Invation of the Coqui Frog Into Hawaii essays

Invation of the Coqui Frog Into Hawaii essays Hawaii's environment began as a pure and pristine paradise, untouched by foreign creatures. When the English first invaded this paradise, they brought diseases, wild pigs, dogs and other unwanted species that upset the agricultural and environmental cycle of life. The more outsiders come to the islands each year, the more endangered Hawaii's ecosystem becomes. Although there is strict agricultural security and animal quarantine, foreign creatures and disease still threaten this ever populating island chain and many of the state's indigenous plants and animals have become extinct or endangered because of it. Over 1,000 alien plants and animals have been 'accidentally' introduced just over the past 65 years (ctahr.hawaii.edu) and with such warm temperatures and high humidity, Hawaii's natural nutrient sources and habitat have become cause for competition between the indigenous and the introduced. Though the islands have managed to keep snakes out completely, another green, slimy invasion has been the object of everyone's focus lately. Eleutherdactylus coqui a.k.a. the Coqui frog is the loud mouthed visitor from it's native, Puerto Rico. It is named for it's infamous call co-kee! Most likely through tourism, the frog was introduced to Hawaii in 1988 (ctahr.hawaii.edu). Not only is their piercing, high pitched call considered noise pollution but they are competitors with the unique, native insects and arachnids as well as other insect eating species like birds. Plus, if other carnivorous, amphibian-eating creatures were ever accidentally introduced, the frog would serve as a perfect and plentiful food source for them, increasing their number and threat. Hawai'i is in the midst of a growing invasive species crisis affecting the Islands' plants and animals, overall environmental and human health, and the viability of its tourism and agriculture- based economy, according to the DLNR report. Invasive pes...