Research

Tag: Research

Dr. Daniel Simberloff Receives 2016 John Pritzlaff Award

Island Conservation board member and renowned conservation biologist Dr. Daniel Simberloff receives prestigious conservation award at the 2016 California Islands Symposium. Every year since 2007 the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden presents the Honorable John C. Pritzlaff Conservation Award to a “global trailblazer in conservation.” This year the winner of this prestigious award is Daniel Simberloff, dedicated conservationist and a valued board […]

Written by on October 31, 2016

The Research is Clear: To Prevent Extinctions, Restore Islands

A paper published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences details how invasive species removal can restore island ecosystems and protect native species.  Ecosystems around the world suffer from the presence of invasive species. Invasive species, when introduced to a foreign environment, can cause sudden and disastrous shifts in the ecosystem. Although invasive species erode ecosystem vitality around […]

Written by on October 13, 2016

New Study: Management of Invasive Predators on Islands a Global Conservation Priority

A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports that invasive predators have contributed to close to 60% of extinctions of birds, mammals, and reptiles. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature classified 596 species listed as Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered due to invasive species. The actual number is believed to be higher […]

Written by on October 13, 2016

Groundbreaking Framework aims to Prevent Plant Extinctions

Native plant extinctions caused by invasive plants occur over a long period of time and are difficult to detect. Research indicates a need for tracking plant decline and instating measures to prevent extinctions. A new research paper by Paul O. Downey and David M. Richardson, published by Oxford University Press, tackles the problem of measuring threats that invasive plants pose […]

Written by on August 29, 2016

Measuring Biodiversity Loss & its Consequences

Biodiversity loss is a serious concern for our planet. Conservation intervention is more critical than ever before. A recent study published in Science found that biodiversity (the diversity of all lifeforms on the planet) has dropped below a “safe” level on nearly two thirds of Earth’s lands. That same area is home to 71% of all humans. […]

Written by on July 21, 2016

Effortless and Extreme: Frigatebirds in Flight

Research reveals incredible details about Frigatebirds and their flying abilities.  A Frigatebird, Fregata magnificens, is a tropical seabird with an impressive 6-foot wingspan. Its feathers are not waterproof–which is surprising for a seabird–and being unable to land on water, they have adapted astounding flying abilities. Frigatebirds spend so much time in the air that scientists have not […]

Written by on July 14, 2016

The Economic Toll of Invasive Species

A new study finds that China and the U.S. pay the highest absolute price and developing countries dependent on agriculture pay the highest relative price for the spread of invasive species.  Experts have long known that invasive species disrupt ecosystems and threaten native wildlife. Now, research by Dean Paini and colleagues at the Commonwealth Scientific and […]

Written by on July 1, 2016

New Lizard Species Discovered in the Dominican Republic

The discovery of a new lizard species in the Dominican Republic by University of Toronto researchers reinforces a theory that lizard communities evolve almost identically on separate islands.  A team from University of Toronto (U of T) has recently discovered a new species of lizard in the Dominican Republic (DR). The Greater Antillean Anole, Anolis landestoyi, is the first […]

Written by on July 1, 2016

Seabird Research Leads to Protection for Malta Islands

Five years of seabird research leads to unprecedented European Union (EU) and local protection of marine areas in Malta. Birdlife Malta has conducted research on seabirds for five years. The findings of the Malta Seabird Project have prompted the protection of marine areas which will benefit native seabirds. Previously, the cliff nesting sites in Malta […]

Written by on June 17, 2016

Higher Biodiversity Increases Disease Resistance

Study finds that higher biodiversity enhances disease-resistance in ecosystems. A recent study published in the journal Ecology by Australian and Chinese researchers from University of Adelaide and Fudan University suggests that higher levels of biodiversity increase an ecosystem’s disease resistance. The researchers studied the relationship between biodiversity and the severity of a fungal disease. Alpine Meadow. Photo: […]

Written by on May 10, 2016