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Pacific Agriculture and Natural Resources Abstracts of TCBES Symposium John Burns the fishery is limited and should result in low Skeletal Growth Anomalies Afflicting Montipora harvesting pressure because Kalaupapa is a remote capitata Corals at Wai’opae Tide Pools peninsula physically isolated. The ‘opihi surveying methods utilizes the same protocol that the ‘Opihi An abnormally high prevalence of coral diseases has Monitoring Program uses statewide and will be used to plagued the Wai‘opae tide pools on the southeast coast obtain data on ‘opihi population structure at eight sites of Hawai`i Island. At this site corals of the genus at Kalaupapa. Anthropological qualitative research Montipora are most afflicted by reduced health states. methods will be used to address how harvesting Survey data over the last three years has shown pressure may be potentially affecting ‘opihi size and 14.9±0.75% of these corals to be suffering from detri- densities within the national park. mental health afflictions. This study investigated the skeletal growth anoma- lies (SGAs) impacting M. capitata because of their high prevalence and lack of Nakoa Goo etiological data and definitive field diagnoses. Marine Resources Index: Papahānaumokuākea Marine Morphological assessment of the skeletal National Monument microstructure using macro photography showed that these SGAs can be classified into two distinct Marine resources in the Hawaiian archipelago are categories for M. capitata; Type A and Type B. Type A valuable for a variety of stake holder groups. Species of growth anomalies have a significan t reduction in polyp economic and cultural importance account for the (50% +/- S.E.) and tuberculae density with many overwhelming majority of marine resource biomass tuberculae fused and protrusive. Type B growth removed from reefs in the Main Hawaiian Islands anomalies have no discernable polyps as well as fused (MHI). The selective removal of these species in waters and protuber- ant coenosteum. M. capitata corals were throughout the MHI has been responsible for declines surveyed exhaustively at this site and the prevalence of in population size and abundance of these species. In Type A lesions was found to be 30.7% and Type B contrast, the Northwest Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) lesions to be 9.1% among all the colonies observed. contain some of the last predator dominated reef Logistic regression analysis showed Type A prevalence ecosystems in the world and their current protective is a significant predictor of the prevalence of Type B status can provide insights into eco- systems le- sions which provides evidence of the potential functioning under minimal anthropogenic impact. pathogenesis of this disease. Impacts of SGAs on the Observations of resource species assemblages provided physiology of this coral are being investigated using the opportunity for comparisons of abundance and Pulse Amplitude Modulation Fluorometry. By coupling biomass in protected and unprotected areas of the the prevalence data with a physiological assessment we archipelago in nearshore environments. Reductions in stand to accurately measure how this coral population population sizes of these species may lead to negative as a whole is impacted by this disease. impacts on reef ecosystem function and are important assessments which need to be made to inform S. Kehau Tom management of these species and prevent depletion of ‘Opihi (Cellana spp.) Densities at Kalaupapa National stocks due to over exploitation. Historical Park Tara Holitzki ‘ Opihi, or Hawaiian limpets (Cellana spp.), are one of Environmental Impacts of Invasive Fish in Hawaiian Stream the most prized species harvested in Hawai‘i because of Ecosystems their cultural significance to Hawaiians as a food resource and their high economic value. ‘Opihi are Members of the Topminnow Family, including found in the rocky-intertidal zones and have been guppies, mollies, swordtails and mosquitofish were first harvested for many generations as found in introduced into Hawaiian streams in the 1900’s for archaeological records. Hawaiians consider the ‘opihi mosquito control, and are well-established in several the fish of death because of their location in the high- stream ecosystems. Poeciliids have been identified as wave intertidal zones, thus making harvesting life one of the top 100 invasive species in the world and as threatening.There are three species of endemic ‘opihi an invasive species of concern in Hawai‘i. Despite the found in the Hawaiian archipelago: Cellana exarata, C. prevalence of poeciliids in Hawaiian streams, few sandwicensis, and C. talcosa. This study is investigating studies have examined their impacts on stream habitat ‘opihi size and densities in relationship to harvesting or on native species. Poeciliids have been identified as pressure at Kalaupapa National Historical Park located the source of parasites that now infest native gobies on the north shore on the island of Moloka‘i. Access to (‘o‘opu), causing disease and reducing the overall Pac. Agric. Nat. Resour. Vol. 2: 37-42, 2010 38 Abstracts of TCBES Symposium fitness of native fish. Poeciliids are also thought to pool biota, we are quantifying the survival of egg and compete with native species for food and habitat, as early-instar larvae of the Orange-black Hawaiian these insectivorous fish also eat algae and small damselfly (Megalagrion xanthomelas). Preliminary results invertebrates that are important food sources for na reveal an inverse relationship between egg and early- tive ‘o‘opu and shrimp (‘opae). Direct impacts of instar survival and salinity, with this species possibly poeciliids on native species include feeding on native exhibiting a threshold response to rising salinity at 20 damselfly,‘o‘opu, and ‘opae larvae. In this study, ppt (approximately 60% seawater). Given the limited ecological parameters were compared among stream information on the effects of increased salinities on reaches with and without established populations of anchialine pool biota, this study will provide poeciliids along the Hamakua coast of the island of management implications and raise awareness on the Hawai‘i. These same parameters were compared among importance of these rare environments. experimental stream flumes with and without poeciliids to document stream ecosystem responses to poeciliids Mark Manuel under semi-controlled conditions. The ecological Investigating Survival, Movement and Spill Over Of Juvenile parameters measured include: 1) nutrient dynamics, 2) Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) from a Marine Protected benthic algal production, 3) algal communitystructure, Area in West Hawai‘i and 4) invertebrate community structure. Nitrate fluxes in poeciliid-free streams averaged 421.91±220.4 Numerous juvenile yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) μmol/s, and in poeciliid streams the mean nitrate flux are captured annually in the state of Hawai‘i for the was 2289.23±959.8μmol/s. The mean density of economically valuable aquarium trade. Through the guppies was 13.53±2.69 individuals/m2, while the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAS) along mean density of native species was 1.75±0.43 the west coast of Hawai‘i, this highly targeted species individuals/m2 in the same streams. The results of this has increased in abundance within these MPA study will provide new information on the effects that boundaries. However, MPAs can only be valuable this invasive family of fish are having on Hawaiian fisheries management strategies if ‘spillover’, the stream ecosystems, and will help resource managers in movement of juveniles and adults to adjacent areas that making management decisions concerning these are not protected, or ‘seeding’ improves or sustains ecosystems. fisheries harvest. Using tagging techniques and visual surveys, we investigated the survival, movement, and Nancy Chaney ‘spillover’ of juvenile yellow tang along the northern Connectivity Patterns of Two Hawaiian Marine Gastropods boundary of the Wawaloli MPA. Results demonstrated that survival is greatest within the MPA and movement Connectivity of benthic marine gastropods in Hawaii is minimal, which suggest high site fidelity of juvenile is poorly understood due to the lack of extensive yellow tang. These results can be beneficial for future studies. To test if geographic distance is related to management decisions pertaining to yellow tang and genetic distance, I sampled two nonpelagic developers the Hawai‘i aquarium trade industry. Mitrella fusiformis and Peristernia chlorostoma across the main Hawaiian Islands and compared their sequences Nicholas DeBoer using the mitochondrial COI gene. The resulting data Neutral Genetic Variation of (Metrosideros polymorpha) support the concept that some nonpelagic developers Along an Elevational Gradient form distinct, localized populations and that connectivity between populations may be very low. Population divergence along strong environmental Understanding these gastropods’ connectivity may gradients, if found, can lead to incipient speciation. provide important information regarding other One species that shows strong morphological nonpelagic species and help to associate and utilize divergence along environmental gradients is Metrosideros these patterns within the context of marine polymorpha (Myrtaceae, Gaud.). Pubescent populations conservation. (early-successional) in a common garden show heritable variation in flowering time along an Lori Tango elevational gradient, but glabrous populations (late- Effect of Rising Salinity on Egg and