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Island Conservation
Island-dwelling Solenodon survived the asteroid that extinguished the dinosaurs–can it survive the Anthropocene? If you have never heard of the Solenodon until now, you’re not alone. The Solenodon (pronounced so-leen-o-don) lives only on two islands in the world–Cuba and Hispaniola. The nocturnal, insect-eating Solenodon is elusive and eccentric. It’s one of the only mammals in […]
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 […]
Three new lemur species have been identified in Madagascar, an island nation off the southeast coast of Africa. Scientists from the German Primate Center (DPZ), the University of Kentucky, the American Duke Lemur Center and the Université d’Antananarivo in Madagascar have described three new species of Mouse Lemurs. The identification of new lemur species has […]
Endangered species find refuge on predator-free Wedge Island, Australia. The protected area offers species a chance to bounce back from extinction. The Critically Endangered Brush-tailed Bettong and Black-footed Rock Wallaby used to thrive in Australia. However, due largely to predatory invasive species such as feral cats and foxes on Mainland Australia, these mammals have experienced […]
The second-known land mammal to be a native of Hawaii has been identified. Sadly, it’s extinct. In 1981, the remains of an unknown species were found in a lava tube on Maui. Researchers struggled for decades to identify the species. This year, they finally arrived at their answer. The remains belong to a unique subcategory of the Evening or Vesper […]
The Endangered Northern Quoll might be one of the cutest threatened native Australian species there is. This small mammal with big eyes and long whiskers recently experienced a devastating population crash. Why? We think invasive and introduced species are to blame…Particularly cats and feral herbivores like cattle pigs and buffalo. – Anthony Simms, senior project […]
Island Foxes set record for least genetic variation in a sexually reproducing species. High genetic diversity among individuals in a species is usually optimal for survival, while low levels of genetic variation put a species at risk of extinction. In an evolutionary twist, Island Foxes native to the Channel Islands are challenging this long-standing principle. The […]
Have you heard of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot? It’s a small furry marsupial that lives in Tasmania and Victoria, Australia. If you’ve never seen one before, it’s not too late. Thanks to a recovery program, this adorable species is rebounding from extinction. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot’s population size had fallen at an alarming rate in […]
Conservation intervention relieved the Channel Island ecosystems from the pressures of invasive species. Island Conservation’s headquarters is located in Santa Cruz, California, so the news about invasive species on the Channel Islands is quite literally close to home. Anacapa Island of the Channel Islands, California. Photo by Island Conservation Invasive species arrived at the islands via human activities, […]