Our delicate island ecosystem is already at high risk of invasive pests, but when extreme weather hits the islands, invasive pest spread is accelerated. In the wake of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Lala, we can expect to see more widespread populations of invasive pests due to high winds, flooding, and human dispersal from emergency cleanup efforts. Multiple islands have already seen these effects following the Kona Low storms we experienced earlier this year. The East side of Oahu has reported Coqui frog populations after flooding in areas where they were previously eradicated, and Molokaʻi saw an uptick in CRB detections after strong winds hit the island during severe storms.
According to Elliott W. Parsons at the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center at UH Mānoa, Pacific RISCC, “Climate change is increasing the intensity of tropical cyclones and other extreme weather events across the Pacific, creating new challenges for invasive species management.” Storms can disperse invasive species into areas where they were previously not present, and habitats disturbed after climate events can create favorable conditions for establishment and breeding sites. And human-mediated clean-up efforts and disaster response can also spread invasive pests to other areas of the island, adding another layer of difficulty to an already challenging effort.
What this tells us is that we have to be even more vigilant following extreme weather, but it also presents opportunities for agencies to prevent further invasive species spread after disasters. Parsons emphasizes the importance of “preparedness, early detection and rapid response, pathway management, restoration, and cross-agency coordination to help strengthen the resilience of Hawaiʻi's ecosystems and communities as extreme weather events become more frequent and severe.”
