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Preventing Extinction: Hawaii's Plant Extinction
Prevention Program
(Formerly, Genetic Safety Net Program)
Interim Technical Report
Reporting Period: June 1, 2007- May 30, 2008
Prepared by: Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit,
Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii
For: Peter Scott Foundation,
IUCN World Conservation Union
June 2008
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GENERAL PROJECT INFORMATION
Background
In Hawaii, nearly 200 of the 1500 native plant species are at risk of going extinct within
the next several years because they have been reduced to extremely low numbers, i.e.,
fewer than 50 individuals remaining. The Hawaii Plant Specialist Group of the IUCNInternational Union for Conservation of Nature is a consortium of over 60 participants
from Federal, State, and local government agencies; botanical gardens; private
organizations; and private landowners committed to protecting these species. The Hawaii
Plant Specialist Group is developing a model for an archipelago-wide project to prevent
the extinction of these critically at-risk species. To achieve this goal, the Plant Extinction
Prevention (PEP) Program was formed. This program was formerly called the Genetic
Safety Net in the grant proposal. Today, the PEP Program carries out its plant
conservation mission to prevent plant extinctions on the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Maui,
Molokai, Lanai, and Hawaii Island. The focus ofthe PEP Program are in situ and ex situ
protection of those species with 50 or fewer individuals, hereafter referred to as PEP
species.
The Hawaii Plant Specialist Group seeks to increase plant propagation of PEP species
either through conventional greenhouse practices or the use of in vitro tissue culture. A
network of seed storage labs and rare plant facilities will secure living genetic material
for future reintroduction efforts. It will also extend time for land managers to plan habitat
protection and restoration programs that address the primary threats of these species.
Once these programs are in place, the stored germplasm can be activated and desired
quantity of plant propagated.
In addition to collection, storage, and propagation of these species, in situ management of
existing threats is needed to prevent extinction. The majority of the PEP species occur in
areas that are not currently managed for conservation or are in areas where conservation
actions do not address immediate threats to these species. For those species immediately
threatened with extinction by feral ungulates, small-scale fencing is the priority
management action. Control of alien plant species is essential where a dense cover of
alien species restricts seed germination and seedling survival.
The generous funding of $14,743.00 from the Sir Peter Scott Foundation (IUCN) has
allowed the Hawaii Rare Plant Restoration Group's PEP Program to conduct initial
baseline surveys and collect genetic material from the following eight species on the
Hawaiian islands of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai that have not been surveyed recently:
Cyanea horrida, Cyanea magnicalyx, Cyanea lobata, Cyperus neokunthianus, Cyrtandra
hematos, Melicope wailauensis, Platanthera holochila, and Schiedeajacobii.
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In addition, the following site-specific surveys for these species were deemed priorities:
Cyanea horrida: Conduct baseline survey of all plants on East Maui, where this
species is endemic,
Cyanea magnicalyx: Survey historical populations in Olowalu Valley, Maui
Cyanea lobata: Survey historical populations in Waihee Valley, Maui
Cyperus neokunthianus: Survey historical populations in Waihee Valley, Maui
Cyrtandra hematos: Survey Olokui Natural Area Reserve, Molokai
Melicope wailauensis: Survey Olokui Natural Area Reserve, Molokai
Platanthera holochila: Survey historical population in Waihee Valley, Maui
Schiedea jacobii: Revisit one known location, and survey additional suitable habitat
This Sir Peter Scott Foundation grant funds airfare and helicopter travel that allows the
Maui Nui Plant Extinction Prevention Coordinator, Hank Oppenheimer, to implement the
recovery actions for the eight critically rare plant species. The funding was received on
July 20, 2007 and field work outlined in the grant proposal began shortly thereafter. In
this first year of the two year project, the activities outlined above have been partially
completed. All individuals of each species that were visited were monitored and fruit
collected if they were available. They were also numbered, tagged, and mapped. In
addition, baseline surveys were conducted for Cyanea horrida and while we have not
been able to gain access to Waihee Valley, Olokui Natural Area Reserve, and Olowalu
Valley to survey historical populations for the other seven species, negotiations are in
progress and it is our hope to complete all surveys by March 2009.
To accomplish the most work with the funds available, travel and other expenses that
were incurred for this project have been charged to other funding sources in this first
year. Beginning July 2008, travel expenses will be charged to the Sir Peter Scott
Foundation IUCN account for the second year of the project.
This interim technical report summarizes the field activities for the period of June 1, 2007
through May 30, 2008.
RESULTS
This project has successfully completed the first year of a two year project on Maui and
Molokai. The primary goal of this project is to conduct initial baseline surveys and
collect genetic material of eight PEP species. In this first year, surveys were conducted
for two species: Cyanea horrida and Platanthera holochila. In addition, fruit were
collected for four species (Cyanea horrida, Cyanea magnicalyx, Cyanea lobata, and
Platanthera holochila) as a result ofrepeated monitoring trips to existing populations. Indepth descriptions ofthe activities for each of the eight species are below, by species, and
each summary is followed by a table with the current numbers of individuals that remain.
Cyanea horrida: Over the last year, genetic material was collected from a total of three
founders: three individuals located within The Nature Conservancy's Waikamoi Preserve
on Maui were monitored on October 17, 2007. During that visit, one of the individual's
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main stem was found to be dead, although a basal resprout was noted. Fruit was collected
from two individuals that were not previously sampled, increasing the genetic
representation for this species in an ex situ rare plant facility. The seeds were sent to the
Olinda Rare Plant Facility (Maui) for germination, to Harold L. Lyon Arboretum (Oahu)
for micropropagation, and the University of Hawaii's Center for Conservation Research
and Training Seed Storage Laboratory on Oahu for medium-term storage. Seeds were
also brought to Haleakala National Park's nursery for future reintroduction. Fruit from a
single previously unknown individual from the Koolau Gap (TNC Waikamoi Preserve)
was collected by cooperators and delivered to the Olinda Rare Plant Facility on
November 20, 2007. A trip to Hanawi Natural Area Reserve is scheduled for August
2008 to monitor some of the known plants as well as survey for additional plants.
Location
Waikamoi Preserve, Maui
Haleakala National Park, Maui
Manawainui, Maui
Hanawi Natural Area Reserve, Maui
TOTAL
No.
Adults
9
2
2
6
19
No.
Juveniles
3
1
0
1
5
No.
Seedlings
6
0
0
0
6
Last Observed
10/17/2007
11120/2007
1995
2006?
Cyanea lobata: This species is comprised of two recognized subspecies, C. !. ssp. lobata
that is endemic to West Maui and C. !. ssp. baldwinii that occurs on Lanai.
1) Cyanea lobata ssp. lobata (federally and state-listed endangered as C. lobata)
is only known from four or five mature plants that occur in three populations in the
West Maui mountains. In the past year, two individuals of C. l. ssp. lobata in The
Nature Conservancy's Kapunakea Preserve were monitored and collections of
immature fruit from those two founders were made and sent to Lyon Arboretum. At
present, we are working with county landowners to obtain access to Waihee Valley
on Maui to assess the status of the population of four plants known to occur there.
Actually, this species has not been observed in Waihe'e for nearly a century; the
number of plants last observed is unknown. The other two plants known to exist are
in Maui Land & Pineapple Co. Pu'u Kukui Preserve.
Mahinahina Gulch, Maui (#0 1)
Puu Kukui Preserve, Maui (#02)
Kapunakea Preserve, Maui (#03, #04)
Waihee Valley, Maui
No.
Adults
1
1
2
?
No.
Juveniles
0
0
0
0
No.
Seedlings
0
0
0
0
Honokohau Valley
1?
0
0
TOTAL
4, maybe
5
0
0
Location
Last Observed
12/15/2004
10/03/2006
11/12/2007
? (By Forbes or
Rock)
12/15/2004; this
plant may have
recovered
2) Cyanea lobata ssp. baldwinii (federally and state-listed endangered as C. lobata)
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This subspecies is endemic to Lanai and all known plants of this subspecies were
thought to be extinct but in August 2006, botanists Ken Wood and Hank
Oppenheimer rediscovered this taxon on Lanai. Since then, more plants have been
found and one seedling from the original discovery died; the identity of one plant
is in question. There are three known adults. Seeds from Plant #01 and a broken
branch from Plant #05 were collected and taken to the Olinda Rare Plant Facility
on Dec. 22, 2007.
Location
No.
Adults
No.
Juveniles
No.
Seedlings
Last Observed
12/22/2007
Hauola, Lanai
3-4
0
0
TOTAL
3, maybe
4
0
0
Cyanea magnicalyx: This species is now known from only five individuals (four adults
and one juvenile). In the past 12 months, fruit was collected from the only known wild
individual located at Puehuehu Nui and sent to Lyon Arboretum. Monitoring the lao
Valley population revealed a sapling (#03) had died, reducing the number from four to
three, but mature fruit was collected from plant #02, which had not been previously
sampled. The fruit was delivered to the Olinda Rare Plant Facility on Maui for
propagation. Rat control is ongoing at the lao Valley site. This species was historically
known from Olowalu Valley, Maui, so a survey of the valley where good habitat is still
present will be important to determine if additional plants can be found. A trip is
scheduled for July 14-16, 2008 to establish a landing zone and base from which in depth
surveys can be conducted.
The reintroduction site at Honolua Valley is comprised of eight outplanted individuals,
reduced from 3 5+ plants due to rat predation and other factors. The leaves of these
remaining plants were eaten by rats but rat trapping is ongoing to alleviate the problem.
Weed control of invasive plants such as Clidemia hirta, Padang cassia (Cinnamomum
burmanii), and thimbleberry (Rubus rosifolius) are also ongoing.
Location
No.
Adults
No.
Juveniles
No.
Seedlings
Last Observed
Jan 14, 2008
Feb 11, 2008
10/03/2006
Probably by
Forbes, pre-1920
Wild:
Puehuehu Nui, Maui (#06)
lao Valley, Maui (#01, #02, #04)
Honokohau, Maui
Olowalu Valley, Maui
1
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
?
?
?
TOTAL (wild only)
4
1
0
0
0
8
19
0
0
Outplantings:
Honolua Valley, Maui (outplanting)
Honokohau Valley, Maui
(outp Ianting)
Mar 5, 2008
June 2008
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IS
0
1
18
54
0
0
January 2007
Cyperus neokunthianus: This species is possibly extinct. Plants in a vegetative state that
are possibly this species were observed in the late 1990s and in August 2000. Monitoring
the plants for reproductive structures is a high priority so a definite identification can be
made. The PEP Program is working with county landowners to obtain access to Waihee
Valley on Maui to assess the status of a population that was historically known from the
valley and to survey the area for any remaining plants. This should be accomplished in
2008.
Location
Waihee Valley, Maui
TOTAL
No.
Adults
0?
0?
No.
Juveniles
0?
0?
No.
Seedlings
0?
0?
Last Observed
?
Cyrtandra hematos: This species is endemic to Olokui Plateau, Kawela, and Kahuoahu
Valley, on eastern Molokai. This species was last observed in Olokui Natural Area
Reserve on Molokai in the last 20 years. At present, access to this a very remote site has
been on hold as state land managers establish policies about accessing this culturally and
biologically sensitive site. The PEP Program is hoping to gain access to this population in
the fall of 2008 to survey for additional plants within the Natural Area Reserve.
Location
Olokui Natural Area Reserve,
Molokai
TOTAL
No.
Adults
?
No.
Juveniles
?
No.
Seedlings
?
?
?
?
Last Observed
1990's
Melicope wailauensis: This species, which is possibly extinct, is endemic to Wailau
Valley on the island ofMolokai and was possibly observed in Olokui Natural Area
Reserve in the last 20 years. It is only known from the type collection on Kukuinui ridge,
across Wailau Valley from Olokui Natural Area Reserve. Access to this very remote site
has been on hold as state land managers establish policies about accessing this culturally
and biologically sensitive site. The PEP Program is working with managers to gain access
to this population in the fall of 2008 to survey for additional plants within the Natural
Area Reserve. Field work elsewhere in Wailau is in the planning stage.
Location
Olokui Natural Area Reserve,
Molokai
TOTAL
No.
Adults
0?
No.
Juveniles
0?
No.
Seedlings
0?
0?
0?
0?
Last Observed
1933
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Platanthera holochila: All of the 27 individuals of this species on Molokai are enclosed
in two exclosures within The Nature Conservancy's Kamakou Preserve on Molokai. A
monitoring trip and fence check on August 28, 2007 revealed that many of these plants
were in anthesis and some were dormant. Plants were dormant on a subsequent trip on
April22, 2008. At present, we are working with county landowners to obtain access to
Waihee Valley on Maui to assess the status of a single individual known to occur there.
Despite repeated surveys in the fenced exclosure at Hanaula over the past several years
(including 6/24/2008), no plants have been observed and that population is believed to be
extirpated. The population in The Nature Conservancy's Kapunakea Preserve on West
Maui will be re-surveyed this fall; plants have not been observed in recent years but
monitoring has been both sporadic and brief. Some populations are known to remain
dormant for several years. There are plants still known from Alakai Swamp on Kauai.
Location
Waihee Valley, Maui
Hanaula, Maui
Kapunakea Preserve, Maui
Waikamoi Preserve, Maui
No.
Adults
1
0
0
0
No.
Juveniles
0
0
0
0
No.
Seedlin_g_s
0
0
0
0
Kamakou Preserve, Molokai
TOTAL
27
28
0
0
0
0
Last Observed
Aug 2000
Oct 2005
late 1990's
These plants are
long gone
4/22/2008
Schiedea jacobii: This plant is now known only from a single seedling within Hanawi
Natural Area Reserve on Maui, after three mature plants were observed dead in 2005. A
trip to Hanawi Natural Area is scheduled for August 2008 to monitor the known
individual as well as survey for additional plants. Seeds in storage at the University of
California at Irvine were recently given the Haleakala National Park nursery to cultivate,
but none have germinated to date.
Location
Hanawi Natural Area Reserve, Maui
TOTAL
No.
Adults
0
0
No.
Juveniles
0
0
No.
Seedlings
1
1
Last Observed
May 25, 2005
WERE OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED?
In this first year of this two-year project, the objectives have been completely achieved
for one species (Cyanea horrida) and partially achieved for three other species (Cyanea
magnicalyx, Cyanea lobata, Platanthera holochila), and are in the planning stages for the
remaining four (Cyperus neokunthianus, Cyrtandra hematos, Melicope wailauensis,
Schiedea jacobii).
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The goal to monitor and collect plant propagules from as many plants as possible was
met. Within the past 12 months, monitoring and/or collection of fruit were conducted for
four of the eight species ( Cyanea horrida, Cyanea lobata, Cyanea magnicalyx,
Platanthera holochila). The fruit were placed in partnering off-site facilities and
propagated, tissue-cultured, or seeds stored for future reintroduction projects. Having
these seeds in protective care in an off-site location provides additional assurances in case
the wild populations become extirpated. Notably, fruit were collected from three
individuals of two species (Cyanea horrida, Cyanea magnicalyx), from which collections
have never been previously made. Such collections provide greater genetic representation
of different founders and different populations, which in turn improves the chances of
genetic mixing during reintroduction programs and ultimately, the recovery of the
species.
For this reporting period, surveys were conducted for Cyanea horrida and Platanthera
holochila. Due to various access issues, we were unable to survey targeted historical
populations of the remaining seven species, as discussed in the Results Section. However,
access to Waihee Valley, Olokui Natural Area Reserve and Olowalu Valley to survey for
the seven species is currently being negotiated and all surveys are targeted for completion
by March 2009.
UNEXPECTED RESULTS
There were a few unexpected results and hurdles that were faced in the process of
implementing our project actions. For example, the number of remaining individuals
declined for one of the four species for which monitoring was conducted in the last 12
months. Monitoring revealed that one wild plant of Cyanea magnicalyx died in the lao
Valley population, which reduced the total number of plants from six to five and
represents a 17% decline of the species population. The loss of a single plant represents a
significant loss of genetic diversity of the entire species and has serious implications on
the recovery of the species. Fortunately, three plants still remain in that population and
seeds of two of the plants have been sampled.
Other unexpected results were revealed in the course of coordinating access across
various landownership boundaries. Access to remote sites to revisit historical populations
has proven more difficult than originally planned. Permission to access lands has been
sought from the County Department of Water Supply for Waihee Valley on Maui to
monitor Cyanea lobata, Cyperus neokunthianus, and Platanthera holochila for the past
two years. All of the documentation has been provided so access is expected within the
next two months. In addition, we are also currently working with state Depmiment of
Land and Natural Resources staff to access Olokui Natural Area Reserve on Molokai to
revisit Cyrtandra hematos and Melicope wailauensis, which are both endemic to that
region of the island. A trip to Hanawi Natural Area Reserve is scheduled for August
2008.
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COMMUNICATION MATERIAL
Press Release:
The fate of Cyanea horrida, below, is far from horrid. Funding provided by the Sir Peter
Scott Foundation supports the recovery activities of this species, including seven other
critically rare Hawaiian plants species that have fewer than 50 plants remaining (Cyanea
magnicalyx, Cyanea lobata, Cyperus neokunthianus, Cyrtandra hematos, Melicope
wailauensis, Platanthera holochila, and Schiedeajacobii). The grant provides airfare and
helicopter travel for the Hawaii Rare Plant Restoration Group's Plant Extinction
Prevention Program's Coordinator on the islands ofMaui, Molokai, and Lanai. To date,
collections of propagules from 50% of the species have been made. The collected fruit
were placed in partnering off-site rare plant facilities for propagation and storage, with
plans to reintroduce them to protected habitats at a later time. Surveys targeting historical
populations of seven species that are in some of the most remote and inaccessible areas of
Molokai and Maui are scheduled for the summer and fall 2008.
Photo by Hank Oppenheimer, PEP Program
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