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June 1 - 3 , 1978 - University of Hawaii at Manoa

June 1 - 3 , 1978 - University of Hawaii at Manoa

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HAWAII IBP SYNTHESIS :<br />

7. IMPACT OF EXOTIC PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN HAWAI'I*<br />

Charles H. Lamoureux<br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Botany<br />

<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Hawaii</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Manoa</strong><br />

Honolulu, <strong>Hawaii</strong> 96822<br />

,I thouah biologists have long assumed th<strong>at</strong> the influx <strong>of</strong><br />

exotic plants and animals reaching Hawai'i in the past 200 years<br />

has caused severe disturbances in n<strong>at</strong>ural ecosystems and to<br />

n<strong>at</strong>ive organisms, few reliable d<strong>at</strong>a have been obtained. Some<br />

such d<strong>at</strong>a have been obtained in recent years, mostly in connec-<br />

tion with <strong>Hawaii</strong> IBP and with the N<strong>at</strong>ional Park Service. This<br />

paper will discuss a number <strong>of</strong> different effects <strong>of</strong> introduced<br />

species, including their roles in destruction or displacement <strong>of</strong><br />

n<strong>at</strong>ive species, spreading fire, biological control, changes in<br />

moisture regimes, and disease introduction and spread. The<br />

liter<strong>at</strong>ure will be summarized and gaps in our knowledge requiring<br />

further work will be indic<strong>at</strong>ed.<br />

It is postul<strong>at</strong>ed th<strong>at</strong> the r<strong>at</strong>e <strong>of</strong> introduction <strong>of</strong> exotic<br />

species, and hence the r<strong>at</strong>e <strong>at</strong> which perturb<strong>at</strong>ions have been<br />

imposed on <strong>Hawaii</strong>an ecosystems, has been an important factor in<br />

accounting for the magnitude <strong>of</strong> change which has occurred in<br />

these ecosystems.<br />

* Abstract

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