Native Hawaiian forests are beautiful, precious and unique -- they're also threatened by the encroachment of invasive non-native species. Scientists from around the globe have been working on a solution.
@RyderDonahue There are many cases where this has worked. You've only heard about the cases where it didn't work, because those are much more "famous."
To the other commenters opposed to this: Having read or heard about this issue does not make you more knowledgable or authoritative than scientists who have spent years researching this. Choosing personal prejudice over science makes you no better than creationists or global warming denialists.
Cuban laurel thrips have had a similar effect on Chinese banyan (ficus microcarpa), and it hasn't done much if anything to slow down that tree's spread or effect on forests, but it HAS made the banyan trees much less attractive. So I think it was a big mistake for cuban laurel thrips to be introduced. If we end up with sickly-looking strawberry guava that still continues to hold on to the areas it has claimed, it will have been a mistake to introduce this brazilian parasite.
An insect species can evolve out of minimal mutations within 20 or 30 generations. It's been done before. The whole "millions of years" idea is not true. It would only require slight and subtle mutations in their digestive systems and they could become much worse than the guava.
This is a very dangerous solution! In the past people have tried to take on other pests in the same way. In lab tests it all appeared to be going fine. But in the wild the species adapted and became an even more agressive pest...
that was also said about coqui..now we can't even get rid off these frogs... don't bring anything else to Hawaii. we will be sorry again!
LUKKA2020 2 days ago
@RyderDonahue There are many cases where this has worked. You've only heard about the cases where it didn't work, because those are much more "famous."
To the other commenters opposed to this: Having read or heard about this issue does not make you more knowledgable or authoritative than scientists who have spent years researching this. Choosing personal prejudice over science makes you no better than creationists or global warming denialists.
AGiantSloar 6 months ago
Cuban laurel thrips have had a similar effect on Chinese banyan (ficus microcarpa), and it hasn't done much if anything to slow down that tree's spread or effect on forests, but it HAS made the banyan trees much less attractive. So I think it was a big mistake for cuban laurel thrips to be introduced. If we end up with sickly-looking strawberry guava that still continues to hold on to the areas it has claimed, it will have been a mistake to introduce this brazilian parasite.
ericjungleboy 6 months ago
I dont think you guys understand that EVERYTIME we introduce a new species to combat a foreign one it has
A) Not worked
B) Totally fucked everything up
They even claim themselves that this wont even prove that effective in the end
RyderDonahue 7 months ago
It's amazing to think that only %2 of all the plant species in Hawaii are native.
KawaiiKemonomimi 8 months ago
An insect species can evolve out of minimal mutations within 20 or 30 generations. It's been done before. The whole "millions of years" idea is not true. It would only require slight and subtle mutations in their digestive systems and they could become much worse than the guava.
spencertron88 9 months ago
This is a very dangerous solution! In the past people have tried to take on other pests in the same way. In lab tests it all appeared to be going fine. But in the wild the species adapted and became an even more agressive pest...
LinkeHarryB 10 months ago
If Tectococcus ovatus fails and ruins are native forest then what who will be accountable?
350actions 1 year ago
Sad of strawberry guava. great video, very informative.
happymarkkj 1 year ago
sure you can!
nbarca 2 years ago