Pacific Islands Conservation Research Association

PICRA's mission is to advance knowledge of Pacific species, populations, and ecosystems through unbiased scientific investigations. Our research focuses on improving understanding of islands and the conservation issues they face, and results are used to develop solutions to conservation problems.

History

PICRA was formed in 2004 when several researchers felt that conservation issues on Pacific islands could benefit greatly from additional research focus. Although many organizations were already attempting to address various facets of conservation, much more work was needed to form the basis of a complete conservation program. Of utmost importance was basic biological research documenting the distribution, behavior, interactions, and population dynamics of species inhabiting Pacific Oceania. Conservation planning and management are complex endeavors, however, so focus on the evolutionary foundations of these species is also important.

PICRA Projects

We are proud of the progress that we have made since our inception in 2004, and we intend to continue expanding. We simply hope that our efforts will provide useful information that facilitates conservation management and helps to preserve threatened secies and systems in the Pacific.

PICRA scientists are currently involved in investigations to facilitate the recovery of insular birds and fish. Before land managers and policy makers can plan recovery actions for endangered species, information is often needed about the natural history, population biology, behavior, resource use, and demography of those organisms. In the Pacific, obtaining this information often requires field investigations.

Niau Kingfisher Conservation

Dr. Dylan Kesler of PICRA has been assisting the Société d'Ornithologie de Polynésie (SOP/MANU) with research on the Niau Kingfisher (Todiramphus gambieri), which is one of the most endangered birds in the world (see IUCN). The kingfishers inhabit the island of Niau in the South Pacific Tuamotu Archipelago.

Project History:
Since the onset of work in 2004 on the small island of Niau, in the French Polynesian Tuamotu archipelago, we made great strides in the development of a comprehensive conservation plan for the critically endangered Niau Kingfisher (Todiramphus gambieri niauensis). In the early project stages, Anne Gouni spearheaded island-wide surveys, which returned low population estimates and raised concerns about the kingfishers. Anne works for Manu, which is a Papete-based bird conservation group that has been entrusted to carry out bird conservation projects throughout the region. Through Manu, Anne secured additional resources for Niau Kingfisher work, and she has kept the birds at the head of the list of important species in French Polynesia. The initial conservation plan outline by Gouni and Kesler for the Niau Kingfishers included: 1) conducting a thorough evaluation of the population status; 2) assessing the natural history and breeding behavior of the birds on Niau; 3) gathering information from the field to identify conditions necessary for Niau Kingfisher survival; 4) use results to enhance kingfisher conservation on the island of Niau, 5) also use critical resource criteria to assess sites on other islands where a second population of kingfishers might be established; 6) translocate a portion of the Niau Kingfisher population to another Pacific island so that a second viable population of the birds can be established. Another population would help to prevent a single-island catastrophe from driving the birds to complete extinction; 7) conduct a post-translocation evaluation of the Niau Kingfisher population on Niau and the translocation destination

After helping to outline a comprehensive conservation plan for the birds, Dylan Kesler and the Pacific Islands Conservation Research Association helped to direct fieldwork in 2006. The aims of initial investigations in February and March, and October and November of that year were to gather important information about the status of the kingfisher population on Niau. Additionally, we wanted to understand the annual cycle, landscape distribution, and the social and breeding behavior of the birds. All of these data are extremely important for a comprehensive conservation Niau Kigfisher plan. During those first two cooperative field seasons, we thoroughly surveyed Niau for Kingfishers, we documented the distribution of habitats and vegetation, and we began to evaluate potential food resources. Additionally, we used radio telemetry to assess the movements of individual birds. Movement data were critical to understanding how the birds divide space and resources among individuals, pairs, family members, and neighboring groups. Further, because we were able to track individual birds, we also identified nesting sites, observe nesting behaviors and fledge-rearing behaviors, and we tracked the movements of dispersing juvenile birds.

2007 Fieldwork:
In October and November 2007 we returned to the island to observe the breeding behaviors of Niau Kingfishers, and to assess a newly discovered population of birds along Niau’s coast. Understanding the resources needed by breeding birds during the nesting and fledge-rearing phases of the annual cycle was critically important for obvious reasons - these data would be needed to develop conservation plans to boost Niau’s population of kingfishers and to design a successful translocation of some birds to another island. The coastal focus was critical because the vegetation and resources along Niau’s coast are similar to the vegetation resources on other islands that might be good translocation destinations. As in previous years, we used radio telemetric transmitters to mark birds, which were subsequently followed for almost two months. New capture methodologies and accumulated knowledge about the behavior of the birds enhanced our success, and we were able to mark 15 individuals in 2007.

We also made an important addition to the research team this year, in the form of a dedicate graduate research assistant. Gabrielle Coulombe will be working with the Niau Kingfishers in 2007 and 2008, and the work will form the basis for her Master of Science thesis at the University of Missouri Columbia. We have the highest hopes for her success.

Local Involvement:
From the beginning of the project, we also strove to involve Niau landowners and residents in our work. The small island is used for agricultural coconut production, so the local residents are crucial to preserving Niau Kingfisher habitats. Niau residents are associated with every aspect of the project, from managing the field station to capturing and radio-marking birds. Additionally, a cooperative program has been established with the Niau primary school. Each year, we have also given presentations and conducted classes about bird conservation and the Niau Kingfishers. We then coordinate a field trip to our study sites where children learn about birds, Niau Kingfishers, our work, and conservation. In 2007, the children also learned about the birds through multiple in-class exercises, and they composed an original song and a traditional dance about the Koteuteu (the local name for the bird). The outpouring of local support for the Niau Kingfisher, and for our work with the birds is overwhelming, and we are honored to work on such a special island and among such special people.

Micronesian Kingfisher Project

The Guam Micronesian Kingfisher is among the most endangered species in the world, with fewer than sione hundred individuals remaining extant (as of fall 2006). All of the living representatives of the Guam subspecies now reside in captive breeding facilities in Guam and in mainland zoos. Along with Dr. Susan Haig of the USGS, PICRA scientist Dr. Dylan Kesler assisted with the recovery of these birds through an investigation into the resource use, demography, natural history, and behavior of the closely related Pohnpei Micronesian Kingfisher. This work has resulted in the following publications:

Kesler, D.C., and S.M. Haig. 2007. Conservation biology for suites of species: demographic modeling for the Pacific island kingfishers. Biological Conservation in press.

Kesler, D.C., and S.M. Haig. 2007. Multi-scale resource use and selection in cooperatively breeding Micronesian Kingfishers. Journal of Wildlife Management 72:in press.

Kesler, D.C., and S.M. Haig. 2007. Territoriality, prospecting, and dispersal in cooperatively breeding Micronesian Kingfishers. Auk 124:in press.

Kesler, D.C., I.F. Lopes, and S.M. Haig. 2006. Sex determination in the Pohnpei Micronesian Kingfisher using morphological and molecular genetic techniques. Journal of Field Ornithology 77:229-232.

Kesler, D.C., and S.M. Haig. 2005. Selection of arboreal termitaria for nesting by cooperatively breeding Pohnpei Micronesian Kingfishers. Ibis 147:188-196.

Kesler, D.C., and S.M. Haig. 2005. Microhabitat thermal characteristics and nest site selection in Micronesian kingfishers. Pacific Science. 59:499-508.

Kesler, D.C., and S.M. Haig. 2004. Thermal characteristics of wild and captive Micronesian kingfisher nesting habitats. Zoo Biology 23:301-308.

Coral Reef Ecology

Dr. Kevin Rhodes worked with PICRA as he investigates the natural history and conservation importance of grouper species along the coral reefs of the islands of Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. The project has been partially funded by Project AWARE Foundation, and it aims to assess and enhance the effectiveness of existing management strategies to protect reproductively active grouper (Serranidae) at and away from multi-species spawning aggregation sites using combined acoustic telemetry and market analyses techniques. Project findings and recommendations will contribute to a greater understanding and conservation of spawning aggregations, which are being rapidly depleted at the global scale, are critically important to tropical fisheries and ecotourism, and are key to the persistence of local and regional populations.

Pacific Islands Conservation Research Association