Back to the Future in the Caves of Kauaʻi: A Scientist's Adventures in
the Dark. David A. Burney. Yale University Press, New Haven; 2011. 6
by 9 inches, xv+198 pages. Hardbound ISBN 978-0-300-15094-0, $28;
softbound ISBN 978-0-300-17209-6, $18.
In pursuit of his interest in paleoecology, or the study of how the
arrival of humans has changed ecosystems worldwide, the author began
an investigation in Makauwahi Cave on the southeastern coast of the
Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi. A solution cave in eolianite limestone that
also spent some time as a sea cave, it now consists mainly of a large,
open collapse sinkhole. Excavation and coring of the deposits on the
floor of the sink have disclosed a lot of information about the
changes in the island's flora and fauna since the arrival of
Polynesians about a thousand years ago and then Europeans in 1788.
Before it's discovery by man, the only mammal on the island was a bat.
A large fraction of the plants and animals on the Hawaiian islands
were unable to cope with the the Polynesian's rats, dogs, and pigs and
the European's goats, not to mention many invasive plants introduced
accidentally or on purpose. Many have gone extinct, and hundreds of
officially endangered species hang on only in remote and inaccessible
areas.
More recently, the author and his wife have spearheaded restoration of
the ancient ecology in the sinkhole and some of the surrounding area.
The Makauwahi Cave Reserve is now a popular attraction due to the
thriving native plants. The book is in a popular style, but has many
references to the scientific literature. Very readable, if not exactly
cavey in the usual sense.--Bill Mixon
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Never play leadfrog with a unicorn.
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