In 2003, Lori Buchanan, manager of the Molokai/Maui Invasive Species Committee, investigated a glossy-leaved plant with pinkish-purple flowers. She had seen it
“The fungus needs an entry point,” says Marc Hughes, a research plant pathologist with the U.S. Forest Service in Hilo. He’s talking about the disease tha
For The Maui News
An adult iiwi feeds on a Lobelia grayana in Waikamoi Preserve. These native plants and birds evolved together, increasing the survival success of both species – the tubular shape of the plant’s flowers perfectly matches the curvature of the bird’s bill, providing food for the iiwi and pollination for the lobelia. FOREST AND KIM STARR photo
Hawaii is the most isolated landmass on the planet. Because of this, plants and animals that arrived here millions of years ago have made extraordinary evolutionary adaptations, resulting in unique native species found nowhere else in the world. One example is the relationship between Hawaiian lobelia plant species with native forest birds like the iiwi. The plant and bird evolved together – the tubular shape of the plant’s flowers perfectly matches the curvature of the bird’s bill, providing food for the iiwi and pollination for the lobelia. There are many examples of these specific connections in a native fores
Don t let Hawaii get skunked: Preventing a smelly invader | News, Sports, Jobs mauinews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mauinews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
For The Maui News
Jackson’s chameleons were eradicated from Kauai in 2013, thanks to an alert resident. Photo courtesy Forest and Kim Starr
In the late 1990s, a Maui-based ecologist and scientist working with the U.S. Geological Survey envisioned a simple, straightforward way for the public to report invasive pests. The late Lloyd Loope was acutely aware of how important it was to have widespread community participation in detecting invasive species. He sought funding to develop an online system to help the public easily report invasive species. The benefit would be two-fold: promoting awareness of harmful plants and animals pests in Hawaii, and stopping high-priority pests from becoming established.