‘Coral are going to die’: Maui wildfires take toxic toll on marine ecology

A grave threat to coral reefs and ocean ecosystems in Maui

As the toll from Maui’s catastrophic wildfires continues to climb, experts warn that the disaster also poses a grave threat to the coral reefs and delicate ocean ecosystems that surround the devastated town of Lahaina.

The impact of the wildfires on marine habitats

Layers of charred soils and toxic contaminants were left among the wreckage, where thousands of buildings and blackened cars lie in smoldering ruins. The conflagration that claimed more lives than any other US wildfire in the last century burned to the shoreline, littering underwater habitats with scorched boats and debris. The ashen aftermath could end up wreaking more havoc if allowed to slip into the aquatic environment.

“The areas that burned are right by the ocean and all the vegetation cover was burned,” said Luiz Rocha, ichthyology curator at the California Academy of Sciences, who added that rains could soon wash the topsoil into the sea, inundating marine habitats with toxic sediment.

Ash and runoff from the fire could be deadly for the reef-building corals that thrive in pollutant-free waters where light can reach them. The underwater invertebrates that typically feed on plankton do not have the ability to distinguish food from filth and may also ingest the harmful runoff.

“It is going to heavily damage the coral reefs,” he said. “They depend on clear water to survive.”

Long-lasting impact on reefs

The reefs, including those around Lahaina, are ecologically important for fish and also serve as a shield against the breaking surf that could otherwise eat away more of the coastline.

Further damage is expected to have long-term effects on the island’s ecosystems, especially because a series of other threats – from warming ocean temperatures to plastic pollution – have already weakened the reefs, making them even more vulnerable to the fire’s aftermath.

Along with issues stemming from increased sediment and toxic contaminants flowing into the water, experts are concerned that the runoff could trigger harmful algal blooms.

Considered culturally important to Native Hawaiians, the vibrant coral reef is also a tourism lure that helps to sustain the islands’ economy. Home to native fish populations and other aquatic creatures, the health of the reef is also closely tied to sustenance on the island.

Maui’s Olowalu reef, where the largest manta ray population in the US can be found, could be among those at risk – especially as the threats from fire continue to rise.

“You have a reef that is already damaged by many other things and then you have a sedimentation event on top of that,” Rocha said. “A lot more coral are going to die.”

Climate change has been the biggest driver in the decline of coral, and reefs in West Maui also help produce coral larvae that replenish reefs across the islands of Maui, Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe, according to Rob Ferguson, a coral reef watershed management specialist associated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s coral reef conservation program. “These reefs have high concentrations of endemic marine species that don’t live anywhere else in the world,” he said.

Invasive grasses pose new threats

Danger still lurks beneath the singed soils, where the seeds of invasive grasses that have replaced much of Hawaii’s native vegetation and helped power the flames lie ready to sprout again.

Acres of abandoned farmland, once powerhouse producers of pineapples and sugarcane or cleared for cattle, have now become fire-prone fields creating tinderbox conditions as the island’s landscapes have dried and warmed. Scorched slopes can quickly resprout, and set the stage for the next ignition to turn into an inferno.

“Those invasive grasses will have no problem coming back,” said Jon Keeley, a senior scientist with the United States Geographical Survey’s western ecological research center. The aggressive plants retain their robust roots even after stalks are consumed by flames and, because they are adapted to fire, can come back even stronger after a blaze while native seedlings languish. Once established, they spread quickly and are difficult to eradicate.

The plants have spread quickly in recent years and now cover roughly 25% of Hawaii’s landscapes, according to research from the University of Hawaii, Manoa, according to wildland fire specialist Clay Trauernicht, who has long warned about the growing dangers and called for more eradication efforts.

The shift has worsened fire conditions on landscapes that once rarely ignited, and helped usher in more opportunities for dangerous grassland fires that burn hot and fast.

“They have a positive feedback cycle,” said Brad Shaffer, professor for the department of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Los Angeles.

As cleanup efforts begin to commence in Maui, Keeley and Shaffer agreed that opportunities exist to eradicate the invasive plants – but the work will probably be arduous and expensive. Managing the growth of highly flammable grasses around communities could also help slow flames and prevent the next tragedy from occurring.

The big issue is what Maui can actually do to avoid these situations in the future, Keeley said. “Fires in a forest don’t spread as fast as they do in grassland,” he added, noting that strong gusts easily moved the flames through these fields. “It is impossible to escape when you have grassfires and wind – this is certainly an example of that.”

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
   • Indicator 14.1.1: Index of coastal eutrophication and floating plastic debris density.

2. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
   • Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.
   • Indicator 15.1.2: Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type.

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 14: Life Below Water and SDG 15: Life on Land.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are:

• Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
• Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator 14.1.1: Index of coastal eutrophication and floating plastic debris density.
• Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.
• Indicator 15.1.2: Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: theguardian.com

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