Annual Report for the Ecosystem Management Program Pohakuloa Training Area, Island of Hawaii August 2003 Prepared in cooperation by Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, University of Hawaii personnel: Lena Schnell Natural Resource Specialist-Biologist Steven A. Evans Natural Resources Specialist – Botanist Kathy Kawakami Natural Resources Specialist – Horticulturist Aubrey Kelly Natural Resource Assistant Jeff Trainer Natural Resources Assistant Contact Information U.S. Army Garrison, Hawaii Pohakuloa Training Area P.O. Box 4607 Hilo, HI 96720 Attn: Environmental Office Table of Contents MANAGEMENT SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... 1 Aerial Census and Hunting Data.........................................................................................1 Ungulate Control.................................................................................................................1 Rare Plant Monitoring.........................................................................................................3 Rare Plant Propagation .......................................................................................................5 Russian Thistle Control.......................................................................................................7 Bird Population Monitoring................................................................................................8 Alien Ant Control ...............................................................................................................8 Miscellaneous Support Efforts............................................................................................8 CHAPTER 1. FERAL UNGULATE CONTROL ........................................................................... 9 1.1 PCSU Contract Requirements.......................................................................................9 1.2 Ungulate Monitoring...................................................................................................11 1.3a Semi-annual Aerial Ungulate Census ..........................................................11 1.3b Monitor Animal Movement .........................................................................13 1.4 Hunting Programs .......................................................................................................14 1.4a Public Mammal Hunting..............................................................................14 1.4b Public Bird Hunting .....................................................................................19 1.5 Fence Construction, Inspection, and Repair ...............................................................21 1.5a Kipuka Kalawamauna Fence Unit ...............................................................21 1.5b Kipuka Alala-1 Fence Unit ..........................................................................21 1.5c Kipuka Alala-2 Fence Unit ..........................................................................22 1.5d Silene hawaiiensis Fence Unit .....................................................................22 1.5e Puu Kapele and Puu Ahi ..............................................................................22 1.6 Animal Removal From Fence Units ...........................................................................22 1.6a Kipuka Kalawamauna Fence Unit ...............................................................22 1.6b Kipuka Alala Fence Units............................................................................23 CHAPTER 2: RARE PLANT MONITORING ............................................................................. 24 2.1 PCSU Contract Requirements.....................................................................................24 2.2 Introduction.................................................................................................................25 2.3 Rare Plant Monitoring and Management....................................................................25 2.3a Hedyotis coriacea ........................................................................................28 2.3b Neraudia ovata ............................................................................................33 2.3c Solanum incompletum ..................................................................................36 2.3d Schiedea hawaiiensis ...................................................................................38 2.3e Tetramolopium arenarium ssp. arenarium ........................................................38 2.3f Tetramolopium sp. 1.....................................................................................40 2.3g Asplenium fragile var. insulare....................................................................40 2.3h Silene lanceolata..........................................................................................40 2.3i Zanthoxylum hawaiiense...............................................................................47 2.3i Portulaca sclerocarpa ..................................................................................53 i 2.3k Haplostachys haplostachya .........................................................................53 2.3l Silene hawaiiensis.........................................................................................53 2.3m Spermolepis hawaiiensis.............................................................................58 2.3n Stenogyne angustifolia.................................................................................58 CHAPTER 3. WEED CONTROL................................................................................................. 60 3.1 PCSU Contract Requirements.....................................................................................60 3.2 Introduction.................................................................................................................60 3.3 Weed Control..............................................................................................................60 3.3a Russian thistle (Salsola kali)........................................................................61 3.3b Fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum)........................................................64 CHAPTER 4. ANIMAL MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT ............................................. 66 4.1 PCSU Contract Requirements.....................................................................................66 4.2 Introduction to Animal Monitoring and Management................................................67 4.3 Bird population monitoring.........................................................................................68 4.3a Bird Population Monitoring .........................................................................68 4.2b Rare Bird Monitoring...................................................................................73 4.3c Elepaio Monitoring ......................................................................................73 4.4 Introduced Predator Control .......................................................................................76 4.4a Predator Control for Birds............................................................................76 4.4b Rodent Control for Plants ............................................................................77 4.5 Alien Ant Control .......................................................................................................78 CHAPTER 5: RARE PLANT PROPAGATION........................................................................... 81 5.1 PCSU Contract Requirements.....................................................................................81 5.2 Introduction to Rare Plant Propagation.......................................................................82 5.3 Propagating Priority Species 1....................................................................................83 5.3a Hedyotis coriacea ........................................................................................83 5.3b Neraudia ovata ............................................................................................84 5.3c Solanum incompletum ..................................................................................84 5.3d Schiedea hawaiiensis ...................................................................................85 5.3e Tetramolopium arenarium ssp. arenarium ..................................................86 5.3f Tetramolopium sp. 1.....................................................................................86 5.4 Propagating Priority Species 2....................................................................................86 5.4a Asplenium fragile var. insulare....................................................................87 5.4b Silene lanceolata..........................................................................................87 5.4c Zanthoxylum hawaiiense..............................................................................87 5.5 Propagating Other Species..........................................................................................88 5.6 Maintaining Seeds in Storage .....................................................................................88 5.7 Managing the Rare Plant Propagation Facility ...........................................................88 5.8 Developing and Implementing an Outplanting Plan...................................................89