From Plant Press, Vol. 20, No. 3, July 2017.
The Smithsonian’s Marine Global Earth Observatory (MarineGEO) hosted a two-week bioblitz in Kaneʻohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaiʻi, at the end of May. This was a large-scale inventory including researchers, students, and volunteers working to collect and observe all algae, micro- and macro-fauna, fish and samples from Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS). During the bioblitz all participants lived and worked on Coconut Island, a 28-acre island in the bay, a quarter mile off the windward side of Oahu.
Participants of the Bioblitz Team Limu (left to right): Barrett Brooks, Seaenna Correa-Garcia, Melinda Peters, Claire Lager, Celia Smith, and Scott Chulakote. (photo by Laurie Penland)
Barrett Brooks and Melinda Peters were part of the limu (the Hawaiian word for seaweed) team and the goal was to collect and record the algae found in the bay. They were joined by Celia Smith (University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa), who specializes in reef algae systems, and an amazing group of students—Laurie Penland, Emily Frost, Sarah Vasconcellos, Scott Chulakote, Nicole Yamase, Seaenna Correa-Garcia, Laica Arcibal, Eileen Nalley, Lindsay Tanabe, Megan Onuma, and Cory Pittman (KANI). The students helped collect and process samples each day.

Left: Participants of the Bioblitz Team Limu (clockwise from bottom left): Laica Arcibal, Sarah Vasconcellos, Barrett Brooks, and Seaenna Correa-Garcia. (photo by Emily Frost). Right: A sample of collected algae specimens during the Kaneʻohe Bay Bioblitz. (photo by Barrett Brooks)
To understand the diversity of species and abundance levels, the group collected some 440 samples from across the bay. The collecting methods employed the use of digging tools and standard bags. Samples were then sorted, documented, pickled in vials, and tissue samples stored in silica gel and liquid nitrogen. Pressed vouchers were made when possible. About 33 percent of the samples were identified to genus or species. Molecular data will help determine the identifications of the remaining samples.
Processing algae specimens during the Kaneʻohe Bay Bioblitz. (photo by Melinda Peters)
On the last day of collecting at the northern point of the bay, the team found the invasive, Avrainvillea amadelpha. The species has been found in other parts of Oah’u, but had not been previously documented in this bay. It establishes itself in tight clusters and out-competes native species such as the seagrasses (Halophila hawaiiana). This was a disappointing find, but also a positive example of why assessments like this are so important.