Native plant restoration arrays for indication of Hawaiian waterbird behavior

Abstract

Native ecosystems throughout Hawaiʻi have been heavily impacted by Western anthropogenic forces like the introduction of non-native species and increased development of land. One in particular is the wetland systems that make up critical habitat for the native waterbirds. This project assessed of the effects that reintroduction of native flora has on the habits of native waterbirds. This project was conducted in partnership with the Division of Forestry and Wildlife and the University of Hawaiʻi and focused on the existing wetland in Kawainui in the ahupuaʻa of Kailua. Three different treatments were given to sixteen subplots at the project site. Treatment one received outplanting of ʻaeʻae (Bacope monnieri). Treatment two received outplanting of puʻukaʻa (Cyoerus trachysanthos) and ʻaeʻae. The third treatment was kept as control and received no out planting. After reintroduction of the two species of native wetland plants, the habits of three species of native Hawaiian waterbirds, the aeʻo (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), the ʻalae keʻokeʻo (Fulica alai) and the ʻalae ʻula (Gallinula chloropus) were monitored to see which of the treatments was best suited to certain behaviors. Sampling was conducted as a spot survey, every five minutes, over the course of several hours. The behaviors were categorized as loafing, foraging, swimming or walking. With results from this project, restoration can potentially be better targeted toward effective habitat for native birds species.