Life in Mauna Kea’s alpine desert

Author:: Richardson, Mike
Title:: Life in Mauna Kea’s alpine desert
Periodical:: Endangered Species Bulletin
Year:: 2002
Volume:: 27
Pages:: 22-23
Subject:: Astronomical observatories environmental aspects Mauna Kea Biotic communities Mauna Kea Moths Nysius wekiuicola Wekiu bug
Summary:: This document describes various arthropods that exist in the alpine desert of Mauna Kea that is located on the island of Hawaii. The aeolian ecosystem on Mauna Kea's summit is composed of at least 12 endemic arthropods that includes, day-flying Agrotis moths, Lycosa wolf spiders, as well as a centipede that preys on moribund insects as does the wekiu bug that is one of 26 endemic Hawaiian Nysius species. Also mentioned is an introduced species of Linyphiidae spider (small sheet web spiders) and the threats to the Mauna Kea Arthropods due to environmental impacts on the summit. Threats such as the construction of astronomical facilities, tourism, roads, parking facilities, constant traffic to the summit, etc., can quickly crush the wekiu bug and other Mauna Kea arthropds into dust-sized particles and can change a rocky cinder that is a preferred substrate of the wekiu bug into one of compacted silt and mud. As a result, the wekiu bug has been listed under the Endangered Species Act and will also conserve several other endemic species, including the wolf spider and the Agrotis moths. In addition, a Candidate Conservation Agreement (CCA) and cooperation with other agencies such as the Fish and Wildlife Service's Pacific Islands Ecological Services Office and the Office of Mauna Kea Management has been established to provide long-term protection for endemic Mauna Kea arthropods.
Label:: Insects
URL:: https://books.google.com/books?id=jeBqOkMSmVEC&lpg=RA2-PA22&ots=GsxkifqQLl&dq=Life%20in%20Mauna%20Kea%E2%80%99s%20alpine%20desert%20%22Endangered%20Species%20Bulletin%22&pg=RA2-PA22#v=onepage&q=Life%20in%20Mauna%20Kea%E2%80%99s%20alpine%20desert%20%22Enda
Date:: 2002
Collection:: Periodicals