HAWAIʻI WILDLIFE ECOLOGY LAB
ECOLOGY
Scope of work
The research conducted by our lab covers a broad spectrum of ecological niches, including endangered bird nesting and reproduction, ungulate habitat use and foraging, and the survival and dispersal of endangered snails. We work to understand how wildlife responds to changes in climate, land use and habitat quality, and how these shifts influence population trends and ecosystem dynamics. This approach allows us to identify key factors that support species persistence and to highlight areas where management actions may be most effective. While these projects reflect the ecological questions we have explored, the scope of our work continues to grow as new conservation needs and opportunities continue to emerge across Hawaiʻi’s native ecosystems.
Project Highlights
From colony to fallout: Artificial lights pose risk to seabird fledglings far from their natal colonies
Wedge-tailed shearwater fledglings become disoriented by artificial lights from as far as 140 km away, demonstrating that light sources across and even between islands contribute to fallout risk, not only those near breeding sites. Banding of 4,648 chicks and recovery of 27 fallout individuals reveal an average fallout distance of 24.9 km, with 41% landing on opposite coastlines and many in areas where radiance increased 157% between 2018 and 2022. These findings supported an amendment to local lighting ordinances requiring outdoor fixtures to reduce blue-light emission, strengthening protections for vulnerable seabird fledglings in Hawaiʻi.
Insights Into Ungulate Distributions Show Range Expansion, Competition, and Potential Impacts on a Sub-Tropical Island
Camera surveys demonstrated that introduced ungulates were abundant across Kauaʻi and posed significant threats to native ecosystems. Review of 991,861 photos documented 11,937 wild pig detections, 5,954 deer detections, and 2,555 goat detections. Black-tailed deer had expanded more than 10 km beyond their 1960s introduction area, and pigs were less common where deer were abundant, indicating competitive interactions. Results encourage management actions such as fencing, targeted removal, and updated hunting policies.