08-30-2014, 01:10 AM
quote:
Originally posted by steve1
What is really needed is a combination of insects, fungi, mycoplasmas and other small critters that attack only a single species or a limited group of species within a genus or family we wouldn't mind harming here in Hawaii.
The real solution is to send a team of scientists/ researchers to the native habitat of the invasive species and find what natural parasites/ predators have co-evolved with the invasive species and to import and release them here in order to try to balance the population.
No, just NO. This idea has been tried for over 100 years and lead to nothing but disaster after disaster. In fact, it would be very difficult to find an example where this lunkhead idea has worked without unexpected consequences larger than the original problem.
It comes from this witless namby-pamby perception that "if it's natural, it must be good". Poison hemlock is natural, infected ticks are natural, even tape worms are natural. Are these "good"?
What is "natural" on one continent doesn't mean it's "natural" on another continent. Look at how this approach has ravaged Australia. Look up the efforts with poisonous cane toads and European rabbits. In Hawaii, it has been one invasive species introduction after another that are destroying entire ecosystems. The mongoose was introduced to combat the large rat population resulting from large scale sugar cane fields. Problem is mongoose likes to eat bird eggs a lot more than fight with a rat.
This idea of "transplant biology" is the worst idea for combating invasives and the least effective. Almost every single effort of introducing non-native lifeforms has completely failed. Chemicals work and they tend to disperse or decompose over time. Reproducing lifeforms do not. Put this introducing non-native species at the bottom of the options list.
"We come in peace!" - First thing said by missionaries and extraterrestrials
*Japanese tourist on bus through Pahoa, "Is this still America?*