07-18-2008, 03:12 AM
Compared to the historical rate of introduction of new species, Hawaii is experiencing a landslide of introductions in modern times. That is the big difference. We also tend to judge things by our own lifetime. I can't think of a good example but imagine a native organism, perhaps the Nene goose. When it first showed up it may have had a profound effect on the other flora and fauna, causing a real upset lasting hundreds of years, but we weren't around to see it. Pure speculation of course but it may be that ANY new organism is a real PITA until it and the rest of the ecosystem mesh together. Of course, hurricanes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions are all natural too and I don't want to experience them in my lifetime.
Interesting side note: In my reading about coqui frogs I read about a study done in Lava Tree State Park. Rats and mongooses were trapped and their stomach contents were analyzed. They had eaten hardly any coquis, like none for the rats and only 1 coqui in a mongoose. The concern is that large numbers of coquis will support large numbers of bird predators, indirectly increasing predation on birds. This study did not support that hypothesis. Also read that analysis of coqui contents showed they did not eat a lot of mosquitos, but did eat a lot of bugs found in leaf litter, from where they hide during the day. Supposedly they "parachute" down from trees in early morning, just jumping off and landing with a plop, then crawl back up in the evening. Seems like such regular behavior could somehow be exploited. The effectiveness of those T-shaped traps made of PVC pipe is increased 5-fold when medfly attractant is placed nearby, so seems they like fruit flys.
Interesting side note: In my reading about coqui frogs I read about a study done in Lava Tree State Park. Rats and mongooses were trapped and their stomach contents were analyzed. They had eaten hardly any coquis, like none for the rats and only 1 coqui in a mongoose. The concern is that large numbers of coquis will support large numbers of bird predators, indirectly increasing predation on birds. This study did not support that hypothesis. Also read that analysis of coqui contents showed they did not eat a lot of mosquitos, but did eat a lot of bugs found in leaf litter, from where they hide during the day. Supposedly they "parachute" down from trees in early morning, just jumping off and landing with a plop, then crawl back up in the evening. Seems like such regular behavior could somehow be exploited. The effectiveness of those T-shaped traps made of PVC pipe is increased 5-fold when medfly attractant is placed nearby, so seems they like fruit flys.