NATURAL HISTORY

Natural History

of the

Hawaiian Islands

 

Botany/Zoology 450  Р  Spring 2009

 

Lectures: T, Th 10:30 Ð 11:20, HIG 110

                       

 

                                                Robert A. Kinzie                                Clifford W. Morden

                                                Department of Zoology                         Department of Botany

                                                Edmondson 255                                   St. John 602

                                                Ph: 956-6147                                       Ph: 956-9636

                                                E-mail: kinzie@hawaii.edu                    E-mail: cmorden@hawaii.edu

                                                                                                           

                                                                                                           

                       

COURSE READING MATERIAL

 

TERM PROJECTS AND REPORTS

 

SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS

 

GRADING POLICY: Exams, Quizzes, Projects, & WI Requirements

 

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Discussion Sessions and Quiz Schedule

 

Field Trips

 

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LECTURES

Required and Suggested readings are linked to each lecture below.  

Tapes of all lectures will be available in Sinclair Library.

 

 

Jan. 13             Introduction

                        Drs. Kinzie and Morden

 

                        Organization and outline of course.  Reading Materials, Field Trips, Exams, Written Reports: Definition of Natural History

 

  

Jan. 15             History of Scientific Knowledge in HawaiÔi

                        Dr. Morden 

 

                        The development of scientific knowledge about the Hawaiian Islands since the time of Captain Cook; Trends and emphases of biological investigations.

 

 

Jan. 20             The Hawaiian Islands: Orgin and Evolution: Geologic Features

                        Dr. John Sinton, Geology and Geophysics Department, UH Manoa. 

 

                        Geological History; High islands and low islands; Theories of origin; Dating; Erosion; Lava forms.

 

 

Jan. 22             Malama I Ka Aina: Native Hawaiian Traditions and Perspectives of the Natural Environment

                        Dr. Benton Keali`i Pang, U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service, Honolulu.

 

                        Origin, cultivation, culture, and use of various foods used by early Hawaiians

 

 

Jan. 27             Soils

                        Dr. Jonathan Deenik, Agronomy and Soil Science Department, UH Manoa.

 

                        Characterization of soils and how they are formed.

 

 

Jan. 29             Climatology

                        Dr. Tom Schroeder, Meteorology Department, UH Manoa. 

 

                        Weather and climates of the Hawaiian Islands.

 

 

Feb. 3              Geology of Hawaiian Reefs and Sea Level History

                        Dr. Chip Fletcher, Geology & Geophysics Department, UH Manoa.

 

                        Global warming, sea-level rise, and impacts in HawaiÔi

 

 

Feb. 5              The Oceanographic Climate 

                        R. Kinzie

 

                        The nature of the ocean surrounding the Hawaiian Islands Ð currents, temperatures, waves.

 

 

Feb. 10            The Biotic Environment and Biota of the Hawaiian Islands: Terrestrial. 

                        C. Morden.  

 

                        Past changes in climate and vegetation as revealed by studies of pollen, fossils, and glaciers; Dispersal mechanisms.

 

 

Feb. 12            The High Hawaiian Islands: Terrestrial Areas

                        C. Morden

 

                        Biogeoclimatic zones; Succession on new volcanic surfaces

 

 

Feb. 17            Water

                        R. Kinzie.

 

                        WaipiÔo  -  The water cycle and the importance of water in Hawaiian culture and history

 

 

Feb. 19            The High Hawaiian Islands (Part 1): Aquatic Systems

                        R. Kinzie.  

 

                        Aquatic ecosystems; derivation of Hawaiian marine biota; dispersal mechanisms; fossil history.

 

 

Feb. 24            The High Hawaiian Islands (Part 2): Processes in Inshore Aquatic Areas

                        R. Kinzie.  

 

                        Patterns of development of coral reefs in Hawaii. An example of ecological succession.

 

 

Feb. 26            Atolls: Biogenic Islands in Oceanic Deserts

                        R. Kinzie.  

 

                        "The coral reef problem." Theories of atoll origin; history of the controversy; topography, composition, and distribution; energy and material inputs, standing crops, productivity, and diversity.

 

 

Mar. 3              The Low Hawaiian Islands as Atolls

                        C. Morden. 

 

                        Typical and atypical features, comparisons with high islands.

 

  

Mar. 5           *********MIDTERM EXAMINATION**********

 

 

Mar. 10            Insular Evolution

                        C. Morden

 

                        A review of evolutionary processes that occur among radiations of Hawaiian flora and fauna

 

Mar. 12            Endemism and Evolution in the Hawaiian Biota: Plants 

                        C. Morden. 

 

                        General principles and specific examples.

 

 

Mar. 17            Endemism and Evolution in the Hawaiian Biota: Adaptive Radiation in plants

                        C. Morden. 

 

                        Adaptive radiation occurs in many plant groups; Focus on the Silversword Alliance.

 

 

Mar. 19            Endemism and Evolution in the Hawaiian Biota: Terrestrial Mollusks

                        Dr. Rob Cowie, Center for Conservation Research and Training, UH Manoa

 

                         Evolution and diversity of terrestrial mollusks in HawaiÔi and the Pacific; Impacts of alien mollusks

 

 

********** MARCH 24Ð 28    SPRING RECESS *************

 

 

Mar. 31            Endemism and Evolution in the Hawaiian Biota: Birds 

                        Dr. Sheila Conant, Zoology Department, UH Manoa

 

                        Diversity of Hawaiian avifauna; Sea birds and terrestrial birds; Conservation issues

 

 

Apr. 2              Surprise guest.

                       

 

Apr. 7              Hawaiian Stream Algae

                        Dr. Alison Sherwood, Botany Department, UH Manoa

 

                        Diversity of freshwater algae across islands and characteristics of algal ecology in streams

 

 

Apr. 9              Endemism and Evolution in the Hawaiian Biota: Insects 

                        Dr. Ken Kaneshiro, Center for Conservation Research and Training, UH Manoa

 

                        Diversity among Hawaiian insects with emphasis on adaptive radiation and sexual selection among Hawaiian drosophilids

 

 

Apr. 14            The Hawaiian Monk Seal 

                        Dr. Bud Antonelis, National Marine Fisheries Service, Honolulu, Hawaii

                       

                        Biology and threats to Hawaiian monk seals; conservation actions.

 

 

 Apr. 16           Evolutionary Ecology of Hawaiian Cave and Aeolian Ecosystems

                        Dr. Frank Howarth, Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii

 

                        Evolution in Hawaiian cave systems - diversity of organisms and sources of nutrients

 

 

Apr. 21            Hawaiian Science

                        Sam Gon, The Nature Conservancy of HawaiÔi

 

                        The intersection of Hawaiian knowledge of the environment and modern science.

 

 

Apr. 23            Archaeological and Cultural Studies in Hawaii: A 30 Year Perspective

                        Dr. Hal Hammatt, Cultural Surveys Hawaii

 

                        Processes in archaeological studies; examples of how recent studies have given insight into lives of early Hawaiian societies.

 

 

Apr. 28            Evolutionary Ecology of Hawaiian Freshwater Ecosystems

                        R. Kinzie.

 

                        ÒLife crawls upstreamÓ: Natural history of freshwater organisms and diversity of freshwater fauna.

 

 

Apr. 30            Effects of Humans on the Terrestrial Biota of the Hawaiian Islands

                        Dr. Don Drake, Botany Department, UH

 

                        Terrestrial conservation issues, conservation organizations, and efforts of conservation in HawaiÔi.

 

 

May 5              Effects of Humans on the Aquatic Biota of the Hawaiian Islands

                        R. Kinzie

 

                        Fishing pressures and conservation issues related to freshwater and marine ecosystems in Hawaii.

 

 

May 14       ***FINAL EXAMINATION***9:45 Ð 11:45***

Thursday