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'Ohia Lehua
‘Ohia lehua, one of the island's most prominent plant species, faces detrimental effects from Ceratocystis lukohia which is identified as a deadly fungal pathogen. This tree plays extremely important roles in native forest ecosystems, as well as contributes to biodiversity among an array of forests. ‘Ohia Lehua trees are endemic, meaning that they only thrive off the islands of Oahu, and are crucial for a sustaining ecosystem. Despite ‘Ohia lehua creating an equalized system across our native forests, they have also had a deep cultural significance to many Native Hawaiians. Though too early to closely identify how the pathogen spreads, scientists are only able to grasp a surface level understanding of the behavior of this deadly pathogen. Through studies of other plant species, scientists and researchers are able to make further conclusions and advise the public to take precautions to prevent further spreading of this pathogen.

Ceratocystis Lukuohia
Ceratocystis lukuohia is the fungal pathogen which is responsible for the rapid ‘Ohia death infecting and killing off thousands of Native forest trees. This particular pathogen infects the ‘Ohia Lehua tree by attaching its spores to the exterior of the tree. The spores are extremely microscopic, making it strenuous to detect. Without detection or any indications that can be perceived by the human eye, the pathogen disguises itself and intrudes itself into the tree. Once the pathogen penetrates through to the center of the bark, it has successfully gained control over the naturally occurring functions that the ‘Ohia tree can perform. Similar to to other pathogens, the Ceratocystis lukuohia fungal pathogen rapidly contaminating the Ohia lehua trees across local forests could cause their behavior to remain asymptomatic for years. Pathogens, closely monitored within trees through experiments have demonstrated that these specified illnesses can appear unidentified for years which can be extremely deadly in a cluster of trees. Though there are few  indications that this particular tree has been infected, the discoloration of the canopy to brown is the most evident. “Trees are very susceptible to this pathogen especially if they are near each other” . Plants in close proximity to other plants have abilities to spread their illness or this pathogen in particular to adjacent trees. With the ability of the pathogen to infect both without leaving traces of its damage, and to nearby ‘Ohia trees, it is pivotal that one is able to identify an ill tree. “Consequently, the pathogen has the ability to dislocate one of the tree’s primary roles which operates to process water is imperative for survival”.

The Spread
The spread of Ceratocystis lukuohia involves air-borne transportation through birds and animals distributing the spores to other trees, or infecting the soil. Contamination of the soil can be caused by animals that travel by foot. Insects who are wood-boring are contributors  as well as they are capable of spreading the pathogen through the air. Insects often create new wounds in healthy trees, increasing the susceptibility of the tree to the pathogen.

In forests, it is inevitable for trees to avoid contact with animals as they are contributors to the spread of the pathogen. They infect the soil as they patrol acres of forest grounds. Infecting the soil allows for the ‘Ohia Lehua tree to become contaminated. An action that can be taken to assess this issue is to take into account the method of fencing. Fencing may be beneficial to eliminating the spread of the pathogen because that way animals are kept safe outside of the boundaries where ‘Ohia trees vegetate which will eliminate further widespread infection. “Fencing showed to have highly significant results as the rates of pathogen spread diminished”. However fencing may be beneficial, it may be countervailing as it may require maintenance to upkeep to ensure the security of the animals. Over time, natural causes may result in deterioration, which may require consistent management. “The main focus within this method of fencing is to attempt to restore detrimental effects and re-establish a suitable and safe environment for ‘Ohia Lehua trees to endure”. In addition to fencing, it is important to ensure that the fence is secure and enclosed, and that there are no apertures, as that may defeat the purpose of fencing.

Prevention/Precautions
It is important to be cognizant of surroundings when entering Native forests. As a member of the community, it is important to recognize these trees and identify the severity of the situation. When exploring in the Native forests across the islands, you must make sure that you follow specific precautions put in place to protect our endangered trees and prevent further contamination of ‘Ohia trees. According to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) had inquired about reinforcement of specific rules and regulations that the public must abide by in order to successfully protect our native trees that play pivotal roles in our ecosystem. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture has enacted the rule, “Restricting movement of ‘Ohia trees and soil.” This affirmative action was approved as of November 2016. Precautions that must be taken include, avoiding moving ‘Ohia wood or ‘Ohia parts. This is because you do not know where it was previously moved from, therefore it may have been infected, spreading illness to other native trees. Transporting trees within the inter-islands should be avoided, as that could lead to an increase and widespread infection across ‘Ohia trees. To further assure ‘Ohia trees are fully protected, maintenance crews and individuals entering forests must make sure that their tools have been cleansed from any soils from different locations, and ensure that their shoes are cleaned from any debris as that could further infect soils that ‘Ohia trees rely on for nutrients.

Consequences
The consequences of rapid ‘Ohia death are irremediable. ‘Ohia trees are crucial for the survival of many animals’ whose primary habitat involves forests. Not only do ‘Ohia trees contribute to the overall function of the endemic forest ecosystem, but it also is a determining source of food for many species. “For an ecosystem to remain at equilibrium, it relies on the vitality of various endemic species and their ability to pollinate various plants which benefits the habitat, ensuring  a synchronous structure” As a result of large quantities of ‘Ohia trees becoming extinct, the forests will be substantially altered. With the absence of  ‘Ohia trees, the opportunity for other invasive species to manifest and thrive in local forests becomes probable.

The Rapid ‘Ohia death reflects the ways that Ceratocystis lukuohia has had on it. Ensuring that ‘Ohia trees are not removed from their present location is important to preventing further infection. It is important to protect our Native trees as they play important roles in keeping our ecosystems at an equilibrium. To continue protecting our forests, and the future of Hawaii, we must remain vigilant and aware of the symptoms that our Native ‘Ohia trees may be encountering, so that its illness may be identified early and proper protocols may be  performed.