SIERA-ex (Single-Island Endemic Representativeness Analysis for Ex Situ Collections): a Kauaʻi-Based Plant Conservation Model

Abstract

Over 260 single-island endemic (SIE) vascular plant taxa are currently recognized on Kauaʻi. Many continue to face threats inherent to island species with narrow ranges, where there is an increased risk of genetic diversity loss within and across small populations. In order to preserve biodiversity and ensure species resilience, ex situ facilities collaborate to expand metacollection holdings by prioritizing broad sampling techniques from multiple genetically diverse individuals. The strategic collection priorities and relationships of metacollection partners have a major impact on the trajectory of biocultural conservation efforts in Hawaiʻi, as most of the germplasm for habitat restoration is held in these repositories. Curators pool resources by sharing plant material and analyzing datasets to better inform strategy, and to pinpoint conservation gaps.

This study introduces SIERA-ex, an empirical framework and accompanying open-source software application for place-based gap analysis that uses geographic and ecological coverage as a proxy for allelic coverage where optimal distance thresholds are poorly known. It can account for known sympatry and admixture, which is beneficial for confounded species delimitation and misidentification. The emergent model buffers resolution across geographic reference area, ecoregion, watershed, moku, ahupuaʻa and wao (Hawaiian place-based geographic subdivisions) to the level of 2 km for use over small ranges for SIE taxa on Kauaʻi. The study introduces metrics for assigning both taxon-level and subpopulation-level priority values that can incorporate biocultural value, exceptionality (challenges with collection and storage), and threat level.

A case study using nine Kauaʻi species [all Kauaʻi Loulu (Pritchardia –7 spp.), Kokiʻo ʻUla (Hibiscus clayi), and Hōlei (Ochrosia kauaiensis)] identified and recommended for conservation priority nearly a dozen underrepresented subpopulations with varying degrees of urgency. Results indicate that curators can best empower reciprocity and maximize resources in the perpetuation of the least conserved SIE species by limiting scope, and prioritizing taxa with high levels of threat assessment, exceptionality, and biocultural value.

Alternate abstract:

Aia he 262 mau ʻano mea ulu ʻōiwi i kupu wale nō i Kauaʻi — single-island endemics (SIEs). Pilikia nui ko nā ʻano mea ulu mokupuni, a ke noho pilikia nei lākou no ko lākou hōhola liʻiliʻi. Ma laila, hiki ke nalowale ke ʻano like ʻole o ko lākou waiwai moʻokūʻauhau.

Hana pū nā māla ex situ i ka kaiāulu honua (metacollection) e mālama i nā mea ulu ma o ka hoʻomohala ʻana i nā kaʻakālai, nā pilina, a me ka māhele ʻikepili. Ma o kēia, hiki i nā hoaʻāina mai Kauaʻi ke kipa i nā mea ulu he nui ma ka hōhola. Kanu a hoʻokupu lākou i kēia mau mea ulu i loko o ko lākou mau māla, a i ʻole māhele i nā hua no ka hoʻomālama ma loko o ka nahele ʻōiwi. He kuleana ko nā hoaʻāina a me ke kaiāulu e hoʻohana pū me ka metacollection no ka hoʻomau i ka biocultural conservation.

Hōʻike kēia palapala i ka SIERA-ex, he ʻōnaehana ʻikepili open-source no ka hoʻokolokolo ʻana i nā hakahaka ma ka mālama ʻana i kēia mau ʻano SIE i loko o nā huina mea kanu o ka māla. E hoʻohana ana ka SIERA-ex i ka hōhola a me ke kaiola o kēlā me kēia huina pākahi o ka SIE ma ke ʻano he pani no ko lākou waiwai moʻokūʻauhau. Kōkua ia i ka ʻikepili i waena o nā mea ulu he nui e noho pū ana a me ka waiwai hapa, a kōkua hoʻi kēia no nā ʻano mea ulu paʻakikī e ʻike pono ai. Nānā ka ʻōnaehana ʻikepili ma kēlā ʻaoʻao o geographic reference area, ecoregion, watershed, moku, ahupuaʻa, a me wao ma ka pae o 4 2 kilomekele no nā SIE o Kauaʻi. Hōʻike ka haʻawina i nā anakahi e alakaʻi ai i ka makakoho ʻana o nā mea ulu e kipa ʻia ai, ma muli o kēia: biocultural value, exceptionality, a me ka pilikia.

Ma muli o ka ʻikepili mai nā mea ulu ʻeiwa o Kauaʻi, me nā Loulu ʻehiku (Pritchardia spp.), Kokiʻo ʻUla (Hibiscus clayi), a me Hōlei (Ochrosia kauaiensis), ʻāpōno kēia palapala i ʻumikūmākahi huina pakahi no ke kipa ʻana a me ka māhele pū ʻana me ka metacollection. Hōʻike nā hopena he mea kūpono loa ka hana pū ʻana e hoʻoikaika i ka hoʻomau ʻana o nā nahele ʻāina a me nā mea ulu ʻōiwi.