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Liza Simon Public Outreach Coordinator Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources liza_a_simon@exec.state.hi.us Tel: (808)587-0365 Fax:(808)587-0115 Kalanimoku Building 1151 Punchbowl St. Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 |
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SCIENTISTS SURPRISED BY NUMBER OF ALIEN INSECTS ON NIHOA ISLAND
Entomologist Gordon Nishida from the Bishop Museum reported an
apparently high number of alien insects found on the fairly undisturbed
island of Nihoa in the northwestern end of Hawaii's chain of islands. "The extent of alien insects on Nihoa is
surprising," said Nishida. "The
"Many of them were found feeding on native plants, perhaps causing significant damage. Others may be feeding on native insect species. Their impacts on the island's native populations are unclear," explained Nishida.
"What's even more surprising is the comparison of alien introductions of insects as compared to plants and animals," said Beth Flint, bird biologist from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. "Nihoa is a relatively undisturbed ecosystem. Of the 26 plant species that have ever been found there, only 6 were alien. We only found 2 of these non-natives on this trip. There are no non-native birds or mammals on Nihoa. When you have rather intact plant and bird communities, it is unusual to find such an imbalance when it comes to insects," Flint continued.
Nihoa has been able to remain a relatively pristine place because access to the island is very difficult. Steep cliffs and ocean swells often prohibit human visitation, which is the primary cause of alien species introductions. As a result, all visits to the island are strictly regulated and require special quarantine protocols
IN OTHER NEWS:
Coral and fish researchers completed their third and final set of
dives
around the island of Nihoa. The 2
teams conducted their first rapid ecological
assessments of the research trip and will report on their initial findings
later during the expedition. The sites they surveyed were selected by
the companion research vessel, the NOAA Townsend Cromwell, which conducted
towboarding surveys of the island on September
10.
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