Read the scientific article. Then answer the questions that follow
from "Against All Odds:
Earth's Fragile Pioneers"
by Stephen James O'Meara, Odyssey Magazine
One species every 70,000 years! That's the rate at which plants and animals once colonized the
Hawaiian Islands. Countless millions of them had the chance, but only the most rugged pioneers--a salt-
sistant seed, an insect clinging to a raft of wood, a strong-winged bird-survived the long voyage across the
acific from their native continents. Of the hundreds of species that did make it to Hawaii, only a few survived
me seclusion and harshness of the burning volcanic islands. It took time, but these barren new "worlds," risen
om the sea and born of fire, finally surrendered to the slow but persistent assault of life.
2 Of course, the story of the invasion of life is similar all across the globe. But what makes the Hawaii
ory special is the incredible distance life had to travel to get there. Remote and alone in the heart of the
orth Pacific, Hawaii is the most isolated island group on Earth.... Yet, life did get to Hawaii, and it did so in
aree ways: by wind, wings, and water.
Wind. Many of Hawaii's plants, spiders, and insects have origins in Asia, thanks to a torrent of thin
r called the jet stream, which roars across the upper atmosphere with hurricane force. Each January, the
stward-flowing jet stream makes a southerly meander over Asia. As the wind in the jet stream moves away
om Asia, it slows to a minimum of about 110 kph just over Hawaii. Are you getting the picture? Quite a
ansport mechanism here! Now, picture this: A gale-force wind in
sia strips a plant of its seeds and lifts a few spiders and insects off the
ound, making them airborne... where they are then transported
stward at hurricane force until the winds slow and the seeds,
ders, and insects sprinkle down on the islands. The entire journey
an take just four hours!
Wings. Insects, seeds, and spiders (as well as other life forms)
m take alternate means of transport to Hawaii-such as hitching a
le on a migrating or storm-driven bird. With a wingspan of over
ometers, the great frigate bird is a soaring wonder. Its powerful
ngs can carry it effortlessly across the tropical Pacific. Now imagine
e of these gets caught in a hurricane. It soars with the wind until it
hts land-in this case, Hawaii. After a long journey, it rests. A seed
m a favorite berry it has eaten drops into a crevice and, in time,
Ces root. Years later, another great flier arrives. Preening itself, the
dfrees a seed or a sticky land snail from its feathers. One by one,
er the millennia, these birds have transported troops of accidental
urists" to Hawaii.
the great frigate bird in flight
L1: Determining Central Idea and Details
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