Island Conservation
New Zealand’s native frog species, like many frogs throughout the world, are at risk of extinction. Frogs might not be as cute as some other endangered animals, but they are incredibly important in their native environments. Frogs are frequently one of the first species to be lost in an ecosystem due to their sensitivity to […]
Scientists have designed ant-proof nests to protect Endangered Yellow-faced Bees. In 2016, seven of Hawaii’s sixty species of Yellow-faced Bees (genus Hylaeus) were added to the Endangered Species List. The bees are primary pollinators of the abundant Hawaiian Naupaka shrub. The decreasing population can most likely be attributed to nest disruption from invasive ants. Little is known about […]
A new scientific study reports that the spread of invasive species around the globe has increased in the past 200 years, indicating a need for enhanced biosecurity. Which came first: the transportation of species around the globe or regulations on transportation of species around the globe? You guessed it–the former. Humans have been traveling with animal […]
Phillip Island penguins benefit from protection against invasive predators. Phillip Island, Victoria Australia is famous for its native Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) colony. Invasive feral foxes, which posed threats to the native penguins, were once present on Phillip Island but have not been seen in two years thanks to conservation intervention. In the absence of foxes the […]
Conservation Biologist Dena Spatz reflects on the Biodiversity Days Conference and the “Half-Earth” project sparked by scientist E.O. Wilson. By: Dena Spatz During the first week of March, 2017, I joined hundreds of people at the “E.O. Wilson Foundation’s Biodiversity Days Conference“. The theme for the event was “Half-Earth”, a call to action to save the […]
Did you know you can use your smartphone as a conservation tool? New technology can support the protection of native species. Technology and community are integral to conservation and continue to weave together to support our planet in novel ways. In recent years, conservationists have begun to develop phone applications that empower individuals to participate […]
Conservationists move 15 Black-footed Albatross chicks to O’ahu to protect the species from sea level rise. The James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge in O’ahu, Hawaii has welcomed 15 Black-footed Albatross chicks (Phoebastria nigripes) to their new home this month. The chicks were born about three weeks prior on Midway Atoll, where approximately 90% of their […]
For Women’s History Month, Sally Esposito, Director of Communications and Marketing for Island Conservation, reflects on a woman whose work and character inspire her. For Women’s History Month, I’m honored to share reflections on a colleague who inspires me—Island Conservation’s Deputy Director Jen Lape. From her origins of researching the ecology of coral reefs in graduate […]
Mice as Conservationists? Scientific American features research that could change the way conservationists prevent extinctions of island species. By: Heath Packard What if releasing mice on an island could result in the safe, humane, and efficient removal of damaging invasive rodents introduced to that island 100’s of years ago? “Mice as Conservationists” is not a […]
New beetle species discovered in Paris museum is already extinct, but leaves us with some important messages. Tucked away among the shelves of a museum in Paris for 140 years was a new discovery waiting to happen. To the untrained eye, it would appear to be just another beetle in a diverse collection. But in fact, there […]