A Different Path to Conservation: Recent Research with Hawaiian Marine Algae
Channel: Ronald Cannarella
Date: 2012-06-07

A presentation at the Hawai`i Conservation Conference 2007 presentation, I.A. Abbott and C.M. Smith (University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa) on "A Different Path to Conservation: Case Studies from Recent Research with Hawaiian Marine Algae". With recent research, the level of endemism among Hawaiian marine algae is on the rise, above the 25% typical for many marine animals in Hawai‘i. What is not well appreciated by this trend is the exceptional nature of discovery, describing new, rare species on the basis of single collections or from single expeditionary-style collections around O‘ahu and other main Hawaiian Islands. Several of these exceptional case studies will be presented. In marked contrast is the threat posed by multiple non-indigenous species to hard-bottom and soft-bottom marine environments on O‘ahu. Recent approaches to mitigate harmful impacts of alien algae will be discussed.

Hawaii Conservation Alliance
Executive Producer: Ronald Cannarella