Hawaiʻi Rare Plant Genetics Workshop

Integrating field and molecular approaches to advance plant conservation in Hawaii, Oct 2021 – March 2022

Supported by the National Tropical Botanical Garden, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, and the National Science Foundation (DEB 1753659, 1753664, 1750373, 1752785)

The goals of the workshop are to better understand how the latest molecular research, especially in the field of genomics, can benefit the ongoing challenges we face in plant conservation in Hawaiʻi, and to determine when and how to incorporate molecular techniques into species recovery and management. We would like to discuss and identify what particular techniques and methods are most appropriate for a variety of questions and challenges we face regularly as we work to prevent species extinctions. In the end, we hope to develop a decision tree for when and how best to utilize molecular techniques in plant conservation practices in Hawaiʻi, as well as a prioritization scheme that allows us to prioritize resources to fund and carry out the highest priority research.

This workshop is open to all interested in plant conservation in Hawaiʻi, and who would like to hear about the role molecular techniques may play in conservation efforts of rare plants. This workshop series aims to not only strengthen the connection between conservation and research, but provide examples and discuss how to develop research questions and tailor research to directly benefit efforts to prevent plant extinctions

Website continuously updated. Check back for detailed program for topic 1 on this website!

Please complete this form to register for the Hawaiʻi Rare Plant Genetics Workshop.
See further registration details below or in the form.

Workshop Program Oct 2021 – March 2022

This series of workshops will consist of invited talks and discussions with and among participants.

Workshop Kick-off

Oct 25. 8-11am HST. The goal of the day is to provide examples and information on how working together can save plants from extinction as well as background on what molecular tools are and how they have been used to help provide a foundation for how to move forward with discussions on the role molecular techniques may provide in helping conserve the Hawaiian flora.

8:00am: Opening Protocol
8:05am: Introduction
8:10am: Welcome – Chipper Wichman, President of National Tropical Botanical Garden
8:30am: Steve Weller – Connecting Conservation and Plant Evolutionary Ecology: Collaborating Across Disciplines
9:00am: Mike Moore – Challenges with Species Boundaries and Relationships in the Genomics Era
9:30am: Angela McDonnell and Norm Wickett – An overview of molecular techniques used in plant evolutionary and conservation studies
10:00am: Cliff Morden – What Have Genetic Studies of Hawaiian Plants Told Us?
10:30am: Matt Keir – The Role of Genetics in Rescuing Plants: Examples from Hawaiʻi’s Plant Extinction Prevention Program
10:45am: Closing Remarks – Warren Wagner

Topic 1: Identifying taxa: Considerations for molecular techniques in classifying taxa in Hawaiʻi

Oct 26, 9-11am HST. The goal of the day is to meet new people and learn a bit about some of the collaborators who will be participating and answering questions related to the role of molecular work in conservation.

9:00am: ʻōlelo noʻeau & introductions
9:05am: Description of the Workshop Series
- Housekeeping
- Registrants Summary
- Goals of workshop
9:30am – Speaker Introductions

Nov 1, 9-11am HST. The goal of the day is to hear about how new species and hybrids are discovered and to understand which molecular techniques may be helpful in describing new species or identifying hybrids between two taxa.

9:00am: ʻōlelo noʻeau
9:05am – Hank Oppenheimer – Genetics and Plant Conservation on Maui
9:30am – Discussion on what molecular tools are most appropriate and when, and what material is needed
Cyrtandra
- 10:00am – Josh VanDeMark – Examples of taxonomic uncertainty in Cyrtandra on Hawaiʻi island
- 10:15am – Eric Roalson – Patterns and Processes of Diversification in Hawaiian Cyrtandra
- 10:30am – Cyrtandra and general hybrid discussion: how to determine hybrids and what to do to protect rare species

Nov 15, 9-11am HST. To hear about how species relationships impact conservation efforts and how molecular techniques may help resolve uncertainty among relationships.

9:05am – ʻōlelo noʻeau
9:10am – Scott Heintzman, Susan Deans, and Adam Williams: Kaua’i Conundrums: Puzzling Polyscias, and Dubious Delissea
9:25am – Chris Havran, Susan Ching: Conservation of endemic Hawaiian Violaceae through sustained partnerships
9:40am – Jason Cantley: Unresolved relationships, unresolved answers: evolution of rare Hawaiian Tetramolopium taxa
10:00am – Steve Hunter: Hawaiian Lobeliads (Campanulaceae): hybridization and a phylogenetic hypothesis
10:30am – Discussion on what molecular techniques would help address questions related to unresolved phylogenies and when they are appropriate to use

Dec 6, 9-11am HST. Theme 1 Conclusions: Recommendations for what techniques to use & when for questions related to defining species; discuss best practices for incorporating molecular research into species descriptions.

Topic 2. Managing taxa: Using population genetics to guide ex situ collections and reintroduction design.

Jan 10, 9-11am HST. Applying genetics to plant recovery. The goal of the day is to discuss how we apply population genetics to plant recovery.

9:00am – Welcome
9:05am – ʻōlelo noʻeau
9:10am – Joyce Maschinski, President and CEO of the Center for Plant Conservation – Applications of Genetics & Genomics to Rare Plant Recovery
9:40am – Christy Edwards, Stephen and Camilla Brauer Associate Scientist, Conservation Genetics, Missouri Botanical Garden – Using conservation genetics to inform conservation efforts for endangered plants
10:15 – 10:20am – Break
10:20am: Speaker Introductions

Jan 11, 9-11am HST. Ex situ conservation. The goal of the day is to discuss how we maximize effectiveness of ex situ collections.

9:00am – Welcome
9:05am – ʻōlelo noʻeau
9:10am – Kobey Togikawa & Miles Thomas, Oʻahu Plant Extinction Prevention Program – Challenges within ex situ conservation
9:30am – Seana Walsh, Conservation Biologist at the National Tropical Botanical Garden & Jeremie Fant, Conservation Scientist at the Chicago Botanic Garden – Improving ex situ plant population management
10:00am – Break
10:05am: Discussion

Jan 24, 9-11am HST. Reintroduction Planning Considerations, Part I.

9:00am – Welcome
9:05am – ʻōlelo noʻeau
9:10am – Erin Datlof, David Cole, Josh VanDeMark, and Rob Robichaux, Hawaiʻi Island Plant Extinction Prevention Program & Hawaiian Silversword Foundation – Challenges and Considerations for Genetic Management of Hawaiʻi Island PEP Plants
9:40am – Jill Hamilton, Director of Schatz Center in Tree Molecular Genetics and Ibberson Chair of Silviculture Research at Pennsylvania State University – Leveraging the conservation genetics toolkit: applying genomic and phenotypic data to rare species conservation and management action
10:15 -10:20 – Break
10:20am: Discussion

Feb 14, 9-11am HST. Reintroduction Planning Considerations, Part II.

9:00am – Welcome
9:05am – ʻōlelo noʻeau
9:10am – Ane Bakutis, Susan Ching Harbin, Matt Keir, Hank Oppenheimer, Zach Pezzillo, Plant Extinction Prevention Program & State of Hawaiʻi DOFAW – Translocation Considerations and Planning for Multi-island PEP Plants
10:00am -10:05am – Break
10:05am: Discussion

March 7, 8-11am HST. Next steps – review of draft standards: How do we incorporate molecular techniques into species recovery plans and management? Draft decision tree for incorporating molecular techniques into plant conservation in Hawaiʻi & prioritization scheme for what projects are most critical to initiate.

8:00am – Welcome
8:05am – ʻōlelo noʻeau – James Kwon
8:10am – Review of latest Considerations for Assessing Genomic Approaches to Inform Conservation Decisions – Krissa Skogen
8:40am – Review of latest Summary of Genomic Approaches – Angela McDonnell
9:10am – Incorporating phased alleles to reconstruct a recent and rapid radiation in Schiedea (Caryophyllaceae) – Elena Loke
9:30am – Break
9:35am – Breakouts
10:20am: Discussion
10:50am: Wrap-up & What’s next

Organizing Committee:

Lauren Weisenberger (USFWS), Matt Keir (State of Hawaiʻi), Stephen Weller and Ann Sakai (U California Irvine), Warren Wagner (NTBG, Smithsonian NMNH), Michael Moore (Oberlin College), Krissa Skogen, Norman Wickett, and Angela McDonnell (Chicago Botanic Garden), Nina Rønsted (NTBG)

Registration is required and is FREE and open to anyone interested!

Please complete this form to register for the Hawaiʻi Rare Plant Genetics Workshop

Please register by Monday, Oct. 18th, 2021.

A Zoom link will be emailed to you in advance of the first session on October 25th.
Otherwise, you can register up to 24 hours in advance of each workshop session.
You only need to complete this form once, regardless of how many sessions you plan to attend.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you!