Results of 2004 Wekiu bug (Nysius Wekiuicola) surveys on Mauna Kea, Hawaii island: Final report
- Author:
-
Englund, R. A., Ramsdale, A., McShane, M., Preston, D.J., Miller, S., Montgomery, S.L.
- Title:
- Results of 2004 Wekiu bug (Nysius Wekiuicola) surveys on Mauna Kea, Hawaii island: Final report
- Year:
- 2005
- Subject:
-
Wekiu bug surveys
Nysius wekiuicola
- Summary:
- In 2004, surveys for wekiu bug distribution and abundance at the summit area of Mauna Kea occurred in April and July, while data loggers recording microhabitat parameters such as relative humidity and temperature were installed in July and December. This study builds upon research conducted by the Hawaii Biological Survey of the Bishop Museum that began in the early 1980s, resumed in 1997, and continued in 2002. The objectives of this study were to 1) survey for the presence or absence of wekiu bugs at the summits of various puu’s (cinder cones) located in the alpine zone of Mauna Kea, 2) determine the elevational and microhabitat distribution of wekiu bugs on Mauna Kea, 3) assess whether different pitfall trapping methods used in earlier Bishop Museum studies provide comparable data in regard to wekiu bug captures, 4) assess habitats among different elevations and cinder cone areas, and 5) obtain microhabitat data on wekiu bug habitat using temperature and relative humidity loggers. This study began in April 2004 with three days of sampling for wekiu bugs took at Puu Hau Oki, and continued in July 2004 with more intensive sampling. Because it is such a vast area, previous information regarding the overall elevational range and distribution of the wekiu bug throughout the entire alpine zone of Mauna Kea was largely lacking. Thus, wekiu bug sampling efforts were concentrated in areas not previously sampled such as the remote cinder cone area of Red Hills. Areas surveyed during this study ranged from Puu Kanakaleonui at 9,200 ft (2,800 m) to Puu Hau Oki at 13,700 ft (4,177 m). A total of 55 baited shrimp pitfall traps were installed in April and July, with 10 wekiu bug captures in April and only one in July. Seasonal activity differences are the likely explanation for so few wekiu bugs being captured in the 50 traps installed during the July assessment as compared to 5 traps installed in April. Although attempted, a test of trapping efficiency with different types of pitfall traps failed in July because neither trap collected wekiu bugs. A total of 45 relative humidity and temperature data loggers were installed and are currently collecting data in a variety of locations throughout the Mauna Kea study area. A preliminary set of 8 data loggers were installed in July, with the remaining loggers installed in December 2004. In December 2004, data from the loggers installed in July were successfully downloaded and provided interesting new findings on the extreme conditions that wekiu bugs must survive in areas of their most favored habitat. These findings provided valuable new information on wekiu bug seasonal abundance, microhabitat climate data, as well as their overall range on Mauna Kea that will assist in conserving and managing this rare species.
- URL:
- http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/pdf/wekiu2004r.pdf
- Collection:
- Monographs