Weed management and the habitat protection of rare species: A case study of the endemic hawaiian fern Marsilea villosa

• Published in: Biological conservation Vol. 68; no. 1; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Author: Wester, Lyndon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1994; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; conservation; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; endemic fern; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hawai'i; Marsilea villosa; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; weed management; Hawaii; Polynesia; Oceania; USA, Hawaii; Hawai'i; conservation; endemic fern; Marsilea villosa; weed management; Weed control; Endemic species; Habitat; Pteridophyta; Plant conservation; Rare species; Filicineae
• ISSN: 0006-3207; 1873-2917
• DOI: 10.1016/0006-3207(94)90540-1

Assessment of a plan for management and habitat restoration of a rare fern Marsilea villosa endemic to Hawai'i showed that the plant was capable of reestablishing itself under certain conditions without intensive management. In this case degradation of the population was caused by a series of unusually dry years combined with damage from off-road vehicles. As a result the litter layer deteriorated and exposed soil was colonized mainly by alien weeds. Under near-normal climatic conditions, including periodic flooding, the endemic plant was able to grow vigorously and successfully exlude most competitors. A program of labor-intensive weeding ultimately proved to be an unnecessary measure to protect the plant from possible extinction at the site where the largest and healthiest population occurs. Reliable data, collected by known and replicable methods, are needed to monitor the condition of rare species and to plan efficient management or habitat restoration should it be necessary.