As you discovered in class, introduced small mammals like the black rat have devastated the bird populations of Hawaii through predation. However, grazing mammals such as pigs, cows, and goats also have contributed to the decline and extinction of Hawaiian birds. In 1778 and the years following, large numbers of these mammals were brought to the Hawaiian Islands for agricultural reasons on expeditions led by Captain James Cook and other sea captains. Since that time, many of these mammals have become feral (i.e., though once domesticated, they no longer depend on humans).
Your assignment, as a class, is to develop an understanding of the problems associated with the introduction of these ungulates (hoofed mammals) to the Hawaiian biota, specifically to native birds. We can categorize these problems as follows: (1) how ungulates affect the habitat of native birds, (2) how ungulates facilitate the spread and establishment of other introduced species, and (3) why Hawaii’s birds are particularly susceptible to introduced species. During the next week, each group in your class will examine one of these aspects of the problem using information you get from the list of references below. Next week, groups will share their findings with the entire class.
Group 2: How might the ungulates introduced to Hawaii aid in the establishment and spread of other introduced species?
Use the following references to generate your response:
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