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UNIVERSITY OF HAWAlIlIBRARV RESEARCH ON NATIVE PLANTS FOR COASTAL WETLAND RESTORATION ON O'AHU A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWArI IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BOTANY (ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION AND CONSERVATION BIOLOGY) DECEMBER 2003 By Karen A. Brimacombe Thesis Committee: David Duffy, Chairperson Donald Drake Joan Canfield © Copyright 2003 by Karen A. Brimacombe 111 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services in Honolulu, Hawaii for funding this research. I would also like to thank the United States Fish and Wildlife Service - O'ahu National Wildlife Refuge Complex for the use ofPearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge as a field site. I would especially like to thank Mike Silbemagle, Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, for all his support, sharing ofknowledge, and encouragement for the duration ofthis study. I would also like to thank the members ofmy thesis committee, David Duffy, Donald Drake and Joan Canfield for their support, suggestions and timely help. Thanks to my labmates, especially Stephanie Joe and Chuck Chimera, for their help with fieldwork. Lastly, I'd like to thank Mike Leech for his continual support and encouragement and his assistance in the field, iv ABSTRACT Outplanting field trials were conducted to identify native wetland plant species that would be useful to coastal wetland restoration on 0'ahu. The effects ofsoil salinity and soil temperature, initial planting density, and removal ofcompetition on survival and growth ofoutplanted species were examined. Germination response offour native wetland sedges to different water, salinity and temperature regimes was also investigated. Final survival exceeded 70 percent in four ofthe seven outplanted species. Soil salinity and soil temperature were negatively correlated with survival in only one species. Planting density and removal ofcompetition had little effect on final survival and growth ofoutplanted species. Germination under experimental conditions exceeded 25 percent in only two ofthe four sedge species studied. Overall, seeds germinated to a higher percentage under lower temperatures and salinities than under higher temperatures and salinity levels. Water level had little effect on final germination percentage. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements .iv Abstract '" v List ofTables .ix List ofFigures x Chapter I: General Introduction and Proposed Research 1 Introduction '" 1 Proposed Research .4 Purpose ofStudy ..4 Objectives 4 Justification 5 Research Questions and Hypotheses 6 Methods 8 Species Background 10 Chapter 2: Restoration ofNative Wetland Plant Species: Outplanting Field Trials .13 Abstract 13 Introduction 14 Methods 17 Study Site 17 Preparation ofPlant Material 18 Experimental Design 19 Monitoring .21 VI Results .23 Survival and Physical Appearance 23 Growth 29 Reproduction 32 Percent Cover 35 Outplanting Treatments 42 Environmental Parameters 48 Individual Native Species Results 50 Discussion 63 Survival and Growth 63 Soil Salinity and Soil Temperature 67 Competition and Density 68 Discussion and Management Recommendations for Individual Native Species 72 Chapter 3: Germination ofNative Wetland Sedge Species Under Different Moisture, Temperature and Salinity Levels 79 Abstract 79 Introduction 80 Methods 82 Water Level and Temperature 83 Salinity and Temperature 84 Results 85 Trial I: August 2002 - October 2002 85 Vll Trial 2: October 2002 - December 2002 86 Trial 3: February 2003 - April 2003 89 Discussion 95 Literature Cited 99 Appendix A: Map ofOutplanting Field Trials Study Site .107 Appendix B: Composition ofNon-planted Species in Outplanting Treatment Plots, April 1, 2003 108 Appendix C: Results ofDensity and Competition Treatments .110 viii LIST OF TABLES 1. Initial outplanting densities ofnative wetland plant species 20 2. Quarterly survival rates ofoutplanted native wetland plant species 26 3. Species composition in study plots prior to outplanting (March 2002). Relative cover ofdominant species in outplanting and control plots prior to outplanting ofnative species 38 4. Dry biomass (g) (mean ± I SO) ofnon-planted species removed from no-competition planting plots on April 1, 2003 .47 5. Final percent germination (mean ± 1 SO) for seeds ofnative wetland sedges after eight weeks under different water-levels, salinity levels, and temperature regimes 90 6. Summary oftwo-way analysis ofvariance (ANOVA) ofthe effects of temperature and water level on final germination ofnative wetland sedge species 91 7. Summary oft-test results comparing final germination percentage of Cyperus polystachyos in 0% and 0.85% salinity treatments under alternating temperature regimes 94 IX LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page I. Monthly percent survival ofoutplanted sedge species and outplanted groundcover species from April I, 2002 to April I, 2003 25 2. Monthly physical appearance ofoutplanted sedges and outplanted groundcovers 28 3. Average maximum height (cm) ofoutplanted individuals 30 4. Monthly average number ofshoots/tillers per live individual 31 5. Monthly percentage ofoutplanted individuals with at least one reproductive stem/tiller 32 6. Monthly average number ofreproductive stems/individual for B. maritimus, C. javanicus, C. polystachyos, and S. virginicus 34 7. Monthly average number offlowers per 0.25m2 outplanting plot for S. portulacastrum and J ovalifolia 35 8. Monthly average percent cover (mean ofabsolute cover ± I SO) of outplanted native sedge species .36 9. Monthly average percent cover (mean ofabsolute cover ± I SO) of outplanted native groundcover species 37 10. Overall relative cover ofdominant species in sedge planting and control plots ("competition" plots only). Columns indicate relative cover prior to outplanting ofnative species and one year later 39 II. Overall relative cover ofdominant species in groundcover planting and control plots ("competition" plots only). Columns indicate relative cover prior to outplanting ofnative species and one year later .41 12. Final average percent cover (mean ± I SO) ofoutplanted native sedge species..III "denSI't"y and "compeu't'"Ion treatmentitp 0 s ..42 13. Final average percent cover (mean ± I SO) ofoutplanted native groundcover species in "density" and "competition" treatment plots 43 x 14 Absolute cover (mean ± I SD) ofnon-planted species in sedge planting plots on April 1,2003 ..45 15. Absolute cover (mean ± 1 SD) ofnon-planted species in groundcover planting plots on April 1, 2003 .46 16. Monthly totals ofall reproductive stems and newly emerging reproductive stems in C. javanicus outplanting plots 53 17. Final percent germination (mean ± I SD) ofnative wetland sedge seeds after eight weeks in four water-level treatments under alternating light (l2-hout light/dark) and temperature (29/23 0c) regimes 86 18. Final percent germination (mean ± I SD) ofnative wetland sedge seeds after eight weeks in four water-level treatments and four salinity treatments under alternating light (l2-hout light/dark) and temperature (24.3/18.2 °C) regimes 88 Xl CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION AND PROPOSED RESEARCH Introduction The landscape ofthe Hawaiian Islands has been drastically altered since the arrival ofPolynesian and European settlers (Athens et al. 1992; Loope 1998). Lowland plains and coastal areas have been particularly susceptible to human alteration (Kirch 1982). Following Cuddihy and Stone (1990), Athens (1997) asserted that: "the vegetation in the few remaining "wild" lowland areas of0'ahu is absolutely different from what would have been in these areas in pre-human times." In Hawai'i, as in the continental United States, large tracts ofnatural wetland and coastal regions have been lost or highly modified because ofhuman action (Elliott 1981; Meier et al. 1993). Since the last century, lowland wetland and coastal areas have not only been filled for urban development but they have also been drained or dredged and filled for agricultural purposes, such as sugar cane production (Elliott 1981; Shallenberger 1981; Meier et al. 1993; Loope 1998; Ducks Unlimited 2000). Thomas Dahl (1990) estimated that in the 1780's approximately 8,990 hectares (ha) (22,475 acres) ofwetlands existed within Hawai'i's coastal plains. By 1990 the U.S, Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) estimated that only 6,190 ha (15,474 acres) oflowland wetlands remained, a loss 000 % (Dahl 1990; Ducks Unlimited 2000). Coastal wetland losses have been greatest on Oahu due to extensive draining and filling ofwetlands for industrial, resort, and residential development (Meier et al 1993; U.S. Geological Survey 1997). Loss ofwetland habitat impacts many ecosystem services such as flood control, groundwater recharge, nutrient cycling, and water purification that are provided by these areas (Mitsch and Gosselink 2000; Zedler 2000). In Hawai'i, one ofthe most detrimental I effects ofwetland loss and alteration has been the impact on native waterbird populations, which require wetland habitat for survival (Elliott 1981; Chang 1990; Meier et al. 1993). Five ofthe six endemic Hawaiian waterbirds are currently listed as endangered: the Hawaiian moorhen or 'alae 'ula (Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis), the Hawaiian stilt or ae' 0 (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), the Hawaiian duck or koloa maoli (Anas wyvilliana), the Hawaiian coot or 'alae ke'oke'o (Fulica americana alai), and the Laysan duck (Anas laysanensis) (Shallenberger 1981). All ofthese species, except the Laysan duck, are presently found