Scientists meet to discuss climate
Star-Bulletin staff
The impact of introduced species and global climate change on the ecosystem in Hawaii and other Pacific islands will highlight discussions of hundreds of researchers meeting in sessions starting tomorrow on the Big Island.
The Pacific Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science will hold its annual meeting at the Hawaii Preparatory Academy, south of Waimea.
Extinction of Hawaiian land snails and threats to other isle flora and fauna from increased stress related to development, pollution and climate change will be on the agenda.
Terrence L. Gosliner of the California Academy of Sciences, Pacific Division president, said in a news release, "It is important to bring attention to a place like Hawaii, where such a high degree of the indigenous flora and fauna is critically endangered. And that will only be exacerbated by global climate change."
Sessions will begin Monday with discussions including these topics:
» The 700-acre spread of islands in the Central Pacific known as the Palmyra Atoll, home to rare sea turtles, coral reefs and tropical wet forests
» The past and future of Pacific fauna being affected by climate change and lower sea levels
» Conservation of Hawaii's native land snails, which once comprised nearly 800 endemic species and have suffered mass extinction because of habitat loss, shell collectors and introduced predators