Research Log #1 - Solutionary Project 2020

Date: February 5,2020

Name: Andrew Onato

Essential Question: How is invasive seaweed harmful for Hawaii’s aquatic environment?

Three Points to Prove:

#1: Invasive seaweed degrades the health of coral

#2: Invasive seaweed harms aquatic animals and wildlife

#3: Invasive seaweed is introduced into our environment through intentional, and unintentional
means.

Point that this Source Proves: #3

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove):

“At least 19 species of macroalgae have been introduced to Oahu, Hawai'i, since 1950, and five of these
have become successful.”

“Some of these plants were brought to Hawai'i from Florida or the Philippines purposely for commercial
aquaculture projects that were later abandoned”

“Another species was unintentionally introduced after a heavily fouled ship originating in Guam arrived
in Hawai'i. However, the origin and source of many other apparently introduced algae remain unknown.”

“The most likely vector of transport is through ship fouling and/or ballast water because many of these
nonindigenous algae were first collected in or around harbors and gradually dispersed to neighboring
areas. However, there is little information on the current distribution patterns of these plants throughout
the Hawaiian Islands.”
 “Gracilaria salicornia’s origin populations is unknown but may be tied to early harbor arrivals in Hilo
from the Philippines. In the 1970s this species was transported intentionally from Hilo to two locations on
O'ahu (Waildki and Kane'ohe Bay) for aquacultural projects that were later abandoned

“Hypnea musciformis was initially introduced to Kane'ohe Bay, O'ahu, in 1974 as part of an aquaculture
project that was later abandoned.”

“Acanthophora spicifera was initially unintentionally introduced to Pearl Harbor on the island of O'ahu in
1952 from a barge originating in Guam.”

Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):

This source supports the point to prove as it provides the most likely reasons as to how invasive
seaweed species have been brought about to the Hawaiian Islands based off of us numerous surveys and
research expeditions. The source answers where the most prominent species of invasive seaweed here in
Hawaii have originated from, and how they were introduced to Hawaii’s local ecosystem. They also
provided instances in which they were intentionally spread versus unintentionally spread.

The source cites that at least 19 species of macroalgae (seaweed) have been introduced to the
islands of Hawaii since the 1950s, with 5 of them successfully becoming a threat to native aquatic life.
They explain that the most likely form of introduction of these invasive seaweed to Hawaii’s ecosystems
is through unintentional ship fouling or ballast water, basing off of evidence from studies conducted
regarding invasive algae. Ship fouling is the accumulation of marine debris on the surface of a ship, and
ballast water is water that is pumped throughout a ship to maintain proper balance. The ballast water can
be taken in and drained out, which causes some species of seaweed to make their way into the ship and
hitch a ride until the ballast water is drained out in a new body of water.

They also mention the specific species involved, where they originated from, and how they were
introduced into the local environment. For example, they mention that some of these seaweed come
purposefully for aquaculture products that were later abandoned, such as the Hypnea musciformi species.
They also mentioned the introduction of invasive seaweed through unintentional means, such as the
Acanthophora spicifera species, which were brought on accident to Hawaiian waters through a barge
originating from Guam.

The cite has provided numerous specific examples of individual seaweed species that have been
introduced to the Hawaiian ecosystem, as well as the methods that were used in the introduction of these
seaweed to Hawaii--through intentional and unintentional means.

Work Cited (correct MLA format)

Smith, Jennifer E., et al. “Distribution and Reproductive Characteristics of Nonindigenous and
Invasive Marine Algae in the Hawaiian Islands.” Pacific Science, vol. 56, no. 3, 2002, pp. 299–
315., doi:10.1353/psc.2002.0030.

This is a reputable and reliable article because

This article was published in a journal written by 3 professionals who conducted studies regarding this
topic. Two of the author’s information are unknown/unable to find, however, one of them, Cynthia L
Hunter, is in the department of Biology at University of Hawaii Manoa, with a Phd in marine science, and
has published nearly 36 other articles.

Journal

In the next step of our solutionary project, we have to create a research log on the topic that we

chose from different mediums, in this case our topic being on invasive seaweed. I started off log 1
answering the third point of our essential question, “ How is invasive seaweed harmful for Hawaii’s

aquatic environment?”. For point 3, I needed to prove that invasive seaweed is introduced into our

environment through intentional, and unintentional means. The hardest challenge in trying to answer this

question was finding a number of reliable sources that have conducted thorough research and have a lot of

experience regarding this topic. What made it even more challenging, however, was trying to narrow the

search down to studies conducted here in Hawaii. Our essential question asks how invasive seaweed is

harmful to the Hawaiian Islands, and using a source that has conducted studies on invasive seaweed

elsewhere may not have the same results if they were to conduct it here in Hawaii. I was able to narrow it

down to a journal and study conducted by local professionals at the University of Hawaii Manoa. I found

that this source is reputable and contains a load of information backed by research and data that have been

observed by those working on the study. This source was ideal for the topic that I plan to do for my

solutionary project, as they are professionals and have conducted studies in our state. This makes it easier

for me to prove how invasive seaweed is introduced into native environments, specifically the invasive

seaweed here in Hawaii. From this source, I was able to find information like species name, dates they

were introduced into our waters, and how they were introduced into our waters/why they were introduced.

I was even able to find the way that For the next research log, I plan on finding sources that answer points

1 or 2, which deals with proving how invasive seaweed interacts with the native environment. I will

continue to follow the steps I have taken in this research log as I feel satisfactory with how it turned out.

In order to improve next time, I feel like I would need to work a bit more on my analysis as I wasn’t as

confident in writing it, however, it did turn out pretty alright to me. So far, in addition to completing the

research log and proposal, my partner and I have scheduled our independent beach cleanup and started

looking into places/people that we are able to interview for other parts of the project. We are looking

more towards the Waikiki Aquarium, Sea Life Park, or UH Manoa.