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]