2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference

March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH

5/20/2019 | 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM | CHARACTERIZING NATURAL BARRIERS TO NON-NATIVE STREAM FAUNA IN HAWAII | 251 DE

CHARACTERIZING NATURAL BARRIERS TO NON-NATIVE STREAM FAUNA IN HAWAII

Waterfalls, caused by the abrupt changes of elevation in streams, are natural barriers that influence the distribution and dispersion of aquatic species. While resulting habitat fragmentation has contributed to species specialization, the steep elevation changes are also considered barriers that inhibit passage of non-native species upstream. In Hawai?i, it is assumed that non-native species are unable to surpass waterfall barriers, yet they are present above some waterfalls, possibly facilitated by human introduction. In this study, we used a landscape approach to identify likely human introductions and examine the ability of non-native stream fauna to bypass waterfalls. We found that when a given catchment has a population density higher than 4.24 people/km2 or when road length density is greater than 0.01 km/km2 in a stream catchment, the presence of non-native species in the stream was likely due to human introduction. After filtering human facilitated introduction, we found that 12 out of the examined 14 taxa were absent upstream of waterfalls, indicative of their inability to traverse waterfalls. Without human interference, waterfalls can be considered effective barriers to non-native species and can be instrumental in supporting exotic species eradication and control strategies.

Connectivity
Dispersal
Distribution

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Presenters/Authors

Yin-Phan Tsang (), Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawaii, Manoa, tsangy@hawaii.edu;