Research and Technology Grants 2006

HISC research and technology evaluation committees completed a review of dozens of proposals. Reviewers included staff and experts from DOA, DEBDT, DOH, DLNR, HISC, USDA, UH, Bishop Museum, USGS etc. Eighteen projects were selected for funding in 2006. More detail is provided below (follow links or scroll down):

1. Magnitude and duration of West Nile Viremia in Budgerigars (parakeets).
2. Modification of a multi-pest exclusion fence to be effective against all feral mammals in Hawaii
3. Taxonomic expertise for aquatic invasive species research in Honolulu Harbor
4. Are invasive species of dinoflagellates that cause harmful algal blooms entering Hawaii in the ballast water of commercial ships?
5. Building the technical capacity of the Hawaii Island Invasive Species Committees: Database enhancements and standard reporting
6. Management of the invasive Erythrina gall wasp, Quadrasticus Erythrina Kim (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) on native and landscape Erythrina spp.
7. Oahu Early Detection
8. Detection, control and phenology of the nettle caterpillar, Darna pallivitta ( Moore ): Applications of a pheromone lure
9. Evaluation of pathogens in Costa Rica for biocontrol of miconia calvescens
10. Preliminary exploration for arthropod natural enemies of Rubus ellipticus in China
11. Developing new techniques for invasive ant control in Hawaii
12. Development of a pheromonal attractant for detecting small, incipient populations of brown tree snakes on Hawaii
13. Survey for potential biological control agents for miconia calvescens in southern Mexico
14. A "coqui free" certification program on the island of Maui: using market incentives to prevent inadvertent vectoring.
15. Efficacy and palatability of commercially available rodenticides
16. Exploration in tropical Africa for natural enemies to suppress infestations of the Erythrina gall wasp (EGW) in Hawaii
17. Development of cost-effective baits/attractant-lures for tree snakes
18. Exploration, genetic characterization, and host range testing of parasitoids of the Erythrina gall wasp, Quadrastichus erythrinae Kim.

In the project summaries principal investigator surname and agency and funding amount are indicated after proposal titles.

Magnitude and duration of West Nile Viremia in Budgerigars (parakeets).

Bowen/Colorado State University $6,864
Summary: West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and can be a serious, even fatal, illness. It can affect people, horses, certain types of birds, and other animals. In 1999, West Nile virus first appeared in the United States in New York City. Since that time, it has spread rapidly throughout the country, and into parts of Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America. To date, January 2008, there has been no West Nile virus detected in Hawaii. This study aims to determine the risk that budgerigars may be or may not be effective carriers of West Nile virus. If they are discovered to be carriers of the virus quarantine measures will need to be implemented.

Modification of a multi-pest exclusion fence to be effective against all feral mammals in Hawaii

Burgett/USFWS $6,364
Summary: The aim was to adapt and test the excluder fence commonly used in New Zealand to exclude rats, cats, mice, goats and other small mammals from valued natural areas where predators impact native birds. The problem was that Hawaii's lava substrate is difficult to work on and achieve a good seal for the smallest rodents. Tests show that it is possible to achieve an effective seal. Plans are now underway to adopt the technology at Kaena point 1, 2 on Oahu to protect ground nesting birds such as albatross, noddies, petrels, frigate birds. and boobies.

Taxonomic expertise for aquatic invasive species research in Honolulu Harbor

Eldredge/Bishop Museum$15,000
Summary: Collections of introduced and invasive marine invertebrates in Honolulu Harbors were made and abundance assessed in order to improve our knowledge of species new to Hawaii that arrive as hitchhikers on ships that visit us from all over the world. The collection should allow future identifications to be made rapidly. Marine invertebrate taxonomic expertise in the state is limited to a few experts with knowledge of only a fraction of the species that can arrive. This effort improves that capacity.

Are invasive species of dinoflagellates that cause harmful algal blooms entering Hawaii in the ballast water of commercial ships?

Gates/University of Hawaii $35,500
Summary: This study proved beyond a doubt that movement of toxic dinoflagellates is occurring in ship ballast water- even to remote locations such Hawaii's northwestern islands. These have been implicated in harmful algal blooms and coral bleaching, but the story is complex as the dinoflagellates can also act as alternative symbionts in corals and jellyfish. More research is needed to understand the implications. PDF|Full text

Building the technical capacity of the Hawaii Island Invasive Species Committees: Database enhancements and standard reporting

Gibson/PBIN$29,288
Summary: This project involved the enhancement of existing database systems of the Oahu, Kauai, Big Island and Molokai Invasive Species Committees (ISCs) to allow for the tracking of vertebrate and invertebrate survey and control work; and the facilitation and tracking of invasive species early detection efforts.

Management of the invasive Erythrina gall wasp, Quadrasticus erythrinae Kim (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) on native and landscape Erythrina spp.

Hara/HDOA $22,000
Summary: The erythrina gall wasp, Quadrastichus erythrinae, (EGW) is one of the most devastating invasive species introduced into the State of Hawaii. EGW host range includes Erythrina sandwicensis, a native and large component of dry land forest areas, as well as Erythrina variegata, abundant in landscapes. Our work focused on immediate control of this pest with safe and effective insecticides. Insecticides and application methods were selected based on criteria of efficacy, treatment longevity and non target impacts. PDF | Abstract

Oahu Early Detection

Hara/HDOA $80,000
Summary: Implementing Early Detection in Hawaii is a positive vigilant step toward ensuring that Oahu avoids future blind sidings by incipient invasive plant species. Partners Bishop Museum (BISH) and the Oahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC) hired two research and field staffers, coined the Oahu Early Detection (OED) team, who were trained by BISH staff in plant identification skills and use of herbarium resources, and provided technical and field assistance by OISC staff. OED staff initially conducted a baseline inventory of cultivated plants grown on Oahu, covering a variety of importation sources such as botanical gardens, nurseries, community gardens, and agricultural research centers. The preventative protocol they followed is designed to spotlight any species fitting a particular profile (as suggested by Weed Risk Assessment, behavior elsewhere in the world, life history strategies of confamilial species, etc.) and mark them as high-risk species meriting preventative control efforts. As of mid-June 2007, OED had embarked on the roadside survey phase of their program, already surveying 212 miles of road in 14 neighborhoods. They also surveyed about 30 plant establishments, including over 15 commercial and retail nurseries and 4 botanical gardens. Highlights of their surveys include a target list of 153 high-risk species, and 12 new naturalized weed records for the state and 13 others for Oahu. About 300 plants have been identified for U.S. Army Natural Resources, OISC, Maui Land & Pine, and U.S. Geological Survey. New findings were published in Bishop Museum's Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey in October 2007. PDF (2MB)

Detection, control & phenology of the nettle caterpillar, Darna pallivitta ( Moore ): Applications of a pheromone lure

Jang/USDA $20,000
Summary: Build's on work from work started in 2005 all the results were summarized here.

Evaluation of pathogens in Costa Rica for biocontrol of miconia calvescens

Johnson/USDA $7,700
Summary: miconia calvescens is widely recognized as the most threatening invasive plant in Hawaii today. Although we cannot predict with certainty that pathotypes suitable for infecting Hawaiian miconia will be found in Costa Rica , the similarity of biotypes of miconia calvescens from Costa Rica and Hawaii suggests that chances are greatly improved in comparison with pathotypes from Brazil . This project will at least rigorously test the suitability of Costa Rican pathotypes of Coccodiella and Ditylenchus for biocontrol of miconia. This is a work in progress.

Preliminary exploration for arthropod natural enemies of Rubus ellipticus in China

Johnson/USDA $12,000
Summary: Rubus ellipticus , yellow Himalayan raspberry, arrived in Hawaii around 1961 and began to naturalize in the vicinity of Volcano. A single plant can grow into a large, 4m tall impenetrable thicket, with a main stem exceeding 10 cm in diameter. Its recurved prickles and sturdy stems make it extremely unpleasant for livestock and humans alike. It has been spread by birds and humans to the outskirts of Hilo and as far as Laupahoehoe. Transport to Maui has been documented on hapu'u trunks and remains a great concern for land managers there. In addition to being a weed of pastures and disturbed areas, it demonstrates an alarming ability to invade deeply into pristine wet forests such as the Olaa Tract of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park . Plants can establish in dense shade and grow to overtop supporting hapu'u. In this study they expect to collect and obtain preliminary biological data for one or two species of potential agents building on Chinese-American collaborations. Most importantly, this initial exploration will identify sites and collaborators for future detailed studies of selected potential biocontrol agents. Detailed ecological studies in the native range of R. ellipticus will be critical to identify those agents likely to have significant impact on the weed in Hawaii and that are sufficiently specific to pose low risk to our native Rubus species.

Developing new techniques for invasive ant control in Hawaii

Krushelnycky /USGS $80,000
Summary: Invasive ants are among the most damaging of Hawaii 's invasive species. There are no native ants in Hawaii , yet in the past several hundred years over 40 ant species have been introduced to the state (PDF). Some of these species have caused substantial impacts to native Hawaiian biodiversity (PDF), and are pests of agriculture and urban areas. In addition, recent and potential introductions, such as the little fire ant and red imported fire ant, respectively, have the ability to exert strong impacts on tourism and other sectors of the economy.

The ant control experiment at Haleakala National Park using Gourmet Liquid Ant Bait was initiated in May, 2007. Unfortunately, the performance of this bait has so far fell below expectations, with little control in the treatment plots. The problem appears to be one of low bait attractiveness. This was unanticipated, since Argentine ants at Haleakala are highly attracted to sugar water formulations, and this commercial bait (Gourmet) has been used and found to be highly attractive to Argentine ants in California . Apparently, something in the formulation of the bait is reducing attractiveness to Haleakala Argentine ants. This experiment has illuminated the considerable site to site variability in behavior of invasive ants, and suggests that local experimentation may often be an important part of ant control programs. In an effort to increase attractiveness of the Gourmet bait, additional bait preference tests, with a variety of formulations, were conducted after the initial bait application in the experimental plots. Work continues.

Development of a pheromonal attractant for detecting small, incipient populations of brown tree snakes on Hawaii

Mathies /USDA $60,835
Summary: Hawaii 's ability to prevent the introduction of the brown treesnake relies mainly on interdiction measures conducted on Guam . The second line of defense is in Hawaii 's ports of entry, where the main tools are detector dogs and visual searches. It is inevitable that some snakes will eventually pass beyond the port environs and breeding populations may become established. Hawaii presently has few practical tools for detecting brown tree snakes once they have dispersed beyond cargo areas. The main tool, a trap containing a live mouse bait, may not be effective in Hawaii because, unlike Guam , Hawaii is a relatively food-rich environment, and snakes may have little incentive to enter a trap. Trapping and other methods, such as visual searches and detector dogs are comparatively costly to implement and maintain in a ready state.

A female brown treesnake is coaxed to move along a pole, transferring pheromone from her skin to the pole.

Scientists at the USDA/National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) are investigating the potential use of the sex pheromone of the female brown treesnake as an attractant and detection tool. The end goal of this work is to synthesize the pheromone as a ready-to-use tool when the need arises. In an initial study, scientists assessed responses of adult males to skin secretions of adult females in an outdoor semi-natural enclosure on Guam . It is thought that female snakes produce sex pheromones only when ovarian follicles are vitellogenic. Males were therefore given a simultaneous choice of investigating poles treated with either the scent of a vitellogenic female, a non-vitellogenic female, or a no-scent control pole (3 replicates per treatment, per night, per female). Males spent more time, and exhibited a greater number of investigative "nose-probes", on poles scented by vitellogenic females than poles scented by nonvitellogenic females or no-scent controls. Further studies are in progress. In May 2007, 140 brown treesnakes were brought from Guam to the NWRC's Invasive Species Research Building where scientists are investigating whether the pheromone might also be airborne, the intensity and accuracy at which males follow pheromone trails, and potential for laboratory synthesis of the pheromone.

Investigative response of male brown treesnakes to female sex pheromone applied to poles (means + SE).

Survey for potential biological control agents for miconia calvescens in southern Mexico

McClay /McClay Ecoscience $14,625
Summary: Surveys in the state of Chiapas, Mexico were designed to locate populations of miconia calvescens and to identify insect and other natural enemy species present on it that might have potential as biological control agents. M. calvescens was found to be present at very low population densities in Chiapas. Seven locations were found in two separate areas, one in the municipalities of La Independencia and Las Margaritas, east of the Lagunas de Montebello National Park, and the other in the municipality of Ocosingo, near the Metzabok Natural Area. All locations of M. calvescens were in shaded secondary roadside vegetation between about 500 m and 1,100 m elevation. All plants were in the vegetative stage except for one that had flower buds. A number of insect species were collected, including larvae of Riodinidae, Geometridae, and Megalopygidae (Lepidoptera). Herbarium specimens and DNA samples of M. calvescens were collected at all sites. All plant and insect material collected is currently at ECOSUR awaiting shipment to cooperators.

A "coqui free" certification program on the island of Maui: Using market incentives to prevent inadvertent vectoring.

Penniman /PCSU $15,000
Summary: This project has identified 56 businesses that provide plants or cut flowers on Maui. Standards for participation in the certification program have been developed and marketing materials are being developed. The intent of the project is to develop a voluntary "coqui-free" certification program; evaluate whether participation in the program varies by the size of the business and assess the impact of certification and associated marketing on the consumer behavior.

Efficacy and palatability of commercially available rodenticides

PITT /USDA, APHIS, WS $69,700
Summary: Invasive rodents have decimated native flora and fauna, reduced agriculture production, and threatened human health in Hawaii . Although many rodenticides are commercially available nationally, few are available for use in Hawaii or have been tested with wild rodents commonly found in the Pacific. This comprehensive study will test the efficacy and palatability of commercially available rodenticides to identify the most effective rodenticides for use in Hawaii . This research can then be used to support the registration of additional rodenticides for use in conservation areas, agricultural crops, and to protect human health.

Exploration in tropical Africa for natural enemies to suppress infestations of the Erythrina gall wasp (EGW) in Hawaii

Ramadan/HDOA $ 23,899
Summary: The tiny gnat sized Erythrina gall wasp was first discovered in Hawaii in Honolulu in April 2005. Within six months, it had spread statewide and devastated nearly all of the most susceptible species of Erythrina trees- including the endemic Wiliwili tree and important ornamental shade trees. The alarming rate at which it spread had researchers both in the government and private sectors racing for ways to combat the invader with only limited success using imidacloprid formulations. The Erythrina Gall Wasp Biocontrol Project was initiated in August 2005 with the planning of an exploration by the branch's Exploratory Entomologist in East Africa in December 2005. Agents are being assessed for release.

Development of cost-effective baits/attractant-lures for tree snakes

Savarie/USDA/APHIS/NWRC $30,725
Summary: This study seeks to develop a bait attractant matrix for detection and control of incipient and reported sightings of brown tree snakes (BTS) on Hawaii . Concurrently, if a successful bait matrix is developed it will also be used to increase BTS control and eradication efforts on Guam resulting in a decreased potential for dispersal of BTS to Hawaii and other Pacific islands. The primary control methods for incipient populations are live trapping, spotlight searches, and detector dogs. Having live mice readily available for traps is problematic, and an off-the-shelf bait attractant would be highly desirable. Dead neonatal mice (DNM), which serve as the bait matrix and attractant but there is a need improvements to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

Exploration, genetic characterization, and host range testing of parasitoids of the Erythrina gall wasp, Quadrastichus erythrinae Kim.

Wright/UH $45,000
Summary: The tiny gnat sized Erythrina gall wasp was first discovered in Hawaii in Honolulu in April 2005. Within months, it had spread statewide and devastated nearly all of the most susceptible species of Erythrina trees- causing leaves to shrivel and deform with galls and eventually killing leaves or whole trees. Affected trees include the endemic Wiliwili tree and another type of Erythrina that were important ornamental shade trees in most urban settings. Most of the ornamental trees have since been cut down, Wiliwili are hanging on by a thread. The alarming rate at which it spread had researchers both in the government and private sectors racing for ways to combat the invader with only limited success using imidacloprid formulations. Following collaborative work with HDOA in East and West Africa a number of agents are being assessed to determine their specificity to this pest wasp species.