Research Log #6 - Solutionary Project 2020

Date: March 13 2020

Name: Lucinda Hu
Essential Question: What are the negative impacts that invasive species had toward the Hawaii islands.
Three Points to Prove:
#1: Leading to native species become endangered
#2: Harm the health of environment and human
#3: Damage the amount of tourism and cause economical loss

Point that this Source Proves: #

#1: Leading to native species become endangered

Excerpts (These should provide insight into the Point to Prove):

According to Nancy Lauer, the writer of the article:

“Protecting the endemic wildlife is a challenge, leading scientists to call the Aloha State the
endangered species capital of the world. Whole flocks of sand-nesting birds have been ravaged
by pet dogs let off the leash. Feral cats and mosquitoes pose constant threats to endemic
songbirds, and fast-growing alien plants and trees crowd out the native rainforests.”
“But for all the threats invasive species pose, policies in place by the U.S. government focus on
keeping problem species in Hawaii and off the U.S. mainland, as federal officials note, rather
than protecting Hawaii from incoming invasive hitchhikers” says Mihai Andrei in his article
“Federal Policies Threaten Hawaii’s Flora, Fauna.”
Nancy Lauer provided statistics to demonstrate the potential economic loss: “Some of these
pests, such as Mediterranean fruit fly, could cause millions of dollars in damage, expensive
eradication efforts, lost trade revenue and higher food prices if they were to establish in the
mainland."
In the news report, Nancy Lauer identified this problem associate with the lack of policy. "Like
all regulations, education is the primary mechanism to gain compliance as the vast majority of
the public are able and willing to comply with the rules and regulations.”

Analysis (How does this source support the Point to Prove?):

This source directly proves that the impact of invasive species in Hawaiian islands as witness in
the first quote: “Whole flocks of sand-nesting birds have been ravaged by pet dogs let off the
leash. Feral cats and mosquitoes pose constant threats to endemic songbirds, and fast-growing
alien plants and trees crowd out the native rainforests.”(Lauer 2019) The author listed types of
impacts caused by pet dogs, mosquitos, cats, and plants. The third quote provides the economic
loss associated with the invasive species as emphasize the millions of dollar.
Besides reinforced the concept about the danger of the invasive species to native species and
ecosystem. The article also suggests that the current federal policies may not effectively solve
the problem as they only control the current invasive species and lack the approach to prevent the
further coming of invasive species. This suggest that it is important to choose new strategies such
as made the public more aware of the situation as " education is the primary mechanism to gain
compliance as the vast majority of the public are able and willing to comply with the rules and
regulations.”(Lauer 2019.

Work Cited (correct MLA format):

Lauer, Nancy Cook. “Federal Policies Threaten Hawaii’s Flora, Fauna.”Usnews.com, Dec.23
2019, https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2019-12-23/policies over-
invasive-species-threaten-hawaiis-endemic-wildlife
This is a reputable and reliable article because it was published in U.S. Times, the national’s biggest and
one of the most reputable news magazine.
Research Log
In this week, I finished one interview with Joshua Atwood. He worked in the Hawaii Invasive

Species Council and in charge of statewide program about the invasive species. During the interview, he

shared many useful statistics about the impact of invasive species, typically in our island. He also

answered many of my questions such as the specific target pest that need special focus in our island, why

is Hawaii one of the most important state that need special regulation and awareness to invasive species

compare to other islands and the human health risk associated with invasive species. During the

interview, he also listed many target pests and the impact of invasive species to the ecosystem that
happened in Hawaii in the past. This interview provides me many insights and useful knowledge that

could be applied during the research paper process.

Right now, I also booked the second interview with Oahu Invasive Species Committee’s manager

Nate Dube in March 17 during the spring break. I planned to schedule earlier but consider that he says

that they are especially busy during this time and only available between Mar 16 to March 20. During

their interview I decides to ask more policy related question and inquiries about the mission, objectives,

and plans of Oahu Invasive Species Committee.