How Humans Effect the Hawaiian Ecosystem

Problems

Invasive species are leading to the extinction of rare indigenous species.Beaches are being slowly ruined by trash and erosion.

Coqui frog (koh-kee), fireweed,the albizia (ahl-BEE-zee-uh) tree, mongoos, and little fire ants.

The islands of Hawaii are too small to host any large animals, and are a safe haven to many birds and other small animals.These are threatened by the introduction of the mongoos, which love to feast on, among other things, turtle and bird eggs.

70% of Hawaiian beaches are eroding, due to the rising seawater levels. Some have already lost a third of their sand. This destruction of the beaches could be devistating to the locals if tourists stopped visiting, because tourism is Hawaii's #1 employer.

How Humans Effect the Hawaiian Ecosystem

40% of the US's indangered species are located in Hawaii, and 75% of all US extinctions have happened in Hawaii.

Common Invasives

Hawaii Beaches

Eroded Beach

It's illigal to own or introduce a mongoose in Hawaii

The danger of invasives:

The field in the picture to the left may seem like any other, but it is actually very harmful to the Hawaiian ecosystem. This field is full of fireweed, an imported species that has started choking out the grazing land. This weed is slightly poisonous to anything that eats it, which makes it very dangerous to farmers.

The Coqui frog:

Little Fire Ants:

Fireweed