Invasive Tree Species Infestation Spotted

The Washington Post ^ | Tuesday, March 8, 2005 | JANIS L. MAGIN -- The Associated Press

[Willie Green]

HONOLULU - Researchers using a sophisticated sensor aboard an aircraft flying at the edge of space were able to spot an invasive tree species starting to take over native forests near the Big Island's Kilauea Volcano, according to a study published Monday.

The sensing instrument pinpointed where Myrica faya trees, originally from the Canary Islands and the Azores, are starting to take over native ohia trees in and around Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Previous studies located the Myrica trees, but mostly after they had proliferated, scientists said. The study indicates the remote sensor can spot infestations at their very beginning stages when there is still a chance of controlling them.

[Willie Green]

Maybe this technology can be adapted to stop illegal immigration.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Invasive Tree Huggers?

I was expecting photos of Al Gore.

Never mind....

[Old Professer]

Could be; now, will somebody tell me how a volcanic rock can be born from the depths of the ocean teeming with indigeeous species of plant life?

[Old Professer]

Indigenous, (native) sorry.

[Calpernia]

You climbing any trees lately?

;)

[Fierce Allegiance]

The new stuff is on the forest fringes, not where the volcano is active. Probably brought by human shipping, less likey by ocean currents.

[Fierce Allegiance]

We already have that tecxhnology, it's called the Texas (insert your favorite border state here) National Guard. All we need now is a government willing to protect us from these terrorists.

[Dead Corpse]

Ents?

[caisson71]

Oh please, give me a break. The Myrcia faya has been in Hawaii for decades. The faya trees - as they are called locally - can be found mostly on government owned land. Trees on private property have been eradicated or are controlled. Government agencies are very poor stewards of the land. The fact that this "discovery" has been made now, after the Hawaii Vilcano National Park has doubled in size - by taking over private property - without a corresponding increase in operating budget is suspect. I'm watching for "emergency" funding requests to eradicate these trees (which will never happen).

[theFIRMbss]

>Researchers using a sophisticated sensor aboard an aircraft flying at the edge of space were able to spot an invasive tree species starting to take over native forests near the Big Island's Kilauea Volcano

I'm sure the new trees
are just living in niches
native trees wouldn't.

[colorado tanker]

This doesn't sound bad. Kudzu is the definition of bad.

[injin]

"Myrica faya, referred to as fayatree, was brought to Hawai‘i by Portuguese immigrants from the islands of the Azores and Madeira in the late 1800s. "

[Old Professer]

When the islands rose out of the sea there would have been no plant life at first; therefore all plant life is non-native, some much older than others.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Point taken. The same can pretty much be said for everywhere.

[BIGLOOK]

It's the Portagee's fault! Just took a century for seeds to get established at 4000'. The Ohia forest up there is approaching climax forest and beginning to suffer from old age. Ohia is Meterosideros Collina (Meterosideros = iron heart) and makes wonderful flooring if you can afford the number of blade replacements necessary to mill it. It will out last you, your grandkids and their grandkids.

I'll shinny up one, Calpernia, but never trust the branches.

[Calpernia]

>>> It will out last you, your grandkids and their grandkids.

I will put my son up against any and all Iron Heart. My son is creatively destructive ;)