Dennis LaPointe
Specialty: Wildlife Disease, vector-borne avian disease, mosquito ecology, avian ectoparasites, Hawaiian passerines, aquatic invertebrates, field investigations, diagnostics, identification
Research Interests: Wildlife disease and conservation biology; ecology of arthropod vectors of disease and ectoparasites; evolution of host-vector-pathogen interactions; parasite mediated sexual selection in birds; climate change and vectored disease; West Nile virus; invasive biology of mosquitoes; Wolbachia pipientis in vector and disease control; aquatic invertebrate ecology; native insect conservation; zoonotic disease; control/management of vector borne disease
Personal Interests: House maintenance, grocery shopping, yard and pet care, child rearing and personal financing
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2000 Entomology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI
M.S. 1982 Entomology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA,
1991 Education, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
B.S. 1978 Entomology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Science and Products
Ecology and conservation biology of avian malaria
Keeping Hawai’i’s forest birds one step ahead of avian diseases in a warming world: a focus on Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge. A case study from the National Conservation and Training Center Structured Decision Making Workshop
The dynamics, transmission, and population impacts of avian malaria in native hawaiian birds: A modeling approach
Thermal constraints to the sporogonic development and altitudinal distribution of avian malaria Plasmodium relictum in Hawai'i
Knemidokoptic mange in Hawai`i `Amakihi (Hemignathus virens) on the island of Hawai`i
Experimental infection of Hawai'i 'Amakihi (hemignathus virens) with West Nile virus and competence of a co-occurring vector, culex quinquefasciatus: potential impacts on endemic Hawaiian avifauna.
Introduced avian diseases, climate change, and the future of Hawaiian honeycreepers
Larval habitat for the avian malaria vector culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in altered mid-elevation mesic-dry forests in Hawai'i
Dispersal of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in a Hawaiian rain forest
Current and potential impacts of mosquitoes and the pathogens they vector in the Pacific region
Prevalence and distribution of pox-like lesions, avian malaria, and mosquito vectors in Kipahulu valley, Haleakala National Park, Hawai'i, USA
Landscape factors influencing the spatial distribution and abundance of mosquito vector Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in a mixed residential-agricultural community in Hawai'i
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 44
Ecology and conservation biology of avian malaria
Avian malaria is a worldwide mosquito-borne disease caused by Plasmodium parasites. These parasites occur in many avian species but primarily affect passerine birds that have not evolved with the parasite. Host pathogenicity, fitness, and population impacts are poorly understood. In contrast to continental species, introduced avian malaria poses a substantial threat to naive birds on Hawaii, the GAuthorsDennis A. LaPointe, Carter T. Atkinson, Michael D. SamuelKeeping Hawai’i’s forest birds one step ahead of avian diseases in a warming world: a focus on Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge. A case study from the National Conservation and Training Center Structured Decision Making Workshop
This report is a product of a one-week workshop on using Structured Decision Making to identify and prioritize conservation actions to address the threat of climate change on Hawaii‟s native forest bird community. Specifically, t his report addresses the issue of global warming ‟s likely role in increasing disease prevalence in upper elevation forests of Hawaii, negatively impacting native bird poAuthorsEben H. Paxton, Jeff Burgett, Eve McDonald-Fadden, Ellen Bean, Carter T. Atkinson, Donna Ball, Colleen Cole, Lisa H. Crampton, Jim Kraus, Dennis A. LaPointe, Loyal Mehrhoff, Michael D. Samuel, Donna Brewer, Sarah J. Converse, Steve MoreyThe dynamics, transmission, and population impacts of avian malaria in native hawaiian birds: A modeling approach
We developed an epidemiological model of avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) across an altitudinal gradient on the island of Hawaii that includes the dynamics of the host, vector, and parasite. This introduced mosquito‐borne disease is hypothesized to have contributed to extinctions and major shifts in the altitudinal distribution of highly susceptible native forest birds. Our goal was to better uAuthorsMichael D. Samuel, P.H.F. Hobbelen, F. Decastro, Jorge A. Ahumada, Dennis Lapointe, Carter T. Atkinson, Bethany L. Woodworth, P.J. Hart, D.C. DuffyThermal constraints to the sporogonic development and altitudinal distribution of avian malaria Plasmodium relictum in Hawai'i
More than half of the Hawaiian honeycreepers (Drepanidinae) known from historical records are now extinct. Introduced mosquito-borne disease, in particular the avian malaria Plasmodium relictum, has been incriminated as a leading cause of extinction during the 20th century and a major limiting factor in the recovery of remaining species populations. Today, most native Hawaiian bird species reach tAuthorsDennis Lapointe, M.L. Goff, Carter T. AtkinsonKnemidokoptic mange in Hawai`i `Amakihi (Hemignathus virens) on the island of Hawai`i
Lesions resembling knemidokoptic mange on the feet and tarsometatarsi of two Hawai`i `Amakihi (Hemignathus virens) were observed while the researchers were mist-netting wild passerines at Manuka Natural Area Reserve on the island of Hawai`i between 14 June 2007 and 19 June 2007. During subsequent mist-netting from September 2007 through February 2008, we found 26% (7/27) of the Hawai`i `Amakihi caAuthorsJacqueline Gaudioso, Dennis Lapointe, Patrick E. HartExperimental infection of Hawai'i 'Amakihi (hemignathus virens) with West Nile virus and competence of a co-occurring vector, culex quinquefasciatus: potential impacts on endemic Hawaiian avifauna.
Introduced mosquito-borne avian disease is a major limiting factor in the recovery and restoration of native Hawaiian forest birds. Annual epizootics of avian pox (Avipoxvirus) and avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) likely led to the extinction of some species and continue to impact populations of susceptible Hawaiian honeycreepers (Drepanidinae). The introduction of a novel pathogen, such as WesAuthorsDennis Lapointe, Erik K. Hofmeister, C. T. Atkinson, R.E. Porter, Robert J. DusekIntroduced avian diseases, climate change, and the future of Hawaiian honeycreepers
[No abstract available]AuthorsC. T. Atkinson, D.A. LapointeLarval habitat for the avian malaria vector culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in altered mid-elevation mesic-dry forests in Hawai'i
Effective management of avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) in Hawai'i's endemic honeycreepers (Drepanidinae) requires the identification and subsequent reduction or treatment of larval habitat for the mosquito vector, Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae). We conducted ground surveys, treehole surveys, and helicopter aerial surveys from 20012003 to identify all potential larval mosquito habAuthorsM.E. Reiter, D.A. LapointeDispersal of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in a Hawaiian rain forest
Introduced mosquito-borne pathogens avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum Grassi and Feletti) and avian pox virus (Avipoxvirus) have been implicated in the past extinctions and declines of Hawaiian avifauna and remain significant obstacles to the recovery and restoration of endemic Hawaiian birds. Effective management of avian disease will require extensive mosquito control efforts that are guided byAuthorsD.A. LapointeCurrent and potential impacts of mosquitoes and the pathogens they vector in the Pacific region
Mosquitoes and the pathogens they transmit are ubiquitous throughout most of the temperate and tropical regions of the world. The natural and pre-European distribution and diversity of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases throughout much of the Pacific region, however, depicts a depauperate and relatively benign fauna reinforcing the dream of “paradise regained”. In the central and South PacificAuthorsDennis LaPointePrevalence and distribution of pox-like lesions, avian malaria, and mosquito vectors in Kipahulu valley, Haleakala National Park, Hawai'i, USA
We determined prevalence and altitudinal distribution of introduced avian malarial infections (Plasmodium relictum) and pox-like lesions (Avipoxvirus) in forest birds from Kīpahulu Valley, Haleakalā National Park, on the island of Maui, and we identified primary larval habitat for the mosquito vector of this disease. This intensively managed wilderness area and scientific reserve is one of the mosAuthorsSamuel Aruch, Carter T. Atkinson, Amy F. Savage, Dennis LaPointeLandscape factors influencing the spatial distribution and abundance of mosquito vector Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in a mixed residential-agricultural community in Hawai'i
Mosquito-borne avian diseases, principally avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum Grassi and Feletti) and avian pox (Avipoxvirus sp.) have been implicated as the key limiting factor associated with recent declines of endemic avifauna in the Hawaiian Island archipelago. We present data on the relative abundance, infection status, and spatial distribution of the primary mosquito vector Culex quinquefascAuthorsM.E. Reiter, D.A. Lapointe - News