Science and Products
Managing Non-native Game Mammals to Reduce Future Conflicts with Native Plant Conservation in Hawai‘i
Adaptation in Montane Plants
Feral Pig Abundance at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Invasive Mammals of the Pacific
Tracking Nēnē Movements Across Park Boundaries
Lanai habitat and ecological associations of two non-native ungulate species 2011
Hawaii Island, modelled density of malaria-resistant and -susceptible Iiwi following release of malaria-resistant birds under three climate change projections, 2030-2100
Kanakaleonui Bird Corridor Montane Plants 2016
Modeling scenarios for the management of axis deer in Hawai‘i
Habitat suitability and ecological associations of two non-native ungulate species on the Hawaiian island of Lanai
Hawaii as a microcosm: Advancing the science and practice of managing introduced and invasive species
Relationships between soil macroinvertebrates and nonnative feral pigs (Sus scrofa) in Hawaiian tropical montane wet forests
Facilitating adaptation to climate change while restoring a montane plant community
The risk of rodent introductions from shipwrecks to seabirds on Aleutian and Bering Sea islands
Accidental introductions of rodents present one of the greatest threats to indigenous island biota, especially seabirds. On uninhabited remote islands, such introductions are likely to come from shipwrecks. Here we use a comprehensive database of shipwrecks in Western Alaska to model the frequency of shipwrecks per Aleutian and Bering Sea island, taken as a proxy for the threat of rodent introduct
Biology and impacts of Pacific Islands invasive species. 14. Sus scrofa the feral pig (Artiodactyla: Suidae)
Feral goats and sheep
Monitoring eradication of European mouflon sheep from the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Facilitating adaptation in montane plants to changing precipitation along an elevation gradient
Conversion of native terrestrial ecosystems in Hawai‘i to novel grazing systems: a review
Federal collaboration in science for invasive mammal management in U.S. National Parks and Wildlife Refuges of the Pacific Islands
Science and Products
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Managing Non-native Game Mammals to Reduce Future Conflicts with Native Plant Conservation in Hawai‘i
Landscape-scale conservation of threatened and endangered species is often challenged by multiple, sometimes conflicting, land uses. In Hawaiʻi, efforts to conserve native forests have come into conflict with objectives to sustain non-native game mammals, such as feral pigs, goats, and deer, for subsistence and sport hunting. Maintaining stable or increasing game populations represents one of theAdaptation in Montane Plants
Montane plant communities in widely separated intact natural environments of the world have responded to changes in precipitation and temperature regimes by shifting both margins and core distributional ranges upward in elevation. Reduced evapotranspiration rates in cooler climate zones at higher elevation may compensate for less precipitation and higher temperatures within species’ former ranges...Feral Pig Abundance at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) have been identified as a significant problem in 120 U.S. National Wildlife Refuges. Pigs cause substantial degradation to natural ecosystems through rooting, digging, and browsing, but they are particularly destructive in Hawai‘I, which has no native terrestrial large mammals.Invasive Mammals of the Pacific
The terrestrial biota of the Central Pacific is primarily defined by its degree of isolation. At the center lies the Hawaiian Archipelago, which is more than 3,200 km from any continental land mass. After tens of millions of years of evolutionary isolation from all mammals except bats, islands of the Central Pacific were quite suddenly besieged by a number of alien rodents, carnivores and both...Tracking Nēnē Movements Across Park Boundaries
The federally endangered nēnē, or Hawaiian Goose, once present on most of the Hawaiian Islands, was found only on Hawai‘i Island by 1900. This remnant population was reduced to as few as 30 individuals by 1952 due to the combination of unregulated hunting, introduced mammalian predators, and large-scale habitat degradation. Nēnē have been restored to a few places like Hawai‘i Volcanoes National... - Data
Lanai habitat and ecological associations of two non-native ungulate species 2011
This series of five raster datasets includes three input rasters developed to model habitat suitability for two ungulate species on the island of Lanai; the two habitat suitability model raster datasets are also part of this data release. Input datasets were derived from WorldView-2 data to create vegetation (hereafter, NDVI) and bare ground indices, and from a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) to creHawaii Island, modelled density of malaria-resistant and -susceptible Iiwi following release of malaria-resistant birds under three climate change projections, 2030-2100
This data set provides the simulated results of releasing malaria-resistant Iiwi into existing populations of wild birds on the Island of Hawaii. Resistant birds are released into mid- and high-elevation forests at different densities at 10-year intervals from 2030 to 2070. Populations of both malaria-resistant and susceptible Iiwi are then predicted at 10-year intervals from release until 2100. PKanakaleonui Bird Corridor Montane Plants 2016
Montane plant communities throughout the world have responded to changes in precipitation and temperature regimes by shifting both margins and core distributional ranges upward in elevation. Continued warmer, drier climate conditions have been documented and are predicted to increase in high-elevation areas in Hawaii, consistent with climate change effects reported in other environments throughout - Publications
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Modeling scenarios for the management of axis deer in Hawai‘i
Axis deer (Axis axis) are invasive species that threaten native ecosystems and agriculture on Maui Island. To mitigate negative effects, it is necessary to understand current abundance, population trajectory, and how to most effectively reduce the population. Our objectives were to examine the population history of Maui axis deer, estimate observed population growth, and use species-specific demogAuthorsSteve C. Hess, Seth JudgeHabitat suitability and ecological associations of two non-native ungulate species on the Hawaiian island of Lanai
The ability to effectively manage game species for specific conservation objectives is often limited by the scientific understanding of their distribution and abundance. This is especially true in Hawai‘i where introduced game mammals are poorly studied and have low value relative to native species in other states. We modeled the habitat suitability and ecological associations of European mouflonAuthorsSteve C. Hess, Lucas Fortini, Christina Leopold, Jacob Muise, Jonathan SpragueHawaii as a microcosm: Advancing the science and practice of managing introduced and invasive species
Invasive species are a leading driver of global change, with consequences for biodiversity and society. Because of extraordinary rates of endemism, introduction, and extinction, Hawaii offers a rich platform for exploring the cross-disciplinary challenges of managing invasive species in a dynamic world. We highlight key successes and shortcomings to share lessons learned and inspire innovation andAuthorsLiba Pejchar, Christopher A. Lepczyk, Jean E Fantle-Lepczyk, Steve C. Hess, M. Tracy Johnson, Christina Leopold, Michael P. Marchetti, Katherine M McClure, Aaron B SheilsRelationships between soil macroinvertebrates and nonnative feral pigs (Sus scrofa) in Hawaiian tropical montane wet forests
Nonnative feral pigs (Sus scrofa) are recognized throughout the New World as a highly significant introduced species in terms of ecosystem alteration. Similarly, nonnative soil macroinvertebrates (e.g. earthworms, ground beetles) invade and alter the structure and function of native habitats globally. However, the relationship between feral pigs and soil macroinvertebrates remains largely unknown.AuthorsNathaniel H. Wehr, Creighton M Litton, Noa K Lincoln, Steve C. HessFacilitating adaptation to climate change while restoring a montane plant community
Montane plant communities throughout the world have responded to changes in temperature regimes by shifting ranges upward in elevation, and made downslope movements to track shifts in climatic water balance. Organisms that cannot disperse or adapt biologically to projected climate scenarios in situ may decrease in distributional range and abundance over time. Restoration strategies will need to inAuthorsChristina Leopold, Steve C. HessThe risk of rodent introductions from shipwrecks to seabirds on Aleutian and Bering Sea islands
Accidental introductions of rodents present one of the greatest threats to indigenous island biota, especially seabirds. On uninhabited remote islands, such introductions are likely to come from shipwrecks. Here we use a comprehensive database of shipwrecks in Western Alaska to model the frequency of shipwrecks per Aleutian and Bering Sea island, taken as a proxy for the threat of rodent introduct
AuthorsMartin Renner, Eric Nelson, Jordan Watson, Alan Haynie, Aaron Poe, Martin D. Robards, Steve C. HessBiology and impacts of Pacific Islands invasive species. 14. Sus scrofa the feral pig (Artiodactyla: Suidae)
Feral pigs (Sus scrofa L.) are perhaps the most abundant, widespread, and economically significant large introduced vertebrate across the Pacific island region. Unlike many other nonnative invasive species, feral pigs have both cultural and recreational importance in the region, complicating their management. Today, Pacific island feral pigs are a mixture of several strains of domestic swine, AsiaAuthorsNathaniel H. Wehr, Steven C. Hess, Creighton M. LittonFeral goats and sheep
No abstract available.AuthorsSteve C. Hess, Dirk H. Van Vuren, Gary W. WitmerMonitoring eradication of European mouflon sheep from the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
European mouflon (Ovis gmelini musimon), the world's smallest wild sheep, have proliferated and degraded fragile native ecosystems in the Hawaiian Islands through browsing, bark stripping, and trampling, including native forests within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (HAVO). HAVO resource managers initiated ungulate control efforts in the 469 km2 Kahuku Unit after it was acquired in 2003. We trackAuthorsSeth Judge, Steven C. Hess, Jonathan K. Faford, Dexter Pacheco, Christina LeopoldFacilitating adaptation in montane plants to changing precipitation along an elevation gradient
Montane plant communities throughout the world have responded to changes in precipitation and temperature regimes by shifting ranges upward in elevation. Continued warmer, drier climate conditions have been documented and are projected to increase in high-elevation areas in Hawai‘i, consistent with climate change effects reported in other environments throughout the world. Organisms that cannot diAuthorsSteve C. Hess, Christina LeopoldConversion of native terrestrial ecosystems in Hawai‘i to novel grazing systems: a review
The remote oceanic islands of Hawai‘i exemplify the transformative effects that non-native herbivorous mammals can bring to isolated terrestrial ecosystems. We reviewed published literature containing systematically collected, analyzed, and peer-reviewed original data specifically addressing direct effects of non-native hoofed mammals (ungulates) on terrestrial ecosystems, and indirect effects andAuthorsChristina R. Leopold, Steven C. HessFederal 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 esseAuthorsSteven C. Hess, Darcy Hu, Rhonda Loh, Paul C. Banko - Multimedia