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An aerial view of the Tetiaroa Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.
Science Snapshot: Reversing an Invasion of Paradise
After years of work, conservationists have successfully eliminated two invasive rat species from the Tetiaroa Atoll in French Polynesia.
Science Snapshot: Reversing an Invasion of Paradise
Science Snapshot: Reversing an Invasion of Paradise

After years of work, conservationists have successfully eliminated two invasive rat species from the Tetiaroa Atoll in French Polynesia.

After years of work, conservationists have successfully eliminated two invasive rat species from the Tetiaroa Atoll in French Polynesia.

island

Dongsha Atoll in the South China Sea
Ubiquitous Little Earthworms Might Have Got Around on Driftwood
Annie Melchor | Nov 1, 2021 | 5 min read
Researchers also tried placing the worms on pigeons as part of a study aiming to uncover how the tiny invertebrates ended up all around the world.
Image of the Day: Plumage Patterns
Amy Schleunes | Mar 23, 2020 | 1 min read
An island songbird evolved into five populations of different color variants despite inhabiting territories just 10 kilometers apart.
Ten Bird Species Newly Identified on Indonesian Islands
Emily Makowski | Jan 10, 2020 | 1 min read
Flycatchers, warblers, and more were spotted in a biodiverse region known as Wallacea.
Image of the Day: Bigger Picture
Sukanya Charuchandra | Aug 1, 2018 | 1 min read
Island birds possess bigger brains than those from the mainland.
Rat Infestation Takes a Toll on Nearby Coral Reefs
Shawna Williams | Jul 12, 2018 | 1 min read
A study shows that by killing off seabirds on islands, rodents slash the flow of nutrients into the ocean.
Hawaiian Spiders on Different Islands Evolved Same Disguise in Parallel
Catherine Offord | Mar 8, 2018 | 2 min read
In an unusual evolutionary twist, local stick spiders have come up with an almost identical repertoire of color morphs in multiple locations.
Paradise Regained: How the Palmyra Atoll Got Rid of Invasive Mosquitoes
Ruth Williams | Feb 28, 2018 | 4 min read
The elimination of the biting pests was an added bonus after researchers unleashed a rat-eradication endeavor on the tiny islands.  
Gigantic “Tree Lobsters” Not Extinct After All
Catherine Offord | Oct 8, 2017 | 2 min read
Researchers identify the Lord Howe Island stick insect on the remains of a large volcano in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand.
Restoring a Native Island Habitat
Anna Azvolinsky | Jan 30, 2017 | 4 min read
Removal of non-native vegetation from an island ecosystem revives pollinator activity and, in turn, native plant growth. 
Adaptation, Island Style
The Scientist Staff | Jan 2, 2017 | 1 min read
Anole lizards inhabiting the Caribbean islands display some of the key principles of evolution.
For Some Male Crickets, Silence Means Survival
Sandhya Sekar | May 29, 2014 | 3 min read
Two island populations of male crickets independently evolved to evade parasites by keeping quiet, and have come up with a way to sneak matings with females that still seek the male courtship song.
Some Like It Cold
Sabrina Richards | Aug 1, 2012 | 3 min read
A hint of green leads researchers to an ocean phenomenon that could counteract the effect of climate change on some corals.
Island Disease
Jef Akst | Aug 1, 2012 | 3 min read
People living on islands in the Norwegian Sea suffer from an unusually high rate of certain genetic diseases and health issues, making the population ripe for research.
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