Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Secretary Haaland, Leaders Celebrate New U.S. Geological Survey / University of Hawai’i Facility to Support Volcano Monitoring & Ecosystem Restoration

plaustsen@usgs.gov — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 15:07:25 EDT

This release was originally shared by the Department of the Interior.

Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) Available for the USGS Hilo Research Facility

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Mon, 22 May 2023 17:34:25 EDT

A Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the USGS Hilo Research Facility has been completed and is available for public review.

Public input sought on environmental assessment for proposed USGS Facility in Hilo

kmulliken@usgs.gov — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 13:31:51 EST

Public input can be provided via email through March 28, 2023, or in person at an open house on March 15, 2023. Details provided below.

A Climate Change Canary in the Coal Mine - The Endangered Hawaiian Honeycreepers

rmcclymont@usgs.gov — Wed, 25 May 2022 10:45:00 EDT

Native Hawaiians have a deep kinship with Hawaiian forest birds and revere, honor, and deify them as family, ancestors, guardians, spirits, and gods. The connections among Hawaiians, their forests, and birds span centuries and continue today.

New Report: Conservation Strategies for Hawaiian Forest Birds at Risk of Extinction - Biological and Biocultural Considerations

kcourtot@usgs.gov — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 08:27:56 EDT

Avian malaria, a non-native disease transmitted by invasive mosquitoes, is driving the potential extinction of four endemic Hawaiian honeycreepers: ‘akikiki, ‘akeke‘e, kiwikiu, and ʻākohekohe. Two of the species have fewer than 200 birds remaining and could go extinct in the next few years. A new report details potential conservation strategies and their biological and biocultural considerations.

Community Meeting for Reimagining Molokaʻi's Wetlands

ssobie@usgs.gov — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 09:00:00 EDT

Community members and the news media are invited to join a public meeting to discuss potential options for restoring Molokaʻi’s coastal wetlands.

Environmental Assessment Being Prepared for New USGS Facility in Hilo, Hawai‘i

kcourtot@usgs.gov — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 20:38:38 EDT

The U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a new facility in Hilo, Hawai‘i Island, to support the USGS Hawai‘i Volcano Observatory (HVO) and Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center (PIERC).

Environmental DNA Research Sheds Light on Invasive Species

jburton@usgs.gov — Fri, 4 Mar 2022 11:44:10 EST

USGS Science is Refining eDNA Techniques and Developing New Applications

How Can Managers Respond to Changing Ecosystems?

ssoileau@usgs.gov — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 15:32:33 EST

A new Special Section in the journal BioScience provides an in-depth exposition of the Resist-Accept-Direct framework, a new approach to guide natural resource decision making. Articles in the Special Section explore the practical application of the framework, compatibility of existing tools, social barriers and opportunities, and future science needs.

Keeping Track of "Caly"

kcourtot@usgs.gov — Fri, 8 Jun 2018 05:00:00 EDT

Caly isn't likely to wonder off off, but with a remote camera and monitoring station online 24-hours a day, USGS and partners at the State of Hawai‘i Division of Forestry and Wildlife, University of Hawai‘i, and the USFWS can learn how an extremely rare plant is responding to changes in environmental conditions.

Sniffing Out Better Tools for Addressing Avian Botulism

kcourtot@usgs.gov — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 10:45:00 EST

Dogs have great olfactory abilities and wildlife biologists think they can help endangered waterbirds in Hawai‘i. Dogs are being trained to sniff out the endangered ducks (koloa maoli (Anas wyvilliana) and Laysan ducks (A. laysanensis)) that die of avian botulism.

Portable Lab Speeds Detection of Pathogens Responsible for Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death

kcourtot@usgs.gov — Wed, 10 May 2017 09:45:00 EDT

Researchers at the USGS Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, and USDA Agriculture Research Service have developed a new tool to rapidly detect the pathogens that cause Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death, a disease affecting a keystone tree species across more than 50,000 of acres of land in Hawai‘i.