Invasive non-native ungulates decimate native plants that, as they have evolved, lost unnecessary protective spines, tough bark, unpalatable taste, or poison sap. Non-native predators, from house cats to ants, overwhelm native species with no innate fear or defense against predation. Foreign diseases (avian malaria and pox) spread by alien mosquitoes have caused extinction of most native honeycreepers.
Haleakala’s strategy to fence the park to exclude alien ungulates; remove all populations of feral goats, pigs and deer; and place snares at remote areas to intercept any individual ungulate that penetrates the boundary fence, now preserves the native ecosystems.
The ubiquitous mobility of modern humans, and frequent transport of accompanying biotic organisms (accidental or deliberate), now overwhelms an island ecosystem that evolved in remote isolation. Haleakala partially thwarts this ecological destruction; the park staff vigorously defends its native Hawaiian biodiversity from invasive aliens.
Links to Technical reports:
Some Aspects of Feral Goat Distribution in Haleakala (TR 52, Kjargaard)
Degradation of Vegetation in Two Montane Bogs: 1982-88 (TR 78, Medeiros et al)
Recovery of Vegetation of a Montane Bog Following Protection from Feral Pig Rooting (TR 77, Loope et al)
Status and Distribution of Ants in the Crater District of Healakala N.P. (TR40, Feller et al)
Efforts at Control of Argentine Ant at Haleakala N.P. (TR 109, Krushelnycky et al)
Yellowjacket (Vespula pennsylvanica) Biology and Abatement in the National Parks of Hawaii (TR86, Gambino et al)
Test of Four Herbacides for Use Against Strawberry Guava in Kipahulu Valley (TR 90, Pratt et al)
Annotated Bibliography of the Genus Psidium, Guava (TR95, Ellshoff et al)
Preliminary Exploration for Potential Biological Control Agents for Psidium cattleianum (TR 66, Hodges)
The Biology and Ecology of Passiflora mollissima in Hawaii (TR 50, La Rosas)
Host Preference and Potential Climatic Range of Cyanotricha necyria, Potential Biological Control Agent of the Weed Passaflora mollissima. (TR67, Markin et al)
Distribution, Impact, and Potential Management of the Introduced Vine Passiflora mollissima (TR48, Warshauer et al)
Glyphosate in the Control of Kikuku Grass and its Effects on Associated Native and Non-native Plants in Hawaiian National Parks (TR49, Gardener et al)
The Distribution of Rubus Species in the State of Hawaii (TR 85, Gerrish et al)
Status of Management and Control Efforts for the Invasive Tree Miconia calvescens in Hana, East Maui (TR128, Chimera et al)
Study and Management of the Alien Invasive Tree Miconia calvescens in the Islands of Raiatea and Tahaa (TR 111, Meyer et al)
Proceedings of a Workshop on Biological Control of Invasive Plants in Native Hawaiian Ecosystems (TR 129, Smith et al)
Prospects for Biological Control of Nonnative Plants in Hawaiian National Parks (TR 45, Gardner et al)
