Monitoring the Phenology of Chromolaena odorata to Inform Management of an Incipient and Highly Invasive Species in Hawaiʻi

Master’s in Environmental Management (MEM) Capstone Report

Culturally Aligned and Community Engaged Invasive Species Removal Strategies for Pia Valley

A guide for removing invasive species and restoring the lands of Pia Valley using a biocultural restoration framework. By incorporating key cultural values and community voices, the strategies and recommendations provided in this guide are intended to lead to long term restoration success

Monitoring the Phenology of Chromolaena odorata to Inform Management of an Incipient and Highly Invasive Species in Hawaiʻi

Includes a 21 page paper titled: "Monitoring the Phenology of Chromolaena odorata to Inform Management of an Incipient and Highly Invasive Species in Hawaiʻi" and a 20 page presentation titled: "Samantha Shizuru Final Capstone Presentation"The invasion of nonnative species has negative impacts on ecological processes and ecosystem services, and these impacts are being exacerbated by global trade and climate change. In Hawaiʻi, invasive species, along with associated biodiversity loss and habitat degradation, are the greatest threat to the archipelago’s endemic biota. In 2011, Chromolaena odorata (Devil’s Weed), a globally dispersed invasive species, was first detected in the Kahuku Training Area (KTA) on the Island of O’ahu. Known as one of the world’s worst weeds, C. odorata is an aggressive colonizer of disturbed environments that, once established, creates dense monotypic stands that prevent the growth and regeneration of other species. Since its discovery in 2011, C. odorata has spread to occupy ~1,042 ha in KTA. The objective of this study was to develop a C. odorata phenology monitoring program to investigate the correlation between observed phenophases, seed germination, and climate variables to inform integrated weed management (IWM). To address this objective, I monitored the phenology (i.e., phenophases or life cycle events) and plant condition of C. odorata every two weeks in KTA for 12 months in five study sites and recorded monthly precipitation and temperature from the closest weather station. In addition, I collected soil samples in each study plot monthly and monitored seedling emergence in the greenhouse over 12 months. Overall, I found that flowering occurred between November – February and fruit set occurred between February – April, with smaller flowering and fruiting events in May – June and June – July, respectively. Monthly precipitation and temperature had strong explanatory power for both overall plant condition and productivity-related phenophases (i.e., flower production and seed drop). In addition, a positive correlation existed between seedling germination and the presence of flowers. Based on this information, chemical and mechanical control should be conducted between August and October to reduce large flowering events beginning in November. Overall, the results of this study will allow for the adjustment and optimization of IWM practices for this species based on phenophases that are more susceptible to weed control methods, as well as informing the use of phenology in controlling and managing invasive species more broadly

Anti-CD117 CAR T cells incorporating a safety switch eradicate human acute myeloid leukemia and hematopoietic stem cells

Discrimination between hematopoietic stem cells and leukemic stem cells remains a major challenge for acute myeloid leukemia immunotherapy. CAR T cells specific for the CD117 antigen can deplete malignant and healthy hematopoietic stem cells before consolidation with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in absence of cytotoxic conditioning. Here we exploit non-viral technology to achieve early termination of CAR T cell activity to prevent incoming graft rejection. Transient expression of an anti-CD117 CAR by mRNA conferred T cells the ability to eliminate CD117+ targets in vitro and in vivo. As an alternative approach, we used a Sleeping Beauty transposon vector for the generation of CAR T cells incorporating an inducible Caspase 9 safety switch. Stable CAR expression was associated with high proportion of T memory stem cells, low levels of exhaustion markers, and potent cellular cytotoxicity. Anti-CD117 CAR T cells mediated depletion of leukemic cells and healthy hematopoietic stem cells in NSG mice reconstituted with human leukemia or CD34+ cord blood cells, respectively, and could be terminated in vivo. The use of a non-viral technology to control CAR T cell pharmacokinetic properties is attractive for a first-in-human study in patients with acute myeloid leukemia prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Hawaiian black coral (Antipatharia) complete mitochondrial genomes have limited phylogenetic signal for taxonomic resolution of species

Most inferences about black coral (Antipatharia) phylogenetics have relied on a handful of molecular markers from PCR-Sanger methods but recently complete mitogenomes are shedding additional light on relationships. We present the most complete survey of shallow-water to mesophotic Hawaiian black corals (‘ēkaha kū moana) to date based on complete mitogenome sequences. The phylogenetic relationships inferred from whole-mitochondrial phylogenies recover Myriopathidae as monophyletic with Myriopathes and Tanacetipathes as the outgroups to all other Hawaiian black coral taxa. Combining our data with other published mitochondrial datasets for black corals, we find that morphologically similar Cirrhipathes cf. anguina specimens are divergent and may not be conspecifics. Likewise, the genera Antipathes and Stichopathes (family Antipathidae) include species that are more divergent from one another than they are to other genera in family Aphanipathidae. Overall, data show Myriopathidae is a monophyletic family, but the families Aphanipathidae and Antipathidae are polyphyletic, and the genera Antipathes and Stichopathes live up to their reputation as a “taxonomic dumping ground”. These phylogenetic analyses underscore the need for continued research to understand the evolutionary history and phylogenetic relationships for black corals generally and ‘ēkaha kū moana specifically