The natural history of Laysan Island, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands

Clapp, Roger B.; Kridler, Eugene; Fleet, Robert R.

doi:10.5479/si.00775630.171.1

Cited by 66 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…The population of finches on Laysan may have been rather stable until the early 1900s, when rabbits denuded much of the vegetation on the island (Ely and Clapp, 1973). During this period of crisis, the number of finches on Laysan decreased dramatically, from perhaps as many as 2700…”

Section: History Of Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1923 there were no more than 'a few dozen' (Wetmore, 1925) to 'only a few' (Wilder, 1924) (Ely & Clapp, 1973). A bottleneck of the size that this population went through, even given the rather rapid recovery following the demise of the rabbits, should result in a moderate loss of genetic variation (Nei et aL, 1975;Maruyama & Fuerst, 1984.…”

Section: History Of Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic variation in native and translocated populations of the Laysan finch (Telespiza cantans)

1991

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Population size reductions are usually expected to result in decreases of within-population genetic variation. We here report on allozyme variation in (1) the endemic population of the Laysan finch (Telespiza cantans) that was reduced by a major population crash during the early 1900s and (2) translocated populations on three islets of a distant atoll (Pearl & Hermes Reef). These populations resulted from the introduction of 108 birds to one islet in 1967 and subsequent dispersal to the other islets. Variation in 33 allozyme loci on Laysan was found to be lower than the average in avian populations, matching theoretical expectation. Unexpectedly, the average heterozygosity of Pearl & Hermes populations is higher than at Laysan, and significantly so for two of five polymorphic loci. Variation in allele frequencies is relatively high for avian populations (FST= 0.049), both among the islets of P& H, and between P& H and Laysan. This suggests that isolation within the tiny, translocated populations has resulted in a significant level of genetic differentiation during a relatively short time period (less than 20 years).

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Section: History Of Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: History Of Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic variation in native and translocated populations of the Laysan finch (Telespiza cantans)

1991

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“…Laysan Atoll is already recognized for its unique flora and fauna, and hosts over 40 endemic insect and bird species (Ely & Clapp, 1973;Bakus, 1978). Geographical isolation and high salinity, however, probably keep macrofaunal diversity in the lake low.…”

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confidence: 99%

Arcobacter halophilus sp. nov., the first obligate halophile in the genus Arcobacter

Donachie

Bowman

et al. 2005

International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology

140

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A Gram-negative bacterium, designated LA31BT, was isolated from water collected from a hypersaline lagoon on Laysan Atoll in the north-western Hawaiian Islands. Single cells of LA31BT were slightly curved but became helical as their length increased. Preliminary characterization based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that LA31BT shared 96·0 % identity with an Arcobacter sp. isolated from a cyanobacterial mat in hypersaline Lake Sinai, and 94 % identity with Arcobacter nitrofigilis, the type species of the genus Arcobacter. A polyphasic taxonomic study was conducted and confirmed the phylogenetic affiliation of strain LA31BT to the genus Arcobacter. However, LA31BT was found to be distinct from all recognized Arcobacter species, by a comprehensive biochemical test analysis, whole-cell fatty acid profiling, DNA G+C content (35 mol% in LA31BT) and degree of DNA–DNA reassociation. Most notably, LA31BT was found to be an obligate halophile, a hitherto undescribed feature among recognized Arcobacter species. These data indicate that LA31BT should be considered to represent a novel species in the genus Arcobacter, for which the name Arcobacter halophilus sp. nov. is proposed. This is the first obligately halophilic member of the genus. The type strain is LA31BT (=ATCC BAA-1022T=CIP 108450T).

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“…The presence of a human intruder could be a behavioural key which triggers the flocking and foraging (nest robbing) response in individual birds. Laysan Finch egg predation, facilitated by human disturbance, is said to have caused massive mortality in Sooty Terns Sterna fuscata, Black Noddies and White Terns Gygis alba (Ely & Clapp 1973). Anderson & Keith (1980) report Yellow-footed Gulls Lam livens walking ahead of human intruders in a Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis colony and pecking holes in eggs.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Often the predator species are other seabirds, such as gulls (Anderson & Keith 1980), but in some cases passerine species have been responsible. Crows are known to prey on a variety of seabirds (Montevecchi 1977); Laysan Finches Psittirostra cantans have been reported eating the eggs of at least seven seabird species (Ely & Clapp 1973); and introduced Common Mynas Acridotheres tristis are a serious predator on nesting Wedge-tailed Shearwaters Pufinus pacljkus in Hawaii (Byrd 1979). Predation by Micronesian Starlings A p h i s opaca has not been documented previously.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%