Lana'i A Case Study: The Loss of Biodiversity on a Small Hawaiian Island

Abstract

Uina'i, with only 361 km2 of land area, is one of the smaller Hawaiian Islands. Its forest area is limited and its complement of flora and fauna is correspondingly low. Its relative isolation, however, has allowed development of a small but distinctive group of endemic plants, birds, insects, and molluscs. Throughout its period of human occupation it has suffered gradual losses in biodiversity due to the effects of grazing and browsing herbivores, aggressive introduced plants, predacious carnivores, diseases, and human activities. In recent years the loss of species has accelerated as Uina'i's ecosystems have begun to suffer catastrophic collapse. This paper documents the changes that have occurred in historical chronology and predicts long-term results.