Skip to main content

Paul C Banko, Ph.D.

Specialty: Bird conservation biology, food web ecology

Research Interests: Bird ecology and restoration; ecology and evolution of feeding specialization; threats to food webs; historical ecology

Personal Interests: Camping, hiking and diving

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. 1988 Wildlife Science, University of Washington, Seattle WA

     

  • B.S. 1972 Zoology and Botany, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Science and Products

link
Rufus fantail nestlings

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...
By
Ecosystems, Wildlife Program, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
link

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...
Learn More
link
A rat peeks through the tall grass in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Monitoring Bird and Rat Behavior to Improve Invasive Species Management

Introduced rats are notorious predators of birds and their nests worldwide, but especially on remote islands. Rats (Rattus exulans) first arrived in Hawai‘i with Polynesian colonists about 1,000 years ago, resulting in deleterious consequences for native birds and ecosystems. Since Western contact in 1778, two additional rat species have become established in Hawai‘i, including the highly invasive...
By
Ecosystems, Wildlife Program, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
link

Monitoring Bird and Rat Behavior to Improve Invasive Species Management

Introduced rats are notorious predators of birds and their nests worldwide, but especially on remote islands. Rats (Rattus exulans) first arrived in Hawai‘i with Polynesian colonists about 1,000 years ago, resulting in deleterious consequences for native birds and ecosystems. Since Western contact in 1778, two additional rat species have become established in Hawai‘i, including the highly invasive...
Learn More
link
A rat peeks through the tall grass in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Integrated Management of Alien Predators

Small mammals (including three species of rats and one species of mongoose) and social Hymenoptera (order of insects including ants and yellowjacket wasps) form two groups of alien predators in Hawaiian ecosystems. The combined impact of these predators has resulted in substantial loss or reduction of native biota in the Pacific. Furthermore, given the past successes of managing or excluding feral...
By
Ecosystems, Invasive Species Program, Wildlife Program, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
link

Integrated Management of Alien Predators

Small mammals (including three species of rats and one species of mongoose) and social Hymenoptera (order of insects including ants and yellowjacket wasps) form two groups of alien predators in Hawaiian ecosystems. The combined impact of these predators has resulted in substantial loss or reduction of native biota in the Pacific. Furthermore, given the past successes of managing or excluding feral...
Learn More
link
Pulvinaria scales on Pisonia leaves

Experimental Control of Invasive Ant Species

Islands and atolls throughout the Pacific have been impacted by invasive ant species. Threatening native ants and other arthropods with their aggressive behavior and ability to colonize large geographic areas, invasive ants pose one of the most serious threats to island ecosystems. This project focuses on three areas of the Pacific: American Samoa, Rose Atoll, and Johnston Atoll.
By
Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
link

Experimental Control of Invasive Ant Species

Islands and atolls throughout the Pacific have been impacted by invasive ant species. Threatening native ants and other arthropods with their aggressive behavior and ability to colonize large geographic areas, invasive ants pose one of the most serious threats to island ecosystems. This project focuses on three areas of the Pacific: American Samoa, Rose Atoll, and Johnston Atoll.
Learn More
link
Image: Palila

Palila Restoration

The palila is an endangered species of Hawaiian honeycreeper which exists only in subalpine forests dominated by māmane and naio on Mauna Kea Volcano. The diet of this finch-billed bird is unusually restricted; immature seeds, flowers, and insects found on māmane trees are critical to its existence. Māmane also is the preferred nesting substrate of the palila. Federal court orders have resulted in...
By
Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
link

Palila Restoration

The palila is an endangered species of Hawaiian honeycreeper which exists only in subalpine forests dominated by māmane and naio on Mauna Kea Volcano. The diet of this finch-billed bird is unusually restricted; immature seeds, flowers, and insects found on māmane trees are critical to its existence. Māmane also is the preferred nesting substrate of the palila. Federal court orders have resulted in...
Learn More
link
Samoan swallowtail

Understanding Factors Affecting Decline of Samoan Swallowtail Butterfly

The Samoan swallowtail is a large and strikingly marked butterfly endemic to the Samoan Archipelago. Once widespread and common, its populations have declined dramatically, and it now appears restricted to the island of Tutuila, an area representing approximately 5% of its former range. There are few insects that are commonly thought of as indicators of ecosystem health, but the Samoan swallowtail...
By
Ecosystems, Wildlife Program, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
link

Understanding Factors Affecting Decline of Samoan Swallowtail Butterfly

The Samoan swallowtail is a large and strikingly marked butterfly endemic to the Samoan Archipelago. Once widespread and common, its populations have declined dramatically, and it now appears restricted to the island of Tutuila, an area representing approximately 5% of its former range. There are few insects that are commonly thought of as indicators of ecosystem health, but the Samoan swallowtail...
Learn More
link
Image: Iiwi on Mamane

Evaluating ‘I‘iwi Responses to Nectar Availability and Habitat Quality

‘I‘iwi populations have severely declined in recent decades in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (HAVO) and elsewhere in the Hawaiian Islands due to the cumulative impacts of many invasive threats that have degraded habitats, disrupted food webs, competed for resources, depredated nests and birds, and transmitted diseases.
By
Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
link

Evaluating ‘I‘iwi Responses to Nectar Availability and Habitat Quality

‘I‘iwi populations have severely declined in recent decades in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (HAVO) and elsewhere in the Hawaiian Islands due to the cumulative impacts of many invasive threats that have degraded habitats, disrupted food webs, competed for resources, depredated nests and birds, and transmitted diseases.
Learn More
link
Koa looper moth caterpillars on Koa leaves

Dynamics of a Koa Looper Moth Outbreak and Response by the Native Forest Community

A massive outbreak of the native koa looper moth (Scotorythra paludicola; Geometridae) defoliated more than a third of the koa (Acacia koa) forest on Hawai‘i Island during 2013–2014. Our objective was to record the dynamics of the koa looper (Scotorythra paludicola) outbreak and evaluate the response to the outbreak by the forest ecosystem generally as well as select native and invasive species...
By
Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
link

Dynamics of a Koa Looper Moth Outbreak and Response by the Native Forest Community

A massive outbreak of the native koa looper moth (Scotorythra paludicola; Geometridae) defoliated more than a third of the koa (Acacia koa) forest on Hawai‘i Island during 2013–2014. Our objective was to record the dynamics of the koa looper (Scotorythra paludicola) outbreak and evaluate the response to the outbreak by the forest ecosystem generally as well as select native and invasive species...
Learn More

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Forest Composition and Hawaii Elepaio Breeding Behavior 1992-1994 and 2015-2019

This data release contains the tabular data and metadata to record changes in forest composition (tree species relative abundance, tree density, tree height, and tree diameter) over a span from 1993-1994 and 2015-2019. The data also includes Hawaii elepaio breeding territory sizes, and nest site selection (nest tree species, nest tree height, nest tree diameter).
By
Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Hakalau litter, frass, soil, and understory foliar nitrogen during a koa moth outbreak, 2013-2014

This data release includes metadata and tabular data that document estimates of litterfall, koa moth (Scotorythra paludicola) caterpillar frass production, soil nutrients, and foliar nutrients during 2013-2014 at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge. During this time, there was a massive defoliation event of Acacia koa (koa) trees by the koa moth. We monitored these metrics in 4 sites that vari
By
Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Hawaii Island insect response to koa moth (Scotorythra paludicola) outbreak, 2013-2014

This data release includes metadata and tabular data that document the responses of koa moths and other insects to changes in habitat conditions before and after koa (Acacia koa) defoliation by koa moth caterpillars (Scotorythra paludicola) at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge during 2013-2014. Data sets document changes in (1) koa moth abundance, (2) koa moth caterpillar abundance, (3) koa
By
Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Hawaii Island tree response to koa moth outbreak, 2013-2014

This data release includes metadata and tabular data that document the response of koa (Acacia koa) trees to defoliation by the koa moth (Scotorythra paludicola) during 2013-2014 at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge. Data were collected on 55 plots at 4 sites representing 2 habitat types with either high or low koa densities. Ohia (Metrosideros polymorpha) trees dominated habitats with low k
By
Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Hawaii Island bird response to koa moth outbreak, 2013-2014

This data release includes metadata and tabular data that document the responses of birds to changes in habitat conditions before and after koa (Acacia koa) defoliation by koa moths (Scotorythra paludicola). Data sets document changes in the (1) use of tree species, (2) arthropod composition of diets, and (3) body mass.
By
Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Elepaio nest monitoring and black rat mark recapture data 2015-2017

In Hawaii and other oceanic islands with few native land mammals, black rats (Rattus rattus) are among the most damaging invasive vertebrate species to native forest bird populations and habitats, due to their arboreal behavior and generalist foraging habitats and habitat use. We evaluated the nesting response of Hawaii Elepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis; Monarchidae), a generalist insectivore, to
By
Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Plant Reproductive and Rat Abundance Data 2016-2017

This data included data and metadata on 1) the number of open fruit of Hibiscidelphus giffardianus, 2) Mark recapture data for rats, 3) location data for rat traps within plots and 4) seedling count data for Hibiscidelphus giffardianus. All sites were within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This study aims to evaluate the effect of rat population control on the ability of Hibiscadelphus giffardianu
By
Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
Filter Total Items: 72

Linking plant and animal functional diversity with an experimental community restoration in a Hawaiian lowland wet forest

Testing how plant restoration influences animal taxonomic and functional diversity can shift restoration projects beyond mainly plant community considerations. We incorporated multi-trophic interactions into restoration by describing an ongoing functional trait-based restoration experiment in Hawaiian lowland tropical wet forest (Liko Nā Pilina Experiment), where litter arthropods are examined fro
By
Ecosystems, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Increased nesting success of Hawaii Elepaio in response to the removal of invasive black rats

In Hawaii and other oceanic islands with few native land mammals, black rats (Rattus rattus) are among the most damaging invasive vertebrate species to native forest bird populations and habitats, due to their arboreal behavior and generalist foraging habits and habitat use. We evaluated the nesting response of Hawaii Elepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis; Monarchidae), a generalist insectivore, to th
By
Ecosystems, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

2017-2018 Palila abundance estimates and trend

The palila (Loxioides bailleui) population was surveyed annually from 1998–2018 on Mauna Kea Volcanoto determine abundance, population trend, and spatial distribution. In the latest surveys, the 2017population was estimated at 1,177−1,813 birds (point estimate: 1,461) and the 2018 population wasestimated at 778−1,420 (point estimate: 1,051). Only two palila were detected outside the core surveyare
By
Ecosystems, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Invasive rat control is an efficient, yet insufficient, method for recovery of the critically endangered Hawaiian plant hau kuahiwi (Hibiscadelphus giffardianus)

Biological invasions of rodents and other species have been especially problematic on tropical islands. Invasive Rattus rattus consumption of Hibiscadelphus giffardianus (Malvaceae; common Hawaiian name hau kuahiwi) fruit and seeds has been hypothesized to be the most-limiting factor inhibiting the critically endangered tree, but this has not been experimentally tested, and little is known about o
By
Ecosystems, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Efforts to eradicate yellow crazy ants on Johnston Atoll: Results from crazy ant strike teams X, XI and XII (June 2015–December 2016)

Efforts to eradicate invasive yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes; YCA) on Johnston Atoll have been continuous since their discovery in 2010. Through 2014, a variety of commercial and novel formicidal baits were tested against the ant, but none proved capable of eradication. More recently, polyacrylamide crystals (“hydrogel”) saturated with a sucrose solution containing the insecticide dino
By
Ecosystems, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Changes in vocal repertoire of the Hawaiian crow, Corvus hawaiiensis,from past wild to current captive populations

For most avian species, social behaviour is critically important for survival and reproductive success. Many social behaviours in birds are culturally transmitted, and as bird populations decline across the globe, important elements of these behaviours may be lost. The Hawaiian crow or 'alalā, Corvus hawaiiensis, is a socially complex avian species that is currently extinct in the wild. As in othe
By
Ecosystems, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Federal collaboration in science for invasive mammal management in U.S. National Parks and Wildlife Refuges of the Pacific Islands

Some of the most isolated islands in the Pacific Ocean are home to US National Parks and Wildlife Refuges. These islands are known for flora and fauna that occur nowhere else, but also for invasive species and other factors which have resulted in the disproportionate extinction of native species. The control of invasive mammals is the single most expensive natural resource management activity esse
By
Ecosystems, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

State-space modeling of population sizes and trends in Nihoa Finch and Millerbird

Both of the 2 passerines endemic to Nihoa Island, Hawai‘i, USA—the Nihoa Millerbird (Acrocephalus familiaris kingi) and Nihoa Finch (Telespiza ultima)—are listed as endangered by federal and state agencies. Their abundances have been estimated by irregularly implemented fixed-width strip-transect sampling from 1967 to 2012, from which area-based extrapolation of the raw counts produced highly vari
By
Ecosystems, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

2015-2016 Palila abundance estimates

The palila (Loxioides bailleui) population was surveyed annually during 1998−2016 on Mauna Kea Volcano to determine abundance, population trend, and spatial distribution. In the latest surveys, the 2015 population was estimated at 852−1,406 birds (point estimate: 1,116) and the 2016 population was estimated at 1,494−2,385 (point estimate: 1,934). Similar numbers of palila were detected during the
By
Ecosystems, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Palila abundance estimates and trend

The Palila (Loxioides bailleui) is an endangered, seed-eating, finch-billed honeycreeper found only on Hawai`i Island. Once occurring on the islands of Kaua`i and O`ahu and Mauna Loa and Hualālai volcanoes of Hawai`i, Palila are now found only in subalpine, dry-forest habitats on Mauna Kea (Banko et al. 2002). Previous analyses showed that Palila numbers fluctuated throughout the 1980s and 1990s b
By
Ecosystems, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Current land bird distribution and trends in population abundance between 1982 and 2012 on Rota, Mariana Islands

The western Pacific island of Rota is the fourth largest human-inhabited island in the Mariana archipelago and designated an Endemic Bird Area. Between 1982 and 2012, 12 point-transect distance-sampling surveys were conducted to assess bird population status. Surveys did not consistently sample the entire island; thus, we used a ratio estimator to estimate bird abundances in strata not sampled dur
By
Ecosystems, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

Efforts to eradicate yellow crazy ants on Johnston Atoll: Results from Crazy Ant Strike Team IX, December 2014-June 2015

The ecologically destructive yellow crazy ant (YCA; Anoplolepis gracilipes) was first detected on Johnston Atoll in January 2010. Within eight months, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had mobilized its first crazy ant strike team (CAST), a group of biologists dedicated to testing and identifying insecticidal baits to be used to eradicate the ant on the atoll. During December 2014‒May 2015 CAST I
By
Ecosystems, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
link

New Report on Endangered Palila Conservation Biology

The U.S. Geological Survey today announced the availability of a report, "Palila Restoration Research, 1996−2012," which summarizes long-term studies...

Read Article
link

Volcano Watch — Where alien grazers and grasses invade, wildfires follow

Lava and lightning occasionally ignite fires in Hawaiian forests and shrublands where grass or other fine plant fuels are abundant and when the...

Read Article

Science and Products