G15PS00449_Attch_3_NPS_protocols.pdf

Ant Sanitation Protocol for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

All 44 ant species in Hawaii are introduced. Many species have had disastrous ecological effects on other invertebrates and plants reliant on invertebrate pollinators. For example, the spread of Argentine ants across Haleakala Crater has resulted in a severe decline in native arthropods including pollinators of the Haleakala silversword. All vehicles going above 5,000 foot elevation in Kahuku will be sanitized for ants prior to arriving in the target area. This protocol is largely directed at preventing ants from getting established in Kahuku above the Kau Forest Reserve and upper Mauna Loa Strip. The biggest threats to this area are the big-headed ant and the Argentine ant. The protocol will also be applied to the area of Kahuku above Honomolino where Argentine ants are not yet established (Big-headed ants are established here). In vehicles, ants typically occupy the cab areas, persisting on food stuffs. They may also be in packs, equipment, or supplies, potting material, plants, or fill material. Occasionally they can be in debris in the undercarriage in the beds of pickups or in the engine compartment, e.g. under the battery. The potential for ant dispersal by vehicles is greater if they are parked in an area infested with ants.

Big headed Ant Argentine Ant

These procedures must be followed for all vehicles, from the park, other agencies, or privately owned going above 5,000 foot elevation in Kahuku and on the Mauna Loa Strip. The sanitation can be done at Maintenance, Research Center, or Kahuku.

1. Use high pressure hoses to clean wheel wells, bumpers, grill, fenders, and side panels behind wheel.

2. Visually inspect the engine compartment including the area under the battery. .

3. The interior of all vehicles will be inspected, cleared of rubbish, and vacuumed before entering Kahuku.

4. Check all packs and other personal gear for ants.

5. Deploy baited sticky traps in the vehicle to detect ants. A sticky trap (e.g.

Catchmaster), baited with small amounts of peanut butter (for ants attracted to

PR #2006-009 (Revised) May 8th, 2006

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Two sticky traps will be used in SUVs (one in cab under the seat and one in engine compartment). Three will be placed in pickups (one in cab bed, and engine compartment). The baited sticky traps are only useful for detection but do not effectively control ants.

Decision support: If a vehicle is found to have ants, it will not be driven above 5,000 foot elevation in Kahuku until it is free of ants. Infested vehicles will be sanitized by deploying poison bait stations (e.g. Maxforce) in vehicles (per label instructions) and continually monitoring for ant presence with baited sticky traps.

The following programmatic measures will be taken at Resource Management to reduce the opportunities for ants to become established in Resource Management vehicles.

1. All foodstuffs will be removed from the vehicles at the end of the workday and during the Monday morning inspection.

2. Monitoring bait stations will be deployed in the Research Center area. If ants are detected, bait toxicant will be applied per label instructions.

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Is Your Vehicle Coqui-Free?

Coqui tree frogs are new to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Aside from being a major noise nuisance, the frogs pose a threat to Hawai'i’s island ecosystem. A thousand frogs can live on less than one acre of thickly vegetated land and eat large numbers of native insects and spiders.

These un-welcomed visitors enter the park primarily on vehicles, supplies and plant materials arriving from infested places.

Please Help Reduce the Number of Coqui Reaching Hawaii Volcanoes NP

Coqui frog numbers are greatest at lower elevations around the island, especially where it is humid, moist and thick with vegetation. When every tree is occupied by one or two calling male frogs, those left without a “home” will venture outwards. They will cross pavement in the evenings if they have to, looking for unoccupied trees. They often take refuge on parked vehicles. If the vehicle starts moving the frog often stays with it. Hundreds of coqui already made the journey of 25 to 30 miles, only to be discovered and recovered by Park coqui patrols.

This happened roughly 75 times in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, in 2007 alone. You can help reduce the spread of coqui into the park by taking the following measures:

Decontaminate or Isolate

DECONTAMINATE vehicles and equipment coming to Park from infested areas by:

Commercial car-wash prior to heading to Park.

Hose vehicle with pressurized water (hot water works even better).

Especially truck beds, car bumpers and wheel wells, also check under the hood.

ISOLATE vehicles and equipment from the infestation, while parked overnight or in storage, by:

1. Park and store equipment in enclosed, coqui-free garage.

2. Maintain a coqui-free buffer around carports, homes and other structures.

AVOID bringing contaminated material to the Park, by:

Inspecting plant material and fill, including soils prior to coming to the Park. If infestations are found do not bring the infested material to the Park.

Photo by Wolfie Thomas, HVNP.

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Weed Sanitation Protocol for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, 03/31/09

Alien plants have a devastating effect upon native ecosystems in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Invasion by alien plants reduces native biodiversity and abundance by displacing the native vegetation and impacting the insects and birds that depend on native plants. At their very worst, ecologically disruptive alien species (e.g,.

faya tree, fountain grass, strawberry guava kahili ginger) are able to completely takeover native ecosystems by disrupting water and nutrient cycles, and disturbance regimes (e.g. increased fire frequency and forest gap creation) making restoration difficult if not impossible. The park devotes substantial efforts to eradicate or prevent the further spread of disruptive alien weeds inorder to protect native ecosystems from their devastating effects.

New weeds threaten to invade the park from outside areas. For example, the first individuals of Australian tree fern were found in Thurston rainforest in 2001. Individuals of miconia occur in housing developments near the park. Within the park, small localized weed populations have the potential to move to pristine or uninfested areas. Preventing the movement of disruptive weeds from infested to uninfested areas within the park and from outside areas into the park is a high priority. Many of these weeds are brought in inadvertently as seeds or plant parts that hitch hike on vehicles, equipment, persons, and animals.

Sanitation protocols address ways to minimize movement of weeds within and from outside the park by individuals, vehicles and equipment.

Bringing Vehicles, Equipment and Material from Outside the Park:

1. Inspect and clean all vehicles, equipment and material (including fill) before bringing to the park.

Vehicles and equipment are sanitized using high pressure hoses to clean wheel wells, bumpers, grill, fenders, and side panels behind wheel. If a pressurized hose is not available, than a hose with spray nozzle attachment can be used. The interior of all vehicles will be inspected, cleared of rubbish, all food items removed and vacuumed

2. Following completion of project, work sites will be inspected and invasive weeds treated for upto one year following completion of project.

For individuals who routinely work in the field:

1. Before taking vehicles into the field, clean exterior of vehicles using high pressure hoses to clean wheel wells, bumpers, grill, fenders, and side panels behind wheel. If a pressurized hose is not available, than a hose with spray nozzle attachment can be used. The interior of all vehicles will be inspected, cleared of rubbish, all food items removed and vacuumed. Check and clean all packs, tools and other personal gear and equipment for weeds and plant parts before loading into vehicles.

2. Before going into the field, visually inspect and clean your clothes, boots, pack, radio harness, tools and other personal gear and equipment, for seeds and plant parts. A small brush is handy for cleaning boots, equipment and gear.

3. Immediately after returning from the field, visually inspect and clean your clothes, boots, pack, radio harness, tools and other personnel gear and equipment, for seeds and plant parts. Vehicles interiors will be swept out daily with a wisk brush

Decision support:

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1. Keep work clothes and equipment separate from personal gear used for non-work related hiking, hunting and camping outside of park. Do not throw out vegetables or fruit containing seeds in the field, bag it out.

2. If the inspection and sanitation of vehicles, equipment and personnel gear cannot be implemented, then these items shall not be allowed into the field or worksite.

3. No pack animals will be used in upper elevation Kahuku (e.g. above the cattle pastures), until protocols for preventing movement of weeds by pack animals can be developed.

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