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Published on October 15, 2024
Invasive Seaweeds Threaten Native Marine Ecosystems in Honolulu, UH Mānoa Research IndicatesSource: Unsplash/ K. Mitch Hodge

Honolulu's underwater ecosystem is facing an invasion from invasive seaweeds, not aliens. Research from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa highlights that seaweeds like "gorilla ogo" and "spiny seaweed" are thriving in nearshore waters, especially in areas where salinity levels change due to submarine groundwater discharge, as reported by Big Island Now.

The issue is serious because it affects the entire marine ecosystem, including the seafood we eat. While walking along the shores of Hilo, Oʻahu, and Maui, it’s easy to overlook how important native limu is for coral reef health. Recent research shows that invasive seaweeds are tougher and are out-competing native Hawaiian limu, which is crucial to the marine food web. This situation relates to larger concerns about ocean health and land use practices, as noted by Maui News.

Veronica Gibson, a postdoctoral researcher at the UH Mānoa Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology and Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve, emphasized the importance of these findings. "Understanding how invasive seaweed outcompetes native limu is crucial to furthering our knowledge about reefs and ocean environments," Gibson told Big Island Now. The challenge for these invasive species comes from their strong adaptability to harsh conditions, internal chemistry that handles changing salt levels, and survival tactics like thinner cell walls in affected areas.

Further research is being conducted to strengthen the resilience of native limu, understand the effects of these changes on food webs and coral health, and connect these studies to watershed management practices that address nutrient pollution. Joining Gibson in this research are Angelene Dedloff and Professor Celia Smith from the UH Mānoa School of Life Sciences, along with Lisa Miller from Kapiʻolani Community College, as mentioned in both Big Island Now and Maui News.