Students see effects of invasive species on local ecology

  An exciting and cutting edge ecology course came to a close at the University of Guam and the professors and participants held a symposium of their findings on Jan. 17.

This unique course, “And No Birds Sing: Tropical Ecology and Conservation in the Mariana Islands” was a collaborative effort by UOG, the University of Washington, Northern Marianas College, and Rice University professors to give students in-depth exposure to the ecology of the islands, with a focus on invasive species and their effects on local ecosystems.

Dr. Haldre Rogers, a former U.S. Geological Survey Brown Tree Snake Project employee who recently received her doctorate in ecology from the University of Washington, has been researching the ecological effects of the loss of native birds on plant and insect communities in Guam, funded in part by a National Science Foundation grant. The Island Ecology Course developed out of her research efforts.

“This has been an exceptional opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students from Guam and Saipan to attend a variety of lectures held at UOG and NMC and to work directly in the field collecting data for their original research. They are asking questions no one else has asked, and because many are from the islands, they are able to offer a unique perspective on the research they are conducting for the class,” said Rogers. “It has been interesting to see the reaction of Saipan students to the silent, bird-less forests of Guam, and to see the Guam students’ reaction to the forests of Saipan. They saw birds they have heard their elders speak of but never actually seen themselves.”

Snakes, ants, butterflies, spiders, and gaps in the forests are some of the topics the students chose to investigate. UOG graduate student Ann Marie Gawel is the teaching assistant for the course. Through this course she says, “Local students have their eyes opened to the interesting ecological issues taking place in their own backyard. This is cutting edge ecology, and our Pacific home provides excellent examples of forest ecology, and the social impact and management issues around invasive species.”

UOG Western Pacific Tropical Research Center entomologist Dr. Ross Miller and NMC Director of the Natural Resources and Management program Dr. Alfredo De Torres are, with Dr. Rogers, the co-creators and instructors of the course. (UOG)