The Ebiil Society: Champions of Palau
Ann Singeo, founder of our partner organization the Ebiil Society, shares her vision for a thriving Palau and a flourishing world of indigenous science!
Invasive Species Blamed as Second Biggest Cause of Extinctions
A recent study finds invasive alien species to be the second-biggest cause of extinctions. A 2015 publication states that invasive alien species are the leading cause of extinctions on islands and globally (Tershy et al, 2015). Whether they are identified as the #1 or #2 cause of extinctions, the bottom line is: invasive alien species are bad news. Non-native species wreak havoc on the ecosystems they are introduced to, and once introduced, they begin to take over the natural habitat.
Cats, rats and goats are among the most common offenders.
Island Conservation protects native species by removing invasive alien species from islands. Following removal, endangered species are given an opportunity to naturally recover, and extinctions can be prevented through comprehensive eradication efforts.
Palmyra Atoll, Line Islands. Island Conservation, The Nature Conservancy, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service removed invasive rats from the atoll in 2011. Today, the island’s native species continue to recover. Photo by Andrew Wright
See The Importance of Islands for the Protection of Biological and Linguistic Diversity for detailed information about the threat of invasive species to island ecosystems.
Read the full article “Invasive Species Blamed as Second Biggest Cause of Extinctions” at New Scientist.
Featured image: The Floreana Mockingbird is no longer able to breed on it’s native island of Floreana due to a suite of invasive species. Today, there are less than fifty in the world restricted to a small, nearby islet. Photo: Bill Weir
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