KAWAINUI
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​The Native water birds of kawai nui 



BY: LISA NAMATAME,RYAN ABE, ADAM GUZMAN

University of hawaiʻi at mānoa

​HWST 107A


MAKANANI LOPES

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Moʻolelo of kawai nui 

Kawai nui Wetlands

The Mo‘olelo discussed how long ago the wetlands was so large, that the fish would not know when they were in the mountain streams or whether in the wetlands. The only way in which they were able to determine this was
due to the noises that the ‘Alae‘Ula would make since there were so many as well as the Ae‘o, which had long legs that the fish were able to see underwater. Once the fish were able to hear the sounds and see the legs they knew that they had finished their journey and have made it home. Having these birds able to thrive in these wetlands allowed meant that there was enough fish for these animals to also live and grow. Since the wetlands was used as a fishpond, this process would then allow for the native people to obtain their food. (P1)
Kauai Nui found in Kailua, O‘ahu is the largest wetland on the island with nearly 830 acres of land. It was originally used by the first polynesians that arrived to the island of O‘ahu. The land served as a production for their taro and fishponds until the Europeans came into the islands. The land began to degrade because of the lack of upkeep and began to be used as a flood control and dump for automobiles. The push for this culturally significant area has been fought for protection since the early 1960s. In 2005, the cultural and biological history the wetlands contains for both the native peoples and the organisms’ habitats allowed for the Ramsar Wetland of International Importance giving much greater protection and preservation for this area. (P2)

HAwaiian Stilt/ Aeʻo

HAwaiian Moorhen/ ʻalae ʻula

​Ae‘o (one standing tall) can live in diverse aquatic habitats but needs specific water depths and vegetation cover. They need at least a water depth of 5 inches (13 cm) which creates the ideal environment for foraging.
This is great for stilts to look for invertebrates and aquatic organisms like worms, crabs, and fish. The nests are located near the bodies of water, but are usually separated with the site they feed. (S1)
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Photo Credit: Sean Mars (S2)
​​The ‘Alae ‘Ula (red forehead) are known to be the most secretive native waterbird. In Hawaiian legend, they were thought to bring fire to the Hawaiian people from the gods. The Hawaiian moorhen are found in freshwater wetlands, taro patches, irrigation ditches, reservoirs, and wet pastures. They prefer to be near open water around the dense vegetation and live around water depths of less than 3 feet (1 meter). The ideal water for them would be fresh water, but they can also live in saline or brackish-water. The Hawaiian moorhen‘s nesting time is believed to be consistent with the water levels and vegetation growth.The diet consists of mollusks, insects, and aquatic plants. (S3)
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Photo Credit: Nancy Johnston (S4)

HAwaiian coot/ ʻalae keʻokeʻo

HAwaiian Duck/ KOloa Maoli

‘Alae Ke‘oke‘o live around fresh and brackish-water wetlands and ponds. The Hawaiian coot‘s diet consists of seed, insects, leaves of the aquatic plants as well as aquatic organisms such as tadpoles and small fish. They build their nests on top of the water which floats like a boat and the adults are always protecting it and looking out for their eggs in case any predators come by. (S5)
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Photo Credit: Greg Lasley (S6)

What affects water fluctuations and quality


  • Temperature (affects water chemically and physically)
    • Higher temperature means a lower DO level.
    • Affects metabolic rates of organism
  • DO (Dissolved Oxygen)
    • Dissolved oxygen comes via the atmosphere and photosynthesis from aquatic plants. The DO is then used up through chemical oxidation and aids in the decomposition process.
    • Lower levels of DO means lower water quality. (P3,P4)
  • Dead/decaying plants and animals
    • The decaying process uses oxygen which lowers the level of DO which increases level of nitrate. (P5,S9)
  • pH( 6.5-8.5 is considered ok)
    • Extremely high or low pH makes the water inhabitable.
​Koloa (native duck) live in the lowland wetlands, river valleys, and mountain streams. They travel in paris because they are known to be very cautious. The Koloa‘s diet consists of mollusks, insects, and freshwater vegetation. Their nests are found on the ground making it a high risk for the eggs to be eaten by predators such as mongoose, cat, pig, and dog. (S7)
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Photo Credit: Steven Mlodinow (S8)

why are our native birds becoming endangered

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Photo Credit: Cedric Woudstra (S10)
The cause of these native water birds becoming endangered are thought to be
by the cause of a type of avian botulism called "carcass-maggot cycle."
1. The birds are thought to eat maggots and zooplankton in the water that contain toxin.
2. The birds eventually die and become a breeding site for the C. botulinum and toxin production.
3. Insects like flies can deposit their eggs to the birds carcass.
4. The new maggots feed on the carcass and also feed on the toxins along with it.
5. These maggots are eventually eaten by birds again and the cycle starts over again.The cause of these native water birds becoming endangered are thought to be
by the cause of a type of avian botulism called "carcass-maggot cycle." (P6)

​WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO FIND
THE CORRELATION BETWEEN
BIRD POPULATION TRENDS
VERSUS WATER FLUCTUATION
AND QUALITY TRENDS

It is important to know the water fluctuation and quality of Kawai Nui because it is home to the native water birds. By knowing the water fluctuations and quality, researchers are able to find out the cause of the decrease in bird population. Additionally, they are able to take action by knowing what affects the birds indirectly and directly such as decreasing the amount of aquatic plants, toxins in the area caused by the carcass-maggot cycle. This will in return, stabilize the dissolved oxygen levels and nitrate levels in the wetlands. Specifically, the stabilized dissolved oxygen levels will create a safer environment for aquatic organisms, thus creating a larger food source for the native birds. (P7)

native bird

Water habitat

Key features

Hawaiian Stilt (Aeʻo)
Frequent mud lands along or near natural or human made ponds and wetlands (S1) 
The aeʻo is known for its long pink leg and black bill. (S1) 
Hawaiian Coot  (ʻAlae Keʻokeʻo)
Various freshwater and brackish (S5)
The ‘alae ke‘oke‘o is dark slate gray with a white bill and a large frontal shield (S5) 

Hawaiian Moorhen (ʻAlae ʻUla)
Various wetland habitats with dense vegetation (S3)
The ‘alae ‘ula can be identified by the black head and body with a red frontal. (S3) 

Hawaiian Duck (Koloa Maoli)
Low land wetlands, reservoirs, taro patches, pastures, drainage ditches, agricultural lands below 300 m. (S7)
The koloa have a darker head and neck feathers (sometimes green) and orange legs and feet (S7) 

​

works cited

Primary Sources: (P)
  1. Kanahele, George S. “ The Hawaiian Renaissance .” The Hawaiian Renaissance , Polynesian Voyaging Society Archives, May 1979, kapalama.ksbe.edu/archives/pvsa/primary 2/79 kanahele/kanahele 10.htm.
  2. Yuen & Associates, George A.L. Environmental Assessment for Maunawili Stream - Kawai Nui Marsh: Based on Recommended Instream Flow Standard. Commission on Water Resource Management, 1994​  
  3. Rajwa-Kuligiewicz, Agnieszka, et al. Dissolved Oxygen and Water Temperature Dynamics in Lowland Rivers over Various Timescales. Vol. 63, 2015.​
  4. Morrill, Jean C., et al. “Estimating Stream Temperature from Air Temperature: Implications for Future Water Quality.”Journal of Environmental Engineering, vol. 131, no. 1, 1 Jan. 2005, pp. 139–146., doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-9372(2005)131:1(139).​
  5. Tang, J Y, et al. “[Effects of Aquatic Plants during Their Decay and Decomposition on Water Quality].” Advances in Pediatrics., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23717994.
  6. Conley, Kai, et al. “Kawainui Marsh Restoration Project.” Kawainui Marsh Restoration Project, Oahu Forestry and Wildlife Program, 27 Sept. 2016,hbmpweb.pbrc.hawaii.edu/dlnr/projects/sanctuaries/kawainui.​ 
  7. “Kawainui Marsh Restoration Project.” Kawainui Marsh Restoration Project , Oahu Forestry and Wildlife Program, 1 Dec. 2009, hbmpweb.pbrc.hawaii.edu/dlnr/projects/sanctuaries/kawainui.    
Secondary Sources: (S)
  1. Pacific Region Group, Web Development. “Hawaiian Stilt - Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office.” Greater Sage-Grouse | Species Information, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, 20 Sept. 2012, www.fws.gov/pacificislands/fauna/stilt.html.
  2. Stilt pic
  3. Pacific Region Group, Web Development. “Hawaiian Moorhen - Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office.” Greater Sage-Grouse | Species Information, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, 20 Sept. 2012, www.fws.gov/pacificislands/fauna/HImoorhen.html.
  4. Johnston, Nancy, and William Johnston.Hawaiian Moorhen. Kauai, HI, 30 Nov. 2010. http://www.nejohnston.org/birds/bird_HawaiianMoorhen.shtml
  5. Pacific Region Group, Web Development. “Hawaiian Coot - Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office.” Greater Sage-Grouse | Species Information, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, 13 June 2013, www.fws.gov/pacificislands/fauna/HIcoot.html.
  6. Lasley, Greg.The Hawaiian Coot. Kailua, Aug.2012. http://greglasley.com/hawaiiancoot.html
  7. Pacific Region Group, Web Development. “Hawaiian Duck - Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office.” Greater Sage-Grouse | Species Information, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, 20 Sept. 2012, www.fws.gov/pacificislands/fauna/HIduck.html.
  8. ​Mlodinow, Steven.Hawaiian Duck. Ko Olina, HI, 6 Aug. 2012.https://ebird.org/media/catalog?regionCode=US&date.yearRange=YALL&taxonCode=hawduc&mediaType=Photo&sort=rating_rank_desc
  9. Gallant, Micah. “Nitrates and Their Effect on Water Quality – A Quick Study.” Wheatley River Improvement Group, Partnership For Environmental Education and Rural Health, 16 Aug. 2010, www.wheatleyriver.ca/media/nitrates-and-their-effect-on-water-quality-a-quick-study
  10. Rossetto et al. “The Maggot Cycle.” Research Gate, 2014, www.researchgate.net/figure/The-maggot-cycle-From-Rossetto-et-al-2014_fig4_304792202?_sg=v_VA2nSL2KnKXWKT6AN3QY-_TN26Ri-S-Xt3RDDYsJpZL8dC47so17BRSrDCAZwCAS_-eNtJUmLJFYJLVQd-hA.​
  • Home
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      • ‘Blind flying pig test’ from climate model says islands will lack precipitation while being submerged by sea-level rise Anthony Watts / April 12, 2016
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