Richard J Camp, PhD
Specialty: Quantitative ecology; abundance and demographic modeling; avian ecology and conservation
Research Interests: Status and trend estimation; Bayesian inference; hierarchical modeling; spatial and temporal modeling; population dynamics modeling
Personal Interests: Running, bicycling, beer brewing and family
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2020 Statistics, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
M.S. 1995 Wildlife Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
B.S. 1991 Wildlife Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Science and Products
Pacific Island Bird Survey Design and Data Analysis
Abundance data are collected for bird populations throughout the Pacific Islands by numerous federal, state, university, and non-profit organizations. In order to ensure data are standardized and available to researchers throughout the region, interagency bird databases have been created and continue to be used. These databases contain more than a million compiled, proofed, and standardized...
Advancing Wildlife Monitoring to Improve Management of Endangered Hawaiian Birds in a Changing Climate
Mosquito-borne disease is the biggest threat to Hawai‘i’s remaining native forest birds, of which more than half are threatened or endangered. Currently, disease-carrying mosquitoes are unable to move into colder high-elevation forests, but as the islands warm due to climate change, mosquitoes are steadily moving into the last native bird strongholds. Mosquito suppression efforts are...
Global Climate Change Impacts on Plants of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Climate change is expected to alter the seasonal and annual patterns of rainfall and temperature in the Hawaiian Islands. Warming temperatures and altered precipitation patterns both impact ecological systems, but managing these impacts is difficult without detailed information on the magnitude and timing of these climate-related changes.
Assessing the Potential Effects of Climate Change on Vegetation in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Climate change in Hawaiʻi is expected to result in increasing temperatures and varying precipitation through the twenty-first century. Already, high elevation areas have experienced rapidly increasing temperatures and there has been an increase in the frequency of drought across the Islands. These climatic changes could have significant impacts on Hawaiʻi’s plants and animals. Changes in
Filter Total Items: 13
Island of Hawaiʻi mosquito, hydrological, and environmental data from riparian habitats, 2022-2024 Island of Hawaiʻi mosquito, hydrological, and environmental data from riparian habitats, 2022-2024
This data release includes 12 data files documenting climatic, hydrologic, and mosquito variables collected at seven riparian study sites on three streams located on the windward flank of Mauna Kea on the Island of Hawai'i from 2022 to 2024. Daily ambient temperature, ambient relative humidity, cumulative precipitation, stream pool water temperatures, and stream height (stage) were...
Upper Waiākea Forest Reserve, Island of Hawai'i, Trap Efficacy and Mark-Release-Recapture Trial of Culex quinquefasciatus, 2020-2024 Upper Waiākea Forest Reserve, Island of Hawai'i, Trap Efficacy and Mark-Release-Recapture Trial of Culex quinquefasciatus, 2020-2024
This USGS data release consists of five data sets and accompanying metadata for an experimental mark-release-recapture (MMR) study of adult Culex quinquefasciatus conducted in a montane rainforest in Upper Waiākea Forest Reserve on the Island of Hawai'i from October-December 2020 and laboratory survivorship studies and analysis from 2021- 2024. Culex quinquefasciatus is the vector of the...
Kīpahulu Valley, Haleakalā National Park, Maui Seasonal Distribution and Relative Abundance of the Mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus, 2022-2023 Kīpahulu Valley, Haleakalā National Park, Maui Seasonal Distribution and Relative Abundance of the Mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus, 2022-2023
This USGS data release consists of six data sets and accompanying metadata for a year-long study on the seasonal distribution and relative abundance of the southern house mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus in Kīpahulu Valley, Haleakalā National Park, critical habitat for two endangered Maui endemic forest birds. Culex quinquefasciatus is the vector of the avian malaria Plasmodium relictum...
Island of Hawaii bird, mosquito, and avian malaria infection data 2001-2004 Island of Hawaii bird, mosquito, and avian malaria infection data 2001-2004
This data publication contains data files collected as part of a field, laboratory, and modeling effort aimed at uncovering ecological drivers of avian malaria transmission and impacts on Hawaiian honeycreepers across an elevational gradient on the eastern flank of Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes on Hawaii Island. From 2001-2004, mosquito and bird data were collected at nine sites...
Haleakala National Park bird survey data 1993-2008 Haleakala National Park bird survey data 1993-2008
Eight-minute point-transect distance bird surveys were collected in and around Haleakala National Park from 1993-2008. This dataset contains the location, species, and distance to detected birds, as well as identifying initials to distinguish among observers.
Hawaii Island Kohala Mountain complex forest bird survey, 2017 Hawaii Island Kohala Mountain complex forest bird survey, 2017
This data release contains the point-transect distance sampling records of forest bird survey collected in the Kohala Mountain complex in 2017, including survey point IDs, distance to detected birds, sampling conditions, ohia phenology, habitat classifications and background noise levels. This data release consists of one tabular dataset.
Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaii Akepa point-transect survey, 2002 Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaii Akepa point-transect survey, 2002
This dataset contains the point-transect distance sampling records of Hawaii Akepa collected at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge in 2002, including survey point locations, distance to detected birds, number of detected birds, elevation, and alliance-level habitat classification. This data release consists of two tabular datasets, one that contains distances and the other that...
Alamagan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Nightingale Reed-warbler point transect survey data, 2010 Alamagan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Nightingale Reed-warbler point transect survey data, 2010
Point transect distance sampling data were collected during the 2010 surveys of Alamagan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Data were collected at points along transects where trained observers recorded the detection type (heard, seen, or heard then seen) and horizontal distance (exact distance in m) from the station center point to individual birds detected during an...
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawaiian hoary bat acoustic activity and insect prey data 2013-2015 Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawaiian hoary bat acoustic activity and insect prey data 2013-2015
We examined habitat use and foraging activity of the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus), as well as nocturnal aerial insect abundance at Kaloko-Hon kohau National Historical Park located in the coastal region of Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i Island. The study area covers approximately 486 ha of marine waters and terrestrial coastal plains. Hawaiian hoary bat echolocation
Lower Puna, Hawaii Island, bird and habitat surveys of 2003 and 2016 Lower Puna, Hawaii Island, bird and habitat surveys of 2003 and 2016
The newly identified rapid ohii death (ROD; Metrosideros polymorpha) originated in the lower Puna district and its distribution has spread across Hawaii Island. As ROD expands it is expected that the loss of the dominant tree species will adversely affect bird populations. This project is a first attempt to describe the relationship between the impacts of ROD on the Hawaiian avifauna...
Hakalau Bioacoustic Surveys and Models 2015 Hakalau Bioacoustic Surveys and Models 2015
In this study, we create and evaluate a protocol to estimate the density, which can be used to estimate the abundance of terrestrial sound-producing animals from single automatic sound recorders. The protocol uses cue rates from the target species as well as sampling conditions and an estimate of the distance of the individual to the recorder based on the power of the sound. We applied...
HAVO Montane Ohia Diameter and Cavity Data 2017 HAVO Montane Ohia Diameter and Cavity Data 2017
We quantified the availability of breeding habitat of the endangered Hawaii Akepa (Loxops coccineus). The species is thought to nest excusively in natural cavities within mature ohia (Metrosideros polymorpha) trees but birds commonly occur in short stature trees that presumably do not have any natural cavities because of their polyploidal (many-branched) structure. To test this...
Filter Total Items: 100
The continued decline of the Palila (Loxioides bailleui) on Mauna Kea, Island of Hawaiʻi The continued decline of the Palila (Loxioides bailleui) on Mauna Kea, Island of Hawaiʻi
Palila (Loxioides bailleui) are critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreepers specializing on māmane (Sophora chrysophylla) seeds and restricted to Mauna Kea volcano on the Island of Hawaiʻi. Recently, the population was estimated to decline by 89% between 1998 and 2021, despite decades of ungulate removal, fence construction, māmane regeneration, fire suppression, and predator control...
Authors
Noah Hunt, Chauncey Asing, Lindsey Nietmann, Paul Banko, Richard Camp
A monitoring framework to assess forest bird population response to landscape scale mosquito suppression using the Incompatible Insect Technique A monitoring framework to assess forest bird population response to landscape scale mosquito suppression using the Incompatible Insect Technique
The Birds, Not Mosquitoes Monitoring and Support Science Working Group detailed methods for monitoring the population response of Hawaiian forest birds during implementation of the Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT) on the islands of Maui and Kauaʻi. The group prioritized methods for measuring the influence of mosquito suppression on populations within IIT treatment and control areas...
Authors
Seth Judge, Christopher Warren, Amanda Navine, Richard Camp, Lisa Crampton, Hanna Mounce, John Vetter, Lauren K. Smith, Patrick Hart, Mona Bellinger, Katherine McClure
Quantifying landscape-level biodiversity change in an island ecosystem: A 50-year assessment of shifts in the Hawaiian avian community Quantifying landscape-level biodiversity change in an island ecosystem: A 50-year assessment of shifts in the Hawaiian avian community
Hawaii has experienced profound declines in native avifauna alongside the introduction of numerous bird species. While site-specific population studies are common, landscape-level analyses of avian population dynamics are rare, particularly in island ecosystems. To address this gap, we used a density surface model to create a spatio-temporal projection of population densities and...
Authors
Trevor Bak, Lucas Fortini, Noah Hunt, Paul Banko, Lena Schnell, Richard Camp
Breaking down Palila decline: Assessing the role of drought and vegetation health in the population loss of an endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper Breaking down Palila decline: Assessing the role of drought and vegetation health in the population loss of an endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper
The Palila (Loxioides bailleui), the last member of the once speciose finch-billed Hawaiian honeycreeper clade (Drepanidinae) in the main Hawaiian Islands, faces critical conservation challenges as an endangered species. Understanding the drivers of its decline is essential for effective management. We used additive decomposition models to examine temporal trends in climatic variables...
Authors
Erica Gallerani, Richard Camp, Paul Banko, Austin Madson, Chunyu Dong, Lucas Fortini, Zhimin Ma, Thomas Gillespie
Disease-driven collapse of the native Kauaʻi avifauna and the rise of introduced bird species Disease-driven collapse of the native Kauaʻi avifauna and the rise of introduced bird species
Hawaii hosts one of Earth’s most unique and threatened avifaunas. Upslope migration of mosquito-vectored avian malaria on Kauaʻi (maximum elevation 1,598 m) has likely caused its rapid loss of avifaunal diversity; only 8 of 13 historic forest bird species remain. We update the status and trends of Kauaʻi forest bird populations since the original (1981) surveys using the latest (2023)...
Authors
Noah J. Hunt, Lisa Crampton, Tyler A Winter, Jack D Alexander, Roy Glib, Richard Camp
Ten more years of the golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) on Maui, Hawaiian Islands Ten more years of the golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) on Maui, Hawaiian Islands
Since the introduction of the Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) to Haleakalā volcano, Maui, three decades ago, subsequent reports have hinted at an expansion of this nascent population. We draw from a variety of data sources to learn about this pheasant's present status on Maui. First, forest bird surveys conducted every five years revealed that the frequency of Golden Pheasant...
Authors
Thane Pratt, Christopher Warren, Erika Kekiwi, Kerri Fay, Richard Camp
Automated methods for processing camera trap video data for distance sampling Automated methods for processing camera trap video data for distance sampling
Context Population monitoring is an essential need for tracking biodiversity and judging efficacy of conservation management actions, both globally and in the Pacific. However, population monitoring efforts are often temporally inconsistent and limited to small scales. Motion-activated cameras (‘camera traps’) offer a way to cost-effectively monitor populations, but they also generate...
Authors
Trevor Bak, Richard Camp, Matthew Burt, Scott Vogt
Status and trends of forest bird populations at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, 1987–2024 Status and trends of forest bird populations at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, 1987–2024
Since 1985, the Hakalau Forest Unit of the Big Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex (hereafter, Hakalau) has protected the largest endemic forest bird diversity in the State of Hawaii. This includes three endangered and one threatened species and their habitats. Hakalau’s vast area (155 km2), mostly high elevation (>1500 m) montane forest, provides refuge from avian malaria...
Authors
Noah Hunt, Steve Kendall, Trevor Bak, Richard Camp
Pacific island landbird monitoring report, Kalaupapa National Historical Park, 2021 Pacific island landbird monitoring report, Kalaupapa National Historical Park, 2021
In 2021, landbird surveys were conducted at Kalaupapa National Historical Park on the island of Molokaʻi to assess changes in species composition, distribution, and population densities since 2005. Point-transect distance sampling surveys were conducted on six transects at 50 landbird monitoring stations within an 1,834-hectare area. A total of nine landbird species were detected, with...
Authors
Seth Judge, Lauren K. Smith, Richard Camp
Fine-grained temporal population monitoring of a declining, critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper Fine-grained temporal population monitoring of a declining, critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper
Annual point counts are commonly used to monitor birds to track population densities across space and time. Palila (Loxioides bailleui) are surveyed annually in the first quarter, but we recently instituted quarterly sampling that offers a unique opportunity to improve estimator precision. We conducted point-transect distance sampling point counts during the first quarter of 2020 through...
Authors
Richard Camp, Chauncey Asing, Noah J. Hunt, Alexander Wang, Chris Farmer, Lindsey Neitmann, Paul Banko
Using distance sampling with camera traps to estimate densities of ungulates on tropical oceanic islands Using distance sampling with camera traps to estimate densities of ungulates on tropical oceanic islands
Reliable population estimates are one of the most elementary needs for the management of wildlife, particularly for introduced ungulates on oceanic islands. We aimed to produce accurate and precise density estimates of Philippine deer (Rusa marianna) and wild pigs (Sus scrofa) on Guam using motion-triggered cameras combined with distance sampling to estimate densities from observations...
Authors
Richard Camp, Trevor Bak, Matthew D Burt, Scott Vogt
2022–2024 Status and trends of the Palila (Loxioides bailleui) 2022–2024 Status and trends of the Palila (Loxioides bailleui)
Palila (Loxioides bailleui) are critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreepers specializing on the seedpods of māmane (Sophora chrysophylla) and restricted to Mauna Kea volcano on the Island of Hawaiʻi. A previous analysis of survey data estimated an 89% population decline between 1998 and 2021. Using the most recent annual survey data from 2022, 2023, and 2024, we report updated annual...
Authors
Noah Hunt, Chauncey Asing, Lindsey Nietmann, Paul Banko, Richard Camp
Science and Products
Pacific Island Bird Survey Design and Data Analysis
Abundance data are collected for bird populations throughout the Pacific Islands by numerous federal, state, university, and non-profit organizations. In order to ensure data are standardized and available to researchers throughout the region, interagency bird databases have been created and continue to be used. These databases contain more than a million compiled, proofed, and standardized...
Advancing Wildlife Monitoring to Improve Management of Endangered Hawaiian Birds in a Changing Climate
Mosquito-borne disease is the biggest threat to Hawai‘i’s remaining native forest birds, of which more than half are threatened or endangered. Currently, disease-carrying mosquitoes are unable to move into colder high-elevation forests, but as the islands warm due to climate change, mosquitoes are steadily moving into the last native bird strongholds. Mosquito suppression efforts are...
Global Climate Change Impacts on Plants of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Climate change is expected to alter the seasonal and annual patterns of rainfall and temperature in the Hawaiian Islands. Warming temperatures and altered precipitation patterns both impact ecological systems, but managing these impacts is difficult without detailed information on the magnitude and timing of these climate-related changes.
Assessing the Potential Effects of Climate Change on Vegetation in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Climate change in Hawaiʻi is expected to result in increasing temperatures and varying precipitation through the twenty-first century. Already, high elevation areas have experienced rapidly increasing temperatures and there has been an increase in the frequency of drought across the Islands. These climatic changes could have significant impacts on Hawaiʻi’s plants and animals. Changes in
Filter Total Items: 13
Island of Hawaiʻi mosquito, hydrological, and environmental data from riparian habitats, 2022-2024 Island of Hawaiʻi mosquito, hydrological, and environmental data from riparian habitats, 2022-2024
This data release includes 12 data files documenting climatic, hydrologic, and mosquito variables collected at seven riparian study sites on three streams located on the windward flank of Mauna Kea on the Island of Hawai'i from 2022 to 2024. Daily ambient temperature, ambient relative humidity, cumulative precipitation, stream pool water temperatures, and stream height (stage) were...
Upper Waiākea Forest Reserve, Island of Hawai'i, Trap Efficacy and Mark-Release-Recapture Trial of Culex quinquefasciatus, 2020-2024 Upper Waiākea Forest Reserve, Island of Hawai'i, Trap Efficacy and Mark-Release-Recapture Trial of Culex quinquefasciatus, 2020-2024
This USGS data release consists of five data sets and accompanying metadata for an experimental mark-release-recapture (MMR) study of adult Culex quinquefasciatus conducted in a montane rainforest in Upper Waiākea Forest Reserve on the Island of Hawai'i from October-December 2020 and laboratory survivorship studies and analysis from 2021- 2024. Culex quinquefasciatus is the vector of the...
Kīpahulu Valley, Haleakalā National Park, Maui Seasonal Distribution and Relative Abundance of the Mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus, 2022-2023 Kīpahulu Valley, Haleakalā National Park, Maui Seasonal Distribution and Relative Abundance of the Mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus, 2022-2023
This USGS data release consists of six data sets and accompanying metadata for a year-long study on the seasonal distribution and relative abundance of the southern house mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus in Kīpahulu Valley, Haleakalā National Park, critical habitat for two endangered Maui endemic forest birds. Culex quinquefasciatus is the vector of the avian malaria Plasmodium relictum...
Island of Hawaii bird, mosquito, and avian malaria infection data 2001-2004 Island of Hawaii bird, mosquito, and avian malaria infection data 2001-2004
This data publication contains data files collected as part of a field, laboratory, and modeling effort aimed at uncovering ecological drivers of avian malaria transmission and impacts on Hawaiian honeycreepers across an elevational gradient on the eastern flank of Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes on Hawaii Island. From 2001-2004, mosquito and bird data were collected at nine sites...
Haleakala National Park bird survey data 1993-2008 Haleakala National Park bird survey data 1993-2008
Eight-minute point-transect distance bird surveys were collected in and around Haleakala National Park from 1993-2008. This dataset contains the location, species, and distance to detected birds, as well as identifying initials to distinguish among observers.
Hawaii Island Kohala Mountain complex forest bird survey, 2017 Hawaii Island Kohala Mountain complex forest bird survey, 2017
This data release contains the point-transect distance sampling records of forest bird survey collected in the Kohala Mountain complex in 2017, including survey point IDs, distance to detected birds, sampling conditions, ohia phenology, habitat classifications and background noise levels. This data release consists of one tabular dataset.
Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaii Akepa point-transect survey, 2002 Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaii Akepa point-transect survey, 2002
This dataset contains the point-transect distance sampling records of Hawaii Akepa collected at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge in 2002, including survey point locations, distance to detected birds, number of detected birds, elevation, and alliance-level habitat classification. This data release consists of two tabular datasets, one that contains distances and the other that...
Alamagan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Nightingale Reed-warbler point transect survey data, 2010 Alamagan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Nightingale Reed-warbler point transect survey data, 2010
Point transect distance sampling data were collected during the 2010 surveys of Alamagan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Data were collected at points along transects where trained observers recorded the detection type (heard, seen, or heard then seen) and horizontal distance (exact distance in m) from the station center point to individual birds detected during an...
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawaiian hoary bat acoustic activity and insect prey data 2013-2015 Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Hawaiian hoary bat acoustic activity and insect prey data 2013-2015
We examined habitat use and foraging activity of the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus), as well as nocturnal aerial insect abundance at Kaloko-Hon kohau National Historical Park located in the coastal region of Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i Island. The study area covers approximately 486 ha of marine waters and terrestrial coastal plains. Hawaiian hoary bat echolocation
Lower Puna, Hawaii Island, bird and habitat surveys of 2003 and 2016 Lower Puna, Hawaii Island, bird and habitat surveys of 2003 and 2016
The newly identified rapid ohii death (ROD; Metrosideros polymorpha) originated in the lower Puna district and its distribution has spread across Hawaii Island. As ROD expands it is expected that the loss of the dominant tree species will adversely affect bird populations. This project is a first attempt to describe the relationship between the impacts of ROD on the Hawaiian avifauna...
Hakalau Bioacoustic Surveys and Models 2015 Hakalau Bioacoustic Surveys and Models 2015
In this study, we create and evaluate a protocol to estimate the density, which can be used to estimate the abundance of terrestrial sound-producing animals from single automatic sound recorders. The protocol uses cue rates from the target species as well as sampling conditions and an estimate of the distance of the individual to the recorder based on the power of the sound. We applied...
HAVO Montane Ohia Diameter and Cavity Data 2017 HAVO Montane Ohia Diameter and Cavity Data 2017
We quantified the availability of breeding habitat of the endangered Hawaii Akepa (Loxops coccineus). The species is thought to nest excusively in natural cavities within mature ohia (Metrosideros polymorpha) trees but birds commonly occur in short stature trees that presumably do not have any natural cavities because of their polyploidal (many-branched) structure. To test this...
Filter Total Items: 100
The continued decline of the Palila (Loxioides bailleui) on Mauna Kea, Island of Hawaiʻi The continued decline of the Palila (Loxioides bailleui) on Mauna Kea, Island of Hawaiʻi
Palila (Loxioides bailleui) are critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreepers specializing on māmane (Sophora chrysophylla) seeds and restricted to Mauna Kea volcano on the Island of Hawaiʻi. Recently, the population was estimated to decline by 89% between 1998 and 2021, despite decades of ungulate removal, fence construction, māmane regeneration, fire suppression, and predator control...
Authors
Noah Hunt, Chauncey Asing, Lindsey Nietmann, Paul Banko, Richard Camp
A monitoring framework to assess forest bird population response to landscape scale mosquito suppression using the Incompatible Insect Technique A monitoring framework to assess forest bird population response to landscape scale mosquito suppression using the Incompatible Insect Technique
The Birds, Not Mosquitoes Monitoring and Support Science Working Group detailed methods for monitoring the population response of Hawaiian forest birds during implementation of the Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT) on the islands of Maui and Kauaʻi. The group prioritized methods for measuring the influence of mosquito suppression on populations within IIT treatment and control areas...
Authors
Seth Judge, Christopher Warren, Amanda Navine, Richard Camp, Lisa Crampton, Hanna Mounce, John Vetter, Lauren K. Smith, Patrick Hart, Mona Bellinger, Katherine McClure
Quantifying landscape-level biodiversity change in an island ecosystem: A 50-year assessment of shifts in the Hawaiian avian community Quantifying landscape-level biodiversity change in an island ecosystem: A 50-year assessment of shifts in the Hawaiian avian community
Hawaii has experienced profound declines in native avifauna alongside the introduction of numerous bird species. While site-specific population studies are common, landscape-level analyses of avian population dynamics are rare, particularly in island ecosystems. To address this gap, we used a density surface model to create a spatio-temporal projection of population densities and...
Authors
Trevor Bak, Lucas Fortini, Noah Hunt, Paul Banko, Lena Schnell, Richard Camp
Breaking down Palila decline: Assessing the role of drought and vegetation health in the population loss of an endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper Breaking down Palila decline: Assessing the role of drought and vegetation health in the population loss of an endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper
The Palila (Loxioides bailleui), the last member of the once speciose finch-billed Hawaiian honeycreeper clade (Drepanidinae) in the main Hawaiian Islands, faces critical conservation challenges as an endangered species. Understanding the drivers of its decline is essential for effective management. We used additive decomposition models to examine temporal trends in climatic variables...
Authors
Erica Gallerani, Richard Camp, Paul Banko, Austin Madson, Chunyu Dong, Lucas Fortini, Zhimin Ma, Thomas Gillespie
Disease-driven collapse of the native Kauaʻi avifauna and the rise of introduced bird species Disease-driven collapse of the native Kauaʻi avifauna and the rise of introduced bird species
Hawaii hosts one of Earth’s most unique and threatened avifaunas. Upslope migration of mosquito-vectored avian malaria on Kauaʻi (maximum elevation 1,598 m) has likely caused its rapid loss of avifaunal diversity; only 8 of 13 historic forest bird species remain. We update the status and trends of Kauaʻi forest bird populations since the original (1981) surveys using the latest (2023)...
Authors
Noah J. Hunt, Lisa Crampton, Tyler A Winter, Jack D Alexander, Roy Glib, Richard Camp
Ten more years of the golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) on Maui, Hawaiian Islands Ten more years of the golden pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) on Maui, Hawaiian Islands
Since the introduction of the Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus) to Haleakalā volcano, Maui, three decades ago, subsequent reports have hinted at an expansion of this nascent population. We draw from a variety of data sources to learn about this pheasant's present status on Maui. First, forest bird surveys conducted every five years revealed that the frequency of Golden Pheasant...
Authors
Thane Pratt, Christopher Warren, Erika Kekiwi, Kerri Fay, Richard Camp
Automated methods for processing camera trap video data for distance sampling Automated methods for processing camera trap video data for distance sampling
Context Population monitoring is an essential need for tracking biodiversity and judging efficacy of conservation management actions, both globally and in the Pacific. However, population monitoring efforts are often temporally inconsistent and limited to small scales. Motion-activated cameras (‘camera traps’) offer a way to cost-effectively monitor populations, but they also generate...
Authors
Trevor Bak, Richard Camp, Matthew Burt, Scott Vogt
Status and trends of forest bird populations at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, 1987–2024 Status and trends of forest bird populations at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, 1987–2024
Since 1985, the Hakalau Forest Unit of the Big Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex (hereafter, Hakalau) has protected the largest endemic forest bird diversity in the State of Hawaii. This includes three endangered and one threatened species and their habitats. Hakalau’s vast area (155 km2), mostly high elevation (>1500 m) montane forest, provides refuge from avian malaria...
Authors
Noah Hunt, Steve Kendall, Trevor Bak, Richard Camp
Pacific island landbird monitoring report, Kalaupapa National Historical Park, 2021 Pacific island landbird monitoring report, Kalaupapa National Historical Park, 2021
In 2021, landbird surveys were conducted at Kalaupapa National Historical Park on the island of Molokaʻi to assess changes in species composition, distribution, and population densities since 2005. Point-transect distance sampling surveys were conducted on six transects at 50 landbird monitoring stations within an 1,834-hectare area. A total of nine landbird species were detected, with...
Authors
Seth Judge, Lauren K. Smith, Richard Camp
Fine-grained temporal population monitoring of a declining, critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper Fine-grained temporal population monitoring of a declining, critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper
Annual point counts are commonly used to monitor birds to track population densities across space and time. Palila (Loxioides bailleui) are surveyed annually in the first quarter, but we recently instituted quarterly sampling that offers a unique opportunity to improve estimator precision. We conducted point-transect distance sampling point counts during the first quarter of 2020 through...
Authors
Richard Camp, Chauncey Asing, Noah J. Hunt, Alexander Wang, Chris Farmer, Lindsey Neitmann, Paul Banko
Using distance sampling with camera traps to estimate densities of ungulates on tropical oceanic islands Using distance sampling with camera traps to estimate densities of ungulates on tropical oceanic islands
Reliable population estimates are one of the most elementary needs for the management of wildlife, particularly for introduced ungulates on oceanic islands. We aimed to produce accurate and precise density estimates of Philippine deer (Rusa marianna) and wild pigs (Sus scrofa) on Guam using motion-triggered cameras combined with distance sampling to estimate densities from observations...
Authors
Richard Camp, Trevor Bak, Matthew D Burt, Scott Vogt
2022–2024 Status and trends of the Palila (Loxioides bailleui) 2022–2024 Status and trends of the Palila (Loxioides bailleui)
Palila (Loxioides bailleui) are critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreepers specializing on the seedpods of māmane (Sophora chrysophylla) and restricted to Mauna Kea volcano on the Island of Hawaiʻi. A previous analysis of survey data estimated an 89% population decline between 1998 and 2021. Using the most recent annual survey data from 2022, 2023, and 2024, we report updated annual...
Authors
Noah Hunt, Chauncey Asing, Lindsey Nietmann, Paul Banko, Richard Camp