Kenneth Y. Kaneshiro
Researcher Emeritus, PBRC
Program Director, Center for Conservation Research & Training
Contact Info
kykanesh@hawaii.edu
(808) 956-6739 (ph)
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Center for Conservation Research & Training
3050 Maile Way, Gilmore 406
Honolulu Hawaii 96822
Education
- BA Zoology – 1965
- MS Entomology – 1968
- PhD Entomology – 1974
Research Interests
My main research interests have been in the area of evolutionary theory with a focus on the dynamics of sexual selection during the initial stages of species formation. The results of this research on the Hawaiian Drosophila have led to the formulation of what is known as the “Kaneshiro Model” of sexual selection. His ideas have subsequently been applied to understanding the processes involved in the evolutionary history of other groups of organisms including other insect groups, birds, and mammals. Furthermore, the Kaneshiro Model has also been applied to pest control such as tephritid fruit flies which are serious agricultural pests. In the 1980’s, Los Angeles County in California was faced with an infestation of the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) which led the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) together with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), to implement a massive control/eradication effort by releasing millions of sterile medfly males per week. Our observations of the medfly mating system led to a recommendation that resulted in total eradication of the medfly infestation. The success of our work in the fruit fly infestation in California led to his collaboration with the research team of the Okinawa Prefecture Fruit Fly Eradication Program which eventually led to the successful eradication of two species of fruit flies, the Oriental Fruit Fly and the Melon Fly, throughout the entire Ryukyu Archipelago. By eliminating these fruit flies, Okinawa’s fruit export market tripled in the ensuing years.
I have also been involved with the conservation and management of Okinawa’s unique natural resources, its native plants and animals. Through partnerships with US Military, the Center for Conservation Research and Training, became involved in conducting biological surveys of military installations which were often situated within native forest ecosystems. In partnership with the US Air Force, I coordinated faculty researchers and students from the University of the Ryukyus and other private and public institutions of higher education in Okinawa to conduct a survey of the plants and animals found within Kadena Air Base. Subsequently, due to the successful completion of the Kadena project, the US Marine Corps contracted Kaneshiro’s CCRT at UH to conduct a biological survey of the Corps’ installation where jungle training activities within a large area of the Yambaru Mountains was conducted. Yambaru is a pristine forest with potentially rare and endangered species many of which are considered to be National Natural Monuments of Japan and Okinawa. I was able to recruit more than 50 researchers and students primarily from the University of the Ryukyus as well as other institutions in Okinawa to participate in the survey. Nearly 3000 species were collected and identified with 184 species being officially listed as “Vulnerable” or “Rare”, in the Red Data Books of Japan and Okinawa. Furthermore, many new species were discovered and most of these will also be considered for listing in the Red Data Book. Some species which are extremely rare elsewhere in Okinawa were found to be relatively common in the Yambaru forests.
Department and Laboratory Webpages
Additional Information