On May 24, 2023, Typhoon Mawar caused damage to Guam’s northern woods. The island’s resistance to the cycad-specific armored scale pest Aulacaspis yasumatsui was put to the test by this disturbance, which was the first significant typhoon to do so since 2003. This tropical cyclone has made it possible to evaluate conservation measures that were first intended to lessen the biotic harm that persistent bug infestations caused to the host cycad population, as well as the population’s reactions to the typhoon. When compared to previous typhoons, Typhoon Mawar had a higher incidence of windsnap and defoliation, but a lower incidence of windthrow.

Image source – https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/25/weather/guam-typhoon-mawar-damage-thursday/index.html

Three weeks following Typhoon Mawar, habitats of Cycas micronesica were monitored to determine the level of damage. The degree of destruction was determined by latitude and geography, with the northwest coast and the northern plateau suffering the most, a pattern that was similar to that caused by Typhoon Paka. The woods along the northeast coast were largely shielded by the geography, and because southern Guam was farther away from the storm’s center during its closest approach, the winds there were milder.

The harm was consistent with our earlier published projections, which were predicated on scale-induced modifications in stem and leaf characteristics. This highlights the significance of scientific data in guiding conservation choices. The evaluation of post-typhoon damage indicates that C. micronesica’s extinction danger is not being sufficiently decreased by present conservation efforts. The lessons from Typhoon Mawar indicate that non-native insect infestations are the main cause of population decline and should be addressed more effectively. These lessons may also help conservationists create more specialized conservation strategies and better prepare for future cyclones, which will help to lessen significant threats to the persistence of species.

As far as we are aware, the multispecies biological control program that the scientific community has recommended has not received significant funding since 2005. In contrast, millions of dollars have been spent on salvage projects that we have consistently advised against because they have little bearing on conservation. Preserving the Guam status quo, which ignores scientific data and fails to incorporate it into decision-making, would result in unnecessary tree death continuing at a rate that will seriously jeopardize the survival of C. micronesica.

Reference – Lindström1, A., 2, Terry1, I., 3, Deloso1, B., 4, Tang1, W., 5, Donaldson1, J., 6, Marler1, T., & 7. (2023, August 25). Longdom Publishing SL: Open access journals. Longdom. https://www.longdom.org/open-access/typhoon-mawar-enables-an-assessment-of-i-cycas-micronesica-i-conservation-plans-102464.html