Island

Tag: Island

Reinvigorated by Nature: A Journey to Late Island, Tonga

By: Amy Levine, Conservation Impact Director at Island Conservation Our world today, dominated by technology and tireless commitments, can present rare opportunities for direct engagement with nature. My recent assignment to Late Island, Tonga, allowed me to explore this biodiversity-rich island. It provided an insight into an ecosystem minimally impacted by the modern world, save […]

Written by on August 15, 2023

Climate Change Threatens New Zealand Wildlife

New Zealand’s already threatened wildlife is forced to adapt to a changing climate to survive. New Zealand has been a safe-haven for its unique species, a home without mammalian predators. That is until the 1880’s when ships on the brought predators that were well suited for a variety of habitats. Since their introductions invasive predators […]

Written by on February 6, 2020

Efforts to Save Quolls might Actually Endanger Them

Researchers are finding that relocating marsupials to a predator-free island changes their behavior such that they are no longer afraid of predators. Over the past 80 years, the Northern Quoll, a cat-sized carnivorous marsupial with a pointed snout and bushy long tail, had disappeared all over Australia due to the invasive toxic Cane Toad. Northern […]

Written by on June 22, 2018

Poor Fliers Reluctant to Cross Water

A recent study shows some New Zealand birds are reluctant to fly over water. Scientists are wondering just how far birds are willing to fly in order to recolonize. By: Kate Guthrie Passerines are songbirds which can perch. More than half of all bird species are passerines and many of those found in Aotearoa/New Zealand […]

Written by on June 8, 2018

Island Mice Showcase Evolution in Action

Scientists discover smallest island where mammal species can speciate, lending insight into how evolution works on islands. Madagascar has several species of lemurs, Australia has multiple kangaroo species, and the Galápagos has the world’s only ocean-diving iguana. When animals are isolated on an island, they evolve differently than they do on mainlands, giving rise to […]

Written by on May 31, 2018

Do Bird-eating Mice Pose a Danger to Wisdom the Albatross?

Wisdom, the world’s oldest known wild bird, has survived more than six decades of trials and tribulations, but Midway Atoll’s mouse problem is a new threat. By: Kim Steutermann Rogers When the world’s oldest known wild bird, Wisdom, comes soaring in from a multi-week foraging trip to the North Pacific and drops her spatula-size feet onto the […]

Written by on April 19, 2018

Hawaiian Goose on its Way to Recovery

Officials have proposed that the Hawaiian Goose be downlisted from Endangered to Threatened. The Nene, Hawai’i’s official state bird also known as the Hawaiian Goose, has recently received some good news. Due to a growing population, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed downlisting the status of the Hawaiian Goose from Endangered to Threatened […]

Written by on April 13, 2018

Explore the Humboldt Archipelago Hope Spot, Chile

Humboldt Archipelago in Chile has been deemed a Hope Spot! International non-profit Mission Blue has officially declared the Humboldt Archipelago as a Hope Spot. This recognizes the area as one of the most ecologically diverse and biologically important regions along the Chilean Coast. This ecosystem supports important species such as the IUCN Vulnerable Humboldt Penguin and the IUCN Endangered Peruvian Diving-petrel. […]

Written by on April 4, 2018

Invasive Ants are Gone for Good on Tiritiri Island

The New Zealand Department of Conservation has successfully eradicated invasive ants from Tiritiri Matanga Island, New Zealand.  If ants have ever invaded your home, you know what a nuisance they can be–it can be very difficult to completely get rid of these persistent pests. Now imagine trying to eradicate ants from an entire island. Sound impossible? It’s […]

Written by on June 24, 2016

Island Living Changes Mammals

On islands, small mammals become bigger and large mammals get smaller. Ecosystem make-up and food resources are believed to be the cause of these size-change patterns.  The “Island Rule” describes the change in body size of mammals that migrate to islands: small mammals get bigger, and big mammals get smaller. Why is this? There is […]

Written by on June 17, 2016