Abstract Detail

Conservation Biology

Clark, Michelle [1], Kishida, Wendy [2], Mottley, Chris [3], Menard, Trae [4].

Saving the Hotspot: Rare Plant Conservation on the Island of Kauai.

Kauai is the oldest and most isolated of the eight main Hawaiian Islands. Because of its age and isolation, Kauai is a hotspot of global magnitude for plant diversity. There are more endemic (570; 225 are only known from Kauai) and endangered plant taxa (142; 13 of which are presumed extirpated in the wild) on Kauai than any other island in the Hawaiian archipelago. Kauai’s remnant mesic forests contain more endangered species per unit area than any other region in the United States. Approximately 70 of Kauai’s plant taxa are on the verge of extinction. These species, which have fewer than 50 reproductive individuals in the wild, are the focus of the Plant Extinction Prevention Program (PEP). The statewide PEP Program was created to protect these taxa through collaboration with private, state, and federal landowners, land managers, researchers, and other partners. Threats to native plant taxa on Kauai include habitat degradation by feral ungulates (pigs, goats and black-tailed deer) and invasive plants as well as predation by rats and slugs. Preservation of Kauai’s biodiversity requires both landscape-level ecosystem restoration and species-specific actions. Landscape-level actions include ungulate proof fencing and control of non-native, ecosystem-altering, invasive species. Species-specific actions include protection of wild populations, botanical surveys, collection, propagation and reintroduction. Landscape-level and species-specific actions have been implemented for over 30 PEP taxa. Conservation measures for these taxa have been conducted in several ecosystem types including; coastal, lowland and montane mesic forest, lowland and montane wet forest, and lowland and montane bogs. Reintroduced plants are monitored for life history stage,condition and survivorship. Implementation and success are greatly dependent on collaboration between the PEP Program, state, federal, non-profit organizations, private landowners and the local community.

Broader Impacts:

1 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, 7370-K Kuamoo Rd, Kapaa, HI, 96746, United States
2 - Kauai Plant Extinction Prevention Prorgam, c/o National Tropical Botanical Garden, 3530 Papallina Road, Kalaheo, HI, 96741, USA
3 - State of Hawaii, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Department of Land and Natural Resources, 3060 Eiwa St, Rm 306, Lihue, HI, 96766, USA
4 - The Nature Conservancy, Hawaii Program, 4371 Puaole Street,Suite C, Lihue, HI, 96766, United States

Keywords:
endangered species
reintroduction
conservation
biodiversity.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Battelle South/Convention Center
Date: Monday, July 9th, 2012
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PCB007
Abstract ID:594