Prolonging Island Ecosystems

Island Conservation
Paochoua Xiong
July 19, 2019
Table of Contents

Abstract .............................................................................................................................................................. 2

Problems of Island Environments ............................................................................................................. 2

Mother Nature Knocking ............................................................................................................................. 2

The Gluttonous Guest .................................................................................................................................. 2

Preventing Island Disasters ......................................................................................................................... 3

Build A Wall ................................................................................................................................................... 3

Eviction Notice .............................................................................................................................................. 3

How It Helps........................................................................................................................................ 4Helps

.............................................................................................................................................................................. 3

Enforcing Following The More Rules .............................................................................................. 4Rules

.......................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................................ 4

References ......................................................................................................................................................... 5

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Abstract
This document is to inform others about the importance of maintaining conservation island
ecosystems. Islands account for approximately five percent of Earth’s landmass and are home to
forty percent of species under the endangered species list (Eng). An island is a piece of land
surrounded by water, viewed as a place of isolation. There are thousands of islands found all around
the world, and each one of them has a different ecosystem with many unique species. The native
species found on islands include plants, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, etc. Native island species
are more endangered when it comes to changes in the environment than the species found on the
mainland.
The main causes of species endangered are the influences of humans and natural disasters. Humans
have regard viewed islands as a destination for vacation, a source of collecting resources, a place to
live, and science. These ideals have affected the ecosystem that revolves around islands. The effects
that have happened to islands areis the extinction of native species, decline in resources, waste
buildup, and other reasons that have to reduce the natural island ecosystem (Kueffer). Natural
disaster such as tsunamis, hurricane, volcanic eruptions, and flood all effects an island ecosystem.

Problems of Islands Environment

Mother Nature Knocking
Islands are more likely to take heavy damage when a natural disasters hits because of their small
sizes. Animals living on an island have limited space to take shelter when preparing for a disaster. A
natural disaster can cause storm surges, high wind, wave impact, etc. These impacts have has either
washed away native plants, destroyed homes, and introduced an invasive speciesor cause an
introduction to invasive species. An island destroyed by natural disaster causes native species to
migrate to another location, which affects other island creating damages for other island’s ecosystem
as well. The rise in sea level caused by global warming effects the island by submerging an it or only
parts of it.

The Gluttonous Guests

“Invasive species, also called introduced species, alien species, or exotic species, any nonnative
species that significantly modifies or disrupts the ecosystems it colonizes” (Rafferty). The problem is
that the native species that have been living on the island survived without having to defend
themselves from a natural predator. The native species already living there have evolved together to
coexist and maintain a balanced ecosystem. When a new species is introduced into a new
environment, the need to find resources to survive by eating another species or it has to die. When a
new species is introduced into a new environment, it causes species to fight against one another for
resources or else they will die. The rat is one of the most invasive species that have affected island
ecosystems (Eng). Rats being introduced into islands has caused a decrease in bird population on
those islands (Eng). The native birds become prey for the rat, as well as their eggs. Animals are not

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the only one that can affect the island’s ecosystem, plants can too. The effects that invasive plants
have on islands is taking resources from other plants, overgrowth, and taking up space. Invasive
plants grow out of control because they tend to either produced more seeds, grow faster, or because
they have no natural predators.
Rats and plants invasive species are just some examples of an invasive species, but a human can be
considered a top invasive species.

Human is are the reason that rats have been introduced into islands. As humans sail the ocean on
ships, there were rats on board, and when the ship landed the rats got off. Human transporting
invasive species is just one of the examples that humans have negatively impacted island ecosystems,
other reasons include land conversion for homes, the over usage of resources, and the production of
waste (Brennan). Land conversion has caused island species to have fewer resources and the
destructions of destroy their home.

Preventing Island Disasters

Build A Wall
A way to prevent an island from losing its natural habitat is by fortifying the island from high tides.
Off the coast of Germany, there is a chain of islands called the Frisian Islands that have been heavily
impacted by wave and storms. Storms and waves have affected the Frisian Islands by washing away
sands and deposits, causing some of the islands to spit into smaller islands (Royle). Norderney, one
of the Frisian Islands, have implemented dykes and walls to reduce storm surges from hitting one of
its major towns (Royle). This keeps parts of the island from being washed away and maintain its
original shape. Sand is also another source of natural barrier that can also help protect islands. The
increase in the amount of sand on island beaches reduces the chances of erosion. Having more
vegetation in an area near the ocean also helps reduce erosion. The plant’s roots ground or sand in
place from being carried off.

Eviction Notice
With the help of humans, invasive species such as cats, rats, etc. can be removed from an island
ecosystem. One of the only ways to get rid of an invasive species is to manually remove that species
from that location. However, this process is tedious and does not always work, because of
manpower, time, and efficient funds. Ascension Islands, an island in the middle of South American
and Africa, have implemented a project for getting rid of an invasive plant (Royle). The invasive
plants found on Ascension Islands called Mexican thorn, a spiny shrub that grows to a height of
approximately about 5 m, have taken over the island and have reduced the growth of other plants
and nesting areas of green turtle (Royle). The total process of Mexican thorn has become
unsuccessful because the plant has few competitors and the island provide perfect conditions for the
Mexican plant to grow. The only way to help the native species on this island is to keep a portion of
the island cleaned from the Mexican thorn, which has helped the green sea turtle from losing all of
its nesting ground on Ascension Island (Royle).).

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How It Helps

Enforcing Following The More Rules

The solution of removing invasive species is a long and hard process, but as long as there is an
ecological balance in the environment there is no need for removal. Humans are the number one
invasive species because they did not know how to live with other species. If the environment had a
set of rules that every species had to follow to maintain balance, everything would have been fine.
Since, there are no rules, humans have to come up with their own rules and follow them. The local
government or organizations can help by creating funds, conservation projects, and setting
limitations for an island visit. The Galapagos Island is a National Park located west of Ecuador, a
huge tourist attraction, it is a good example of how to prevent humans from destroying an island
ecosystem ("Galapagos Islands Rules For All Visitors By Ecuador & Galapagos Insiders"). The
Galapagos National Park has a strict set of rules for tourist to follow by when visiting, the rules are
as followed:
1. Only visit protected areas
2. Stay on the trails
3. Stay at least 6 feet away from wildlife
4. Never give food to any wildlife
5. Never introduce new food, animals, or plants
6. Don’t use a flash when taking pictures of the wildlife
7. Camping is limited to just a few authorized areas
8. Never take anything from the natural environment
9. Leave no traces
10. You can only fish from GNPD authorized recreational tour boats
11. You are not permitted to do any motorized aquatic sports or aerial tourism
Setting these set of rules is a good example for other groups, organizations, and government to
follow if they want to protect their island ecosystem. Having these set of rules does not guarantee
the safety of the Galapagos; the faculty there are highly trained in customer satisfaction,
conservation, protocol, first aid, camping techniques, environmental educational, etc. (“Rules, Rules
and More Rules - Nature Interpreter”)..

Conclusion
Natural disasters and invasive species have negatively impacted island ecosystems with results being
native species becoming extinct. The effects of natural disaster are devastating as it destroys the
home of species and resources, preventing these effects is very difficult because it is unpredictable
and uncontrollable. The way to reduce this devastation for this ecosystem is by saving the species on
the island before the natural disaster occurred, if possible, or help restore the natural habitat after the
disaster has hit. Preventing invasive species from endangering the native species is not an easy task,

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it takes a lot of hard work and manual labor. The best way to prevent species endangerment is by
educating others on how to maintain an ecosystem and by getting more people to help. There are
already exist conservation projects that exists around the world that helps get rid of invasive species;
all it needs is for people to volunteer and join the cause.

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 References
Brennan, John. “How Have Humans Affected Our Planet's Biodiversity in Both Positive &
Negative Ways?” Sciencing, 2 Mar. 2019, www.sciencing.com/humans-affected-planets-
biodiversity-positive-negative-ways-2286.html.
Eng, Christopher. “Refuge Update 2015, National Wildlife Refuge System.” Official Web Page of the U
S Fish and Wildlife Service, 17 July 2019,
www.fws.gov/refuges/RefugeUpdate/NovDec_2015/island-refuges.html.
"Galapagos Islands Rules For All Visitors By Ecuador & Galapagos Insiders". Galapagos Insiders,
2019, https://galapagosinsiders.com/travel-blog/galapagos-rules-visitors.

Kueffer, Christoph, and Kealohanuiopuna Kinney. “What Is the Importance of Islands to

Environmental Conservation?: Environmental Conservation.” Cambridge Core, Cambridge
University Press, 24 Nov. 2017, www.cambridge.org/core/journals/environmental-
conservation/article/what-is-the-importance-of-islands-to-environmental-
conservation/D5B4BCE5C0E47E3B4A69AA1E07A92EBE/core-reader.
Rafferty, John P. "Invasive Species | Description, Examples, & Solutions". Encyclopedia Britannica,
2019, https://www.britannica.com/science/invasive-species.
Royle, Stephen A. Islands. Reaktion Books, 2014, pp. 23-25.
“Rules, Rules and More Rules - Nature Interpreter.” Medium, Nature Interpreter, 18 June 2016,
www.medium.com/galapagos-nature-interpreter/rules-rules-and-more-rules-9a89312a2c88.