Introduction I spent June 2013 on Oʻahu learning about the conservation issues in Hawaiʻi and the work of different organizations on these issues. As part of my work with PEP and the Lyon Arboretum, I learned about the threats to and worked on the management strategies for H. oahuensis. My research had three main strategies:

(1)Reduce rat population size in the field(2)Hand-pollinate this species in the field(3)Interview individuals about the known obstacles and threats to this species

Methods•Worked hands-on in Hawaiʻi with this species and hiked up to a site in the Pahole Natural Area Reserve of the Waiʻanae Mountains (see Figure 2) •Cleaned out all rat traps near the species •Hand-pollinated each blooming flower with pollen from another individual of this species located in a nearby valley (see Figure 3)•Attached a camera to a tree to take a picture of a bud daily that was emailed to PEP

• Interviewed experts on this species and Hawaiian conservation about threats to this species

Results •Hand-pollinated the two individual plants that had flowers (see Figure 4)• Interviewed individuals from the Lyon Arboretum and PEP about threats to this species

Conclusions•Hand-pollination efforts should continue•Different micropropagation techniques should be attempted• Efforts should be made to protect this species from ungulates and rats

Acknowledgements I would like to extend my thanks to the following:•Anukriti Hittle from Washington University•Nellie Sugii, Peter Wiggin, and Cindy Nose from the Lyon Arboretum•WU Environmental Studies Program•WU Office of Undergraduate Research•WU Career Center

References 1“Oahu Blank Map – Hawaii Maps.” Map. Hawaii Maps. Mapsof.net, 2012. Web. 5 Oct. 2013.2“5-Year Review: Short Form Summary.” United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 2009. Web. 15 Sept. 2013.

Background •Hawaiian Islands are a biodiversity hotspot•Hesperomannia oahuensis is a critically endangered plant species found only in the Waiʻanae Mountains of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi

(see Figures 1, 2)• 6-10 original individuals of this species remain• This species is managed by the Oʻahu Plant Extinction Prevention Program (PEP)

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Figure 52: Decline in numbers of H. oahuensis, 1991-2008

Figure 3: Susan Ching- Harbin of PEP hand- pollinating a flower of H. oahuensis on the Pahole Natural Area Reserve

Figure 4: Two flowers of H. oahuensis post hand- pollination

Figure 2: The habitat surrounding H. oahuensis

Figure 11: Map indicating the location of H. oahuensis on Oʻahu

Threats Identified to Critically Endangered Hawaiian Species, Hesperomannia oahuensis

Margaret BeetstraHokuleʻa Program, Washington University in St. Louis

Discussion•Not all plants on Pahole were pollinated because their flowers were not in bloom.•Botanists must go to field sites multiple times a year to monitor the plants.• Some individuals were not expected to bloom.• In-lab (micropropagation) techniques to clone this plant have failed.

H. oahuensis decline is caused by (see Figure 5):•Decrease in seed viability•Unknown insect eating portions of the seeds•Naturally low pollen viability•Ungulates and rats disturbing the species• Flowers removed for lei-making•Natural pollinator is extinct