1. Introduction I spent June 2013 on O ʻ ahu learning about the conservation issues in Hawai ʻ i and the work of different organizations on these issues. As part of my work with PEP and the Lyon Arboretum, I learned about the threats to and worked on the management strategies for H. oahuensis. My research had three main strategies: (1)Reduce rat population size in the field (2)Hand-pollinate this species in the field (3)Interview individuals about the known obstacles and threats to this species Methods Worked hands-on in Hawai ʻ i with this species and hiked up to a site in the Pahole Natural Area Reserve of the Wai ʻ anae Mountains (see Figure 2) Cleaned out all rat traps near the species Hand-pollinated each blooming flower with pollen from another individual of this species located in a nearby valley (see Figure 3) Attached a camera to a tree to take a picture of a bud daily that was emailed to PEP Interviewed experts on this species and Hawaiian conservation about threats to this species Results Hand-pollinated the two individual plants that had flowers (see Figure 4) Interviewed individuals from the Lyon Arboretum and PEP about threats to this species Conclusions Hand-pollination efforts should continue Different micropropagation techniques should be attempted Efforts should be made to protect this species from ungulates and rats Acknowledgements I would like to extend my thanks to the following: Anukriti Hittle from Washington University Nellie Sugii, Peter Wiggin, and Cindy Nose from the Lyon Arboretum WU Environmental Studies Program WU Office of Undergraduate Research WU Career Center References 1 Oahu Blank Map – Hawaii Maps. Map. Hawaii Maps. Mapsof.net, 2012. Web. 5 Oct. 2013. 2 5-Year Review: Short Form Summary. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 2009. Web. 15 Sept. 2013. Background Hawaiian Islands are a biodiversity hotspot Hesperomannia oahuensis is a critically endangered plant species found only in the Wai ʻ anae Mountains of O ʻ ahu, Hawai ʻ i (see Figures 1, 2) 6-10 original individuals of this species remain This species is managed by the O ʻ ahu Plant Extinction Prevention Program (PEP) Figure 3: Susan Ching- Harbin of PEP hand- pollinating a flower of H. oahuensis on the Pahole Natural Area Reserve Figure 4: Two flowers of H. oahuensis post hand- pollination Figure 2: The habitat surrounding H. oahuensis Figure 1 1 : Map indicating the location of H. oahuensis on O ʻ ahu Threats Identified to Critically Endangered Hawaiian Species, Hesperomannia oahuensis Margaret Beetstra Hokule ʻ a Program, Washington University in St. Louis Discussion Not all plants on Pahole were pollinated because their flowers were not in bloom. Botanists must go to field sites multiple times a year to monitor the plants. Some individuals were not expected to bloom. In-lab (micropropagation) techniques to clone this plant have failed. H. oahuensis decline is caused by (see Figure 5): Decrease in seed viability Unknown insect eating portions of the seeds Naturally low pollen viability Ungulates and rats disturbing the species Flowers removed for lei-making Natural pollinator is extinct