Kealia Pond Graphs

Kealia Pond

The Kealia National Wild Life Reserve is one of the few wetland refuges in Hawaiian. The Kealia Pond is located on the Island of Maui. The Kealia National Wild Life Refuge (WLR) is home to native plants, birds and many migrator water birds who make their way to Kealia National WLR to nest during the winter. The Hawaian Coot and Hawaiian Stilt are two native wetland birds that are important to Hawaiian Islands.

Hawaiian Coot

Scientific Name: Fulica alai

Hawaiian Name: `alae ke `oke`o

Endimic

Fisical Features: The Hawaiian Coot has a white beak and a frontal shield, they have dark feathers and red eyes. These bird can get as large as 15 inches.

Hawaiian Stilt

Scientific Name: Himantopus mexicanus knudseni

Hawaiian Name: Ae`o (one standing tall)

Endemic

Fiscul Features: The Hawaiian Stilt can reach 16 inches in length, they have a black head and a white belly, with long pink legs. These birds are an endangered species that eat worms, crab and small fish.

The significance of this study was to conduct experiment on an invasive species that have begun to overpower the native plant species living in Kealia Pond. This is causing problems with not only the native plant species but also the native birds which are unable to nest in the dense undergrowth. Through data collected from experiments taken by our class we hope to find a way in which to eliminate any threat of the California Bulrush.

For this study we worked at Kealia Pond, the goal of our project was to consider different ways we might be able to eradicate the growing problem of the invasive species the California Bulrush. Once students formulated different ways in which to remove the invasive species three tests were chosen. After being chosen our science class went out onto the field and conducted the experiment by removing the California Bulrush by using a spray that would only kill the plant but at the same time would not endanger the lives of the other native species. The two other tests that we did were to cut the plants and lastly we combined both procedures and we cut and sprayed the plant. Finally we gathered and then analyzed the data to figure out which method of removing the California Bulrush worked the best.

Through this study we learned that the method of spraying with biological spray had the best results of eradicating the Bulrush from within the Kealia Pond without harming any of the wild life or native plants.

Biblography

Picture of Kealia Pond

http://www.biogeographer.com/IMGP1524.JPG

Picture of Hawaiian Stilt

http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/data/media/1/endangered-hawaiian-stilt_8153.jpg

Picture of Hawaiian Coot

http://www.oahunaturetours.com/photogallery/birds/images/indextablec01.JPG