Photo By Lance Cpl. Samuel Estridge | James Rogala, a natural resource specialist with the Marine Corps Base Hawaii’s...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII – The Nu’upia ponds wildlife management area on MCBH is a common hiking and scenic experience open to Marines and their families. This month, while removing invasive plants from the protected waters, MCBH Environmental Compliance and Protection Division (ECPD) personnel made an unexpected discovery: the hippocampus kuda.
The hippocampus kuda, or common seahorse, is native to the Hawaiian islands and can commonly be found in shallow waterways, such as the Nu’upia ponds. While seahorses have been found in the ponds, populations and sightings have dwindled in recent decades. While volunteering during the Weed Warriors event, aimed at removing invasive mangrove trees from the edge of the pond’s water, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert Shuford, a volunteer, casually remarked on seeing a seahorse in the waters. Upon hearing this, Dain Christensen, the ECPD Natural Resource Manager, rushed over to verify the identity of the elusive creature.
ECPD plans to conduct an environmental DNA test in partnership with the Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology to help determine population and overall health of the seahorses. ECPD hopes to find a baseline population level to apply appropriate management efforts for the seahorses and continue to provide positive support for their habitat. While the seahorses make their reintroduction into the ponds, ECPD strives to maintain new and old populations of native plants and animals.
“We are not doing farming, aquaculture, or selecting species. We are trying to maximize the pond's biodiversity,” said Christensen.
The seahorses serve as a testament to the water quality and cleanliness of the ponds. They possess poor swimming abilities and the inability to migrate efficiently, alongside a high sensitivity to pollution. MCBH is dedicated in protecting native plant and animal life.
ECPD continues conservation efforts daily for all wildlife on MCBH with regulations, including prohibited fishing in the ponds. If you would like to help the local environment, you can contact ECPD for volunteer opportunities at: (808) 496-7129.
| Date Taken: | 10.28.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 10.31.2024 17:26 |
| Story ID: | 484101 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 98 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Something’s In The Water: MCBH ECPD Discovers Seahorses in Nu’upia Ponds, by LCpl Hunter Jones, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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