What Makes A Healthy Reef? By Kyle Takayama December 2012

A Healthy Reef Lots of limu 510 different types of native species. Herbivores- (plant eaters) like fish Carnivores- (meat eaters) like sharks Living coral-habitat and food for marine creatures

A Balanced Food Chain Shark (large) Ahi (medium) Humuhumunukunukuapua‘a (small) Algae a.k.a. Limu (base of chain) A Balanced Food Chain

An Unbalanced Reef System Invasive species-such as algae blocks sunlight Too much nutrients-fertilizer and animal waste No creatures living in reef The coral bleaches (turns white) and dies

What Are Invasives? Invasive species are plants or animals that takes over an area and harm our native plants and animals. The invasive species also come from a different area. They also multiply at a fast rate. 1 spore can make 1,000 new plants. Invasive seaweed 5 different species of invasive species. Roi fish Roi eat a wide variety of reef fish.

Gorilla Ogo (Gracilaria Salicornia) Yellow if growing in sunny spots, dark green or brown when grown in shaded areas Grows in calm, protected waters Native to the Indian Ocean and South Pacific. Grows quickly, forming large, thick mats over the reef, overgrowing and killing coral and other seaweeds. Oahu: Introduced to Waikiki and Kaneohe Bay in Can be found in Kaneohe Bay and from Maunaloa Bay to Pearl Harbor.

Acanthophora Spicifera Known as the “Spiny Seaweed” Grows to an average of 40 cm. Found on every Hawaiian island except for the Big Island and Niihau. Has branches which have all kinds of spikes.

What Can We Do?? Volunteer to pull out all the of invasive species like Gracilaria Salicornia or Acanthophora Spicifera. Invasive seaweed is given to any organization to use for compost.

Education Teach people about invasive seaweed and the native species. Try to help with the reproduction of the coral reef, or native seaweed. Plant collector sea urchins because they eat the invasive seaweed.