. elevation on the Island of Hawai‘i. All photos by Joan Canfield Based on the records of early natural- Partnership for Recovery ists, this silversword grew in abundance Though the threats are daunting, the and was a dominant plant of the outlook for recovery of Mauna Kea and subalpine and alpine ecosystems.
    [Show full text]