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| Hawaii (After Man) | |
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| Topic Started: Sep 5 2008, 07:13 PM (3,646 Views) | |
| Yorick | Sep 5 2008, 07:13 PM Post #1 |
Adult
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What would happen in Hawaii if mankind suddenly vanished or died by a plague? Dogs and cats are the closest thing they have to predators in the Hawaii islands. And mice and rats and surrounding fish and tropical birds are the only real prey. Hawaii isn't exactly know for it's agriculture so I'm guessing there aren't many pigs and and cows and chickens and sheep and goats and horses for our former pets to feed on? In each period of time I've listed for Hawaii After Man (AM), please write what would happen to the wildllife of Hawaii. 10 Years AM: I'm guessing feral cats and dogs would survive but numbers for dogs are low because mice and rats aren't simply large and abundant enough to be proper prey. They may resort to ocassional cannibalism and feeding on rival cats. 100-200 Years AM: 1000-5000 Years AM: Edited by Yorick, Sep 7 2008, 06:10 PM.
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"I believe, that whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you...stranger" -The Dark Knight (2008) | |
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| Carlos | Sep 5 2008, 07:25 PM Post #2 |
Adveho in me Lucifero
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Well, technically the Hawaii are doomed, as all volcanic islands; eventually, they will erode away. However, in the meantime introduced mammals could indeed become dominant, although cats and rats are the ones most likely to survive and diversify. I think most modern native birds will be replaced by new ones that would arrive to the island, more adapted to the mammals; in the same way the pukeko from New Zealand is loosing flight and yet is capable to survive even with mamal predators around, I guess some future rails and waterfowl in Hawaii can become flightless even with cats and rats around |
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Lemuria: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5724950/ Terra Alternativa: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/forum/460637/ My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Carliro  | |
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| irbaboon | Sep 6 2008, 11:35 PM Post #3 |
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Adolescent
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actually pigs,goats,sheep,mongooses and wallaby are all fount in Hawaii http://www.earlham.edu/~biol/hawaii/mammals.htm how do you think they would evolve? |
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| Yorick | Sep 7 2008, 12:51 AM Post #4 |
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Adult
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Mongoose and feral cats would defintely evolve into the hyenas and lions of Hawaiis. Feral pigs as the elephants or rhinos. |
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"I believe, that whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you...stranger" -The Dark Knight (2008) | |
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| Black_Panther | Sep 7 2008, 01:35 AM Post #5 |
Adolescent
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Perhaps the will evolve into several species. For example, leopard-like predators hunting in the Hawaiian rainforests, while dogs could take the niche of fast predators; hunting descendants of modern cattle. Pigs could turn, as Yorick said previously; into a several range of species...not as big as elephants (i dont' see Hawaii sustaining a population of elephantine creatures. Perhaps divide into species; some that won't change too much from the modern wild board, but others could turn into hippo-like monsters...or a 'new entelodont' type of creatures. In the case of deer, well, they could keep as they are, or evolving into a gazelle or antelope kind of creatures. |
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| irbaboon | Sep 7 2008, 02:12 AM Post #6 |
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Adolescent
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perhaps we could expand this discussion beyond Hawaii into islands as a whole. Most islands that had only birds and bats as the main warm blooded lifeforms before human contact are now host to a variety of introduced species. |
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| Carlos | Sep 7 2008, 05:21 AM Post #7 |
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Adveho in me Lucifero
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Sheep, poultry and cattle will obviously die out because they can't adapt to live without humans protecting them, and so will dogs, because they couldn't stand against so many competitors like mongoose and cats, which, being smaller, could adapt better to live off Hawaii's small sized prey. Goats and pigs would, on the other hand, most likely survive, as they are very adaptable. I'm not sure about other introduced animals like buffalos, kangaroos or peacocks. |
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Lemuria: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5724950/ Terra Alternativa: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/forum/460637/ My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Carliro | |
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| Yorick | Sep 7 2008, 02:53 PM Post #8 |
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Adult
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Couldn't feral dogs, working in packs, hunt feral pigs and feral goats and feral horses and wild deer? They're certainly big enough to satisfy their appetites. Edited by Yorick, Feb 21 2009, 09:23 PM.
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"I believe, that whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you...stranger" -The Dark Knight (2008) | |
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| Livyatan | Sep 7 2008, 03:01 PM Post #9 |
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Don't use so many mainland metaphors: cats would not be the 'lions' of Hawaii. They would certainly be dominant predators, but there is too many inferences within the suggestion of lion-like. Also, the habitats of Hawaii don't seem open to pack-hunting predators, especially dogs. |
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| Carlos | Sep 7 2008, 03:20 PM Post #10 |
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Adveho in me Lucifero
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Not to mention they can't realy live without humans... |
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Lemuria: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5724950/ Terra Alternativa: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/forum/460637/ My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Carliro | |
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| Venatosaurus | Sep 7 2008, 03:53 PM Post #11 |
HAUS OF SPEC
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I think dogs can live successfully without us, look at the feral dogs in Mexico, S. America. Especially Puerto Rico, there are huge amounts of feral dogs on this ISLAND. Over time they'll continue to evolve to cope with the rain forests. But Hawaii, couldn't really have pack hunters, it's too enclosed and not open enough to need pack hunting. Cats would do really good there, ground,arboreal,cave,coastal. The possibilities are endless. Goats would as do well in the rockier , volcanic terrain, as well as forest dwelling pigs and aquatic pigs. Rats may also become otter-like as well as a myriad of other forms. |
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| Carlos | Sep 7 2008, 04:03 PM Post #12 |
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Adveho in me Lucifero
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Most if not all feral dogs (note: feral dogs, not wild dogs like dingoes) are dependent on humans for food, as they eat garbage and stuff. If they survive on Hawaii they would most likely be outcompeted by more adaptable oportunists, like pigs |
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Lemuria: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5724950/ Terra Alternativa: http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/forum/460637/ My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Carliro | |
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| Yorick | Sep 7 2008, 06:08 PM Post #13 |
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Adult
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...Like the pigs that DON'T hunt animals like goats and horses? |
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"I believe, that whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you...stranger" -The Dark Knight (2008) | |
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| Carlos | Sep 7 2008, 07:03 PM Post #14 |
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Adveho in me Lucifero
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As I said, dogs are too dependent on humans; if they can't successfully kill a goat by themselves, what makes you think they will become a dominant predator group? The least that could happen is them to become Mesonyx like fish eaters |
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| Saxophlutist | Sep 7 2008, 07:16 PM Post #15 |
Adult
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Now that I think about I've never really heard of dogs hunting their own food. I think they would have to stay scavengers, unless they are able to hunt to a degree. |
 
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