Detecting Rapid Ohia Death in Hawaiʻi

Abstract

Introduced pathogens have the potential to greatly disrupt native forest ecosystems and communities. Two fungal pathogens, Ceratocystis huliohia and Ceratocystis lukuohia, are making their way across the Hawaiian islands, causing a phenomenon known as Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death. This talk will share some of the different methods used to detect trees suspected of infection with these pathogens and provide a current assessment of mortality levels in a number of long-term monitoring plots distributed across the islands of Hawaiʻi and Kauaʻi.