Rapid ‘Ōhiʻa Death Ungulate Research & Management

Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD), caused by the fungi Ceratocystis is devastating ʻŌhiʻa, a keystone species in Hawaiian forests. ROD mortality is higher in forests with feral pigs compared to fenced areas. Since ROD requires a wound for transmission, pig wounding is hypothesized to be a key factor amplifying mortality. Current research examined tree wounding patterns across plots where ʻōhiʻa were tagged for long-term mortality tracking. This project would expand ongoing research into the roles of ungulates in amplifying the ROD disease cycle and identify strategies to disrupt the ungulate component of the disease cycle to reduce ʻŌhiʻa mortality. Understanding pig tree wounding provides insights about the mechanisms amplifying the ROD disease cycle in unfenced forests. Continued mortality monitoring will clarify the relationship between wounds and disease susceptibility, informing targeted interventions to mitigate ROD transmission.