Ecology of Emerging Diseases
Ecology of Emerging Diseases
To understand why Hawaii is vulnerable to invasive species and pathogens, we must look back millions of years to the formation of our islands and the processes that brought us our native ecosystems. Thousands of miles from the nearest continent, new species had to both survive the journey here and then successfully reproduce in order to establish viable populations. Only one species of land mammal, the hoary bat, successfully colonized the main islands before humans arrived. Unable to survive migrations over sea and sky, many types of insects that are typical of subtropical and tropical environments were absent until humans transported them here.
Our environment is favorable and plentiful for continental species used to intense competition and numerous predators. Invasive species populations can grow numerous, and so can the parasites and diseases that infect them. Rats, mice, cockroaches, mosquitoes, slugs and giant African snails are just some conspicuous examples that were all introduced to Hawaii, all of them potential disease vectors.
Some mosquitoes that can spread diseases from human-to-human are here, but without humans or other mammals being infected, the mosquitoes cannot acquire disease. Some illnesses in Hawaii like Angiostrongylus (Rat Lungworm) can be carried temporarily by invasive mollusks–snails and slugs. Other pathogens like Leptospirosis survive for a time in water and mud, originating in infected mammals like feral pigs and rats.
Environmental Planning Office
919 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 312
Honolulu, HI 96814
Phone: (808) 586-4337
Last update: 08/05/2015