CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS OF INTRODUCED GAME BIRDS IN HIGH-ELEVATION HAWAIIAN SHRUBLAND

The Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) and the Chukar (Alector is chukar) are the dominant avifauna in high-elevation shrubland (2070 -3000 m) of Haleakala National Park, Maui, Hawaii. We studied the food habits, ecological niche, and effects of these alien game birds on th e native biota in this Hawaiian ecosystem. Analyses of crop contents i ndicated that pheasant and Chukar consumed predominantly fruits of nat ive, woody dicots (39% and 47% respectively) and leaves (29% and 24% r espectively) and flower parts (12% and 17% respectively) of alien, her baceous dicots. Both species generally selected food items according t o their relative availability, although other factors influenced choic e of certain items. Invertebrates were a minor component of the game-b ird diet, suggesting that their impact on native invertebrate populati ons is minimal. Pheasant and Chukar occupy, at least partially, an eco logical niche once held by now-extinct or rare birds, and they appear not to be significant competitors with the endangered Nene. The role o f these alien birds in facilitating seed dispersal and germination of native plant species is beneficial in restoring degraded ecosystems.