Testing native species response to fire – a first step towards building fire resilient native plant communities at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

Reports were scanned in black and white at a resolution of 600 dots per inch and were converted to text using Adobe Paper Capture Plug-in.Wildfires, fueled by fire-adapted alien grasses, result in the loss of native tree and shrub species in the dry and seasonally dry communities of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Future wildfires and further loss of native plant diversity is expected given the prevalence of alien grasses in the area. Fire-tolerance, defined in this paper as the ability to survive or colonize after fire, was evaluated in seven controlled burns. Seed germination in response to oven heating was tested in laboratory experiments. Fourteen of 19 native species showed some capacity to survive or colonize after fire. Seedlings of eleven species were able to establish from seeds placed in the field prior to or immediately following controlled burns (Argemone glauca, Bidens hawaiensis, Canavalia hawaiiensis, Dodonaea viscosa, Myoporum sandwicense, Osteomeles anthyllidifolia, Santalum paniculatum, Scaevola kilaueae, Sida fallax, Sophora chrysophylla, Sesbania tomentosa). Seven species survived beyond the first year including six that reached reproductive maturity (Argemone glauca, Bidens hawaiensis, Canavalia hawaiiensis, Dodonaea viscosa, Sida fallax, Sophora chrysophylla). Seeds of ten species tested in oven-heating experiments showed either a positive or neutral germination response to mild heating (90 ºC), among these were three species (Myrsine lanaiensis, Rhus sandwicensis, Senna gaudichaudii) not tested in the field. Testing species response to fire is the first step toward building resilient native plant communities in the new fire regime established by alien grasses at HAVO

Experimental Restoration of Mesic and Wet Forests in Former Pastureland, Kahuku Unit, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park

Reports were scanned in black and white at a resolution of 600 dots per inch and were converted to text using Adobe Paper Capture Plug-in.The Kahuku unit of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HAVO) contains seven thousand acres of former forest that was converted to pasture for grazing cattle. There were several phases of forest clearing and pasture development (Parker Ranch 1912-1947, James Glover 1947-1958, and Damon Estate 1958-2000) creating an open pasture with scattered native trees and small remnant stands of native species. In 2005, methods to facilitate forest recovery were tested in four ungulate-proof exclosures (four hectares each). Within the exclosures, three temporary grass removal treatments (herbicide, soil turnover, and herbicide/soil turnover) were tested with the objective of finding a method that best promoted native forest recovery in conjunction with ungulate exclusion. In addition to monitoring plant recruitment from the natural seed bank in the soil, establishment by direct seeding and planting of native species in the different treatments was evaluated. By year one, rapid re-establishment of alien grasses occurred in all removal treatments, but was slowest in plots that received a combination of soil turnover and herbicide. Natural native plant recovery was evident in all grass removal treatments with a limited number of seedlings in the untreated grass control. Plant establishment from direct seeding for koa and pilo was highest in the combination soil turnover and herbicide treatment. No seedlings of Pipturus albidus (māmaki), Cheirodendron trigynum (‘ōlapa), Coprosma pubens (pilo), Myoporum sandwicense (naio) and very few Acacia koa (koa) and Metrosideros polymorpha (‘ōhi‘a) were observed outside of ungulate-proof exclosures. Planted seedling survival was moderate to high with no significant differences among sites and treatments (57-70%). Based on these results, temporary suppression of alien grasses in conjunction with ungulate exclusion can facilitate recovery of native species once abundant in the Kahuku region

Rehabilitation of ‘ōhi’a-swordfern (Metrosideros polymorpha-Nephrolepis multiflora) woodlands following the Kupukupu Fire, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Reports were scanned in black and white at a resolution of 600 dots per inch and were converted to text using Adobe Paper Capture Plug-in.The 2002 Kupukupu Fire burned more than 3,367 acres (1363 hectares) in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Four hundred and fifty-five acres (184 hectares) were in transitionally dry to mesic ‘ōhi’a swordfern woodland of which portions had previously burned in 1972, 1981, and 1992. Based on past studies, the effects of this fire were expected to result in a reduction of abundance and diversity of native species. In contrast, alien swordfern was expected to quickly re-establish. Wildfire was expected to recur in this area given the abundance of fine fuels provided by alien swordfern and grasses, extended dry periods, and continued ignition sources provided by nearby lava flows. Consequently, park managers adopted an aggressive approach to restore native species by a combination of seeding and planting into the burn. Establishment was focused primarily on fire-tolerant species. Restoration efforts began in October 2002 and continued to March 2005. Approximately 1,500 worker days were spent on the project, propagating plants, planting, seeding and monitoring individuals in the field. Thirty-five native plant species were established in the burn area by a combination of direct seeding nearly 400,000 seeds and planting 12,646 individuals that were propagated in temporary greenhouses at HAVO. Average survivorship of planted individuals was greater than 50% and ranged between 10% and 92% by species. Of these, fourteen species had reached reproductive maturity by Fall 2006. Seeds of seven of the thirteen species seeded in the burn area germinated. Five species survived beyond the first year seedling stage. Continued monitoring will determine long term successional outcomes

A Review of Invasive Plant Management in Special Ecological Areas, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, 1984-2007

Reports were scanned in black and white at a resolution of 600 dots per inch and were converted to text using Adobe Paper Capture Plug-in.In Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (134,852 ha), management units called Special Ecological Areas (SEAs) were established to control 20+ highly disruptive invasive plant species perceived to be too widespread for parkwide eradication to be feasible. Instead control efforts were focused on excluding target weeds from high value areas. Between 1984 and 1986 the first six SEAs and a buffer unit (total area >5,000 ha) were established in wet ‘ōhi‘a/hapu‘u (Metrosideros polymorpha/Cibotium glaucum) forest, mesic koa (Acacia koa) forest, and seasonally dry ‘ōhi‘a communities (Tunison and Stone 1992). After initial treatment of weeds, crews revisited sites at one to five year return intervals to remove any new weeds that reestablished. Over the next two decades, additional funding was made available to increase the number and size of SEAs. By 2007, 27 SEAs and buffer units covering over 26,720 ha were managed to exclude target weeds. Control data of 10 SEAs for which we had the longest data sets were evaluated. From 1985 to 2007, control efforts in SEAs expanded from 5,045 ha to 26,687 ha, a 500% increase in area. In contrast, annual labor cost spent in the field increased only about 50% (adjusted to 2007 dollars). This translated to a three-fold decrease in labor costs per hectare ($28.96/ ha in 1985 to$8.61/ha in 2007) across all units. Additional cost savings were made by improving the efficiency in search and treatment methods (e.g. aerial spray rig, chemical treatment of kāhili ginger). In summary, long-term maintenance of SEAs was possible when initial weed infestations could be reduced to low levels; subsequent recruitment of new alien weeds was low; and work loads dropped significantly after initial control efforts. Weaknesses of the SEA approach were that follow-up treatment was required indefinitely, weed infestations could increase in surrounding unmanaged areas and reinvasion into units could become unmanageable especially for small SEAs. In the future, managers will be challenged to secure funding to address ongoing weed maintenance; and maximize program effectiveness (e.g. optimizing intervals between follow-up treatments, applying new search and control technology). Developing effective partnerships with the community and adjacent landowners to expand management areas, creating buffer zones that will reduce seed dispersal into SEAs, and reconfiguring or abandoning small or ineffective SEAs are among some of strategies that could assist the long-term sustainability of the SEA approach

Inventory Vascular Plants of the Kahuku Addition, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park

Reports were scanned in black and white at a resolution of 600 dots per inch and were converted to text using Adobe Paper Capture Plug-in.In 2003, the National Park Service acquired 46,943 ha of Kahuku Ranch, in the Ka’ū district of Hawai`i. This addition to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park includes a diverse assemblage of vegetation communities. No recent vegetation inventories existed, and since the last vegetation map had been created many vegetation types within the former ranch had undergone changes due to grazing pressure, logging and fire. As a result, little was known about the communities and their floristic composition, and appropriate management practices could not be developed. Surveys conducted between 2004 and 2006 in Kahuku described vegetation communities and located rare, threatened and endangered plants, as well as disruptive alien weeds. Forty-one kilometers of transects and 177 vegetation plots were ground-surveyed, and 6.5 hours of helicopter surveys were conducted. Surveys encountered a total flora of 455 vascular plant species, of which 40% were native. Five endangered, one threatened, one candidate endangered, and seven species of concern were found, as well as 26 locally rare native species. Forty-three disruptive alien plant taxa in and near Kahuku were mapped. Several sites containing high numbers of either rare or invasive plants were identified. Information from this inventory allows managers to identify priority areas of alien plant and ungulate control and rare plant recovery, and serves as a baseline to document future changes in the vegetation. Results from this study will also enable managers to develop a framework for long-term management priorities and strategies in Kahuku.National Park Service Cooperative Agreement CA8012 A00

The distribution of invasive plant species of concern in the Kīlauea and Mauna Loa strip areas of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, 2000-2010

Reports were scanned in black and white at a resolution of 600 dots per inch and were converted to text using Adobe Paper Capture Plug-in.Alien plant surveys conducted between 2000 and 2010 in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park quantified the distribution of 134 alien plant species over 87,908 ha between sea level and 4,169 m elevation. Searches were conducted by foot, vehicle and helicopter and incorporated past survey and control data. Mapping identified 33 widespread species distributed broadly across the park and 101 locally distributed species with fewer, more discrete populations. Sixteen species were incipient invaders not previously known from the park, and an additional 15 new species were identified in a separate survey by Pratt et al. Relatively high concentrations of invasive species were found along roadsides and trails, particularly in the Kīlauea summit area, `Āinahou, the Mauna Loa rock quarry and Highway 11, where heavy visitation, high traffic, and importation of road building materials likely facilitated introduction and spread of species from outside areas. A geodatabase documenting the distribution of these species was generated, and survey data were compared to previous studies (Fosberg 1966; Tunison et. al. 1992) to evaluate changes in distribution and serve as a baseline for monitoring. Relative to the last parkwide mapping of localized species completed in 1992, eight species managed to control populations were found to have increased in abundance, while 30 apparently became less abundant. Thirteen managed species could not be relocated and may be extirpated. Key management recommendations based on survey results include expanding control to 13 additional species identified during this study, quickly eradicating all newly discovered species before they spread, intensifying monitoring in high risk areas, and expanding pre-emptive measures such as sanitation, public education, and prevention of deliberate plant introductions to the park

Metabolic Impact of Adult-Onset, Isolated, Growth Hormone Deficiency (AOiGHD) Due to Destruction of Pituitary Somatotropes

Growth hormone (GH) inhibits fat accumulation and promotes protein accretion, therefore the fall in GH observed with weight gain and normal aging may contribute to metabolic dysfunction. To directly test this hypothesis a novel mouse model of adult onset-isolated GH deficiency (AOiGHD) was generated by cross breeding rat GH promoter-driven Cre recombinase mice (Cre) with inducible diphtheria toxin receptor mice (iDTR) and treating adult Cre+/−,iDTR+/− offspring with DT to selectively destroy the somatotrope population of the anterior pituitary gland, leading to a reduction in circulating GH and IGF-I levels. DT-treated Cre−/−,iDTR+/− mice were used as GH-intact controls. AOiGHD improved whole body insulin sensitivity in both low-fat and high-fat fed mice. Consistent with improved insulin sensitivity, indirect calorimetry revealed AOiGHD mice preferentially utilized carbohydrates for energy metabolism, as compared to GH-intact controls. In high-fat, but not low-fat fed AOiGHD mice, fat mass increased, hepatic lipids decreased and glucose clearance and insulin output were impaired. These results suggest the age-related decline in GH helps to preserve systemic insulin sensitivity, and in the context of moderate caloric intake, prevents the deterioration in metabolic function. However, in the context of excess caloric intake, low GH leads to impaired insulin output, and thereby could contribute to the development of diabetes

Data-Driven Analysis of COVID-19 Reveals Persistent Immune Abnormalities in Convalescent Severe Individuals

Severe SARS-CoV-2 infection can trigger uncontrolled innate and adaptive immune responses, which are commonly associated with lymphopenia and increased neutrophil counts. However, whether the immune abnormalities observed in mild to severely infected patients persist into convalescence remains unclear. Herein, comparisons were drawn between the immune responses of COVID-19 infected and convalescent adults. Strikingly, survivors of severe COVID-19 had decreased proportions of NKT and Vδ2 T cells, and increased proportions of low-density neutrophils, IgA+/CD86+/CD123+ non-classical monocytes and hyperactivated HLADR+CD38+ CD8+ T cells, and elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as hepatocyte growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor A, long after virus clearance. Our study suggests potential immune correlates of “long COVID-19”, and defines key cells and cytokines that delineate true and quasi-convalescent states

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years