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Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Research at the Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center focuses on providing the scientific understanding and technologies needed to support and implement sound management and conservation of our Nation's biological resources occurring in Hawai'i and other Pacific island locations.

News

Scientists bite back at invasive mosquitoes, work for Hawaiian Honeycreeper conservation

Scientists bite back at invasive mosquitoes, work for Hawaiian Honeycreeper conservation

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

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

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

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

Publications

Fine-resolution land cover mapping over large and mountainous areas for Lāna‘i, Hawaii using posterior probabilities, and expert knowledge

The task of accurately mapping species-specific vegetation cover in remote and topographically complex regions like those found in Hawaiʻi presents unique challenges. This study leverages a machine learning approach to accurately classify vegetation into fine species-specific classes across the island of Lāna‘i, Hawaii, offering a novel methodology for tackling such challenges. Utilizing high-reso
Authors
Lucas Fortini, Qiuming Cheng, Yoko Uyehara, Kari Bogner, Jonathan Sprague, Rachel Sprague

Videographic monitoring at caves to estimate population size of the endangered yǻyaguak (Mariana swiftlet) on Guam

The yǻyaguak (Mariana swiftlet; Aerodramus bartschi) is an endangered cave-nesting species historically found on Guam and the southern Mariana Islands, Micronesia. The population on Guam has been severely affected by the introduction of the brown treesnake Boiga irregularis. Population status assessments have, however, been challenging due to the limitations of traditional counting methods, which
Authors
P. Marcos Gorresen, Paul M. Cryan, Megan Parker, Frank Alig, Melia Gail Nafus, Eben H. Paxton

Identifying conservation introduction sites for endangered birds through the integration of lidar-based habitat suitability models and population viability analyses

Similar to other single-island endemic Hawaiian honeycreepers, the critically endangered ‘ākohekohe (Palmeria dolei) is threatened by climate-driven disease spread. To avert the imminent risk of extinction, managers are considering novel measures, including the conservation introduction (CI) of ‘ākohekohe from Maui to higher elevation habitats on the Island of Hawai’i. This study integrated lidar-
Authors
Lucas Fortini, Erica Gallerani, Christopher C Warren, Eben H. Paxton

Science

Modeling First Records to Guide Invasive Species Biosurveillance in Hawai‘i

Early detection of invasive species can enable their successful eradication. With climate change and dynamic patterns of global trade, it is difficult to predict which new invasive species will next get introduced and where introduction and establishment will occur. We are analyzing where non-native species have first established in Hawai‘i to develop mapped predictions of the relative risk of new...
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Modeling First Records to Guide Invasive Species Biosurveillance in Hawai‘i

Early detection of invasive species can enable their successful eradication. With climate change and dynamic patterns of global trade, it is difficult to predict which new invasive species will next get introduced and where introduction and establishment will occur. We are analyzing where non-native species have first established in Hawai‘i to develop mapped predictions of the relative risk of new...
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Population Assessments of the Pacific Sheath-Tailed Bat and Mariana Swiftlet

Using thermal cameras, we are determining the population size and cave occupancy of the Mariana swiftlet and Pacific sheath-tailed bat. Both species face extirpation from the Northern Mariana Islands and are listed as endangered. Understanding the species' population status can assist in planning recovery efforts for both species.
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Population Assessments of the Pacific Sheath-Tailed Bat and Mariana Swiftlet

Using thermal cameras, we are determining the population size and cave occupancy of the Mariana swiftlet and Pacific sheath-tailed bat. Both species face extirpation from the Northern Mariana Islands and are listed as endangered. Understanding the species' population status can assist in planning recovery efforts for both species.
Learn More

Climatic and Ecological Scenarios to Guide Development of a Spatial Resist-Accept-Direct Portfolio at Nāpuʻu, Hawaiʻi

Climate change and invasive species are transforming ecosystems. The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework organizes management objectives into those that seek to Resist change and maintain historical ecological communities, those that Accept some or all aspects of ecological transformation, and those that Direct an ecological community to a preferred state. We are evaluating risks posed by climate...
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Climatic and Ecological Scenarios to Guide Development of a Spatial Resist-Accept-Direct Portfolio at Nāpuʻu, Hawaiʻi

Climate change and invasive species are transforming ecosystems. The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework organizes management objectives into those that seek to Resist change and maintain historical ecological communities, those that Accept some or all aspects of ecological transformation, and those that Direct an ecological community to a preferred state. We are evaluating risks posed by climate...
Learn More