Island Ecosystems at Risk
The Hawaiian Islands constitute the most isolated archipelago on Earth and, owing to their unique natural biota, are an ideal laboratory for the study of evolution. The richness of the flora can best be appreciated by noting that almost 90% of the native species occur nowhere else! But there is an evil upon the land. Almost half of the species listed in the Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii are not Hawaiian natives, and amongst those, half are some of the most aggressive weeds known. Unchecked, three or four of these aliens could bring the entire island ecosystem to ruin in a matter of a few generations. I will show some examples of the nastiest of alien species, comment on the impact of human activity on the islands’ natural setting, and talk about efforts to undo some of the harm already done.
Bruce A. Bohm, Professor Emeritus, taught at U.B.C. Botany Department from 1966-1999. Courses included Plant Geography with emphasis on island biogeography using the Hawaiian Islands as a model system. Bruce has authored over two hundred scientific publications, about two dozen invited chapters on island systems and aspects of plant chemistry, and four books, one of which, Hawaii’s Native Plants, is familiar to members of Nature Vancouver. Bruce and his wife Lesley visit the islands regularly and in 2006 led a group of Nature Vancouver members on a two-island botany/birding tour. Writing continues on another Hawai`i book: Plant Hunting on the Hawaiian Islands.
