Palau removed invasive rats; fish biomass jumped 183% in one year
Research in Palau shows that removing invasive rats from Ulong Island has led to a rapid recovery of seabird populations and a 183% increase in nearby fish biomass. The study highlights the critical role seabirds play in transporting nutrients from land to coral reef ecosystems.
Why it matters
This demonstrates the 'ridge-to-reef' connection and the effectiveness of island restoration in boosting ocean health.
The return of seabirds to a small island in Palau has brought an unexpected benefit. Just one year after invasive rats were removed from Ulong Island, researchers have found that nearby coral reefs are also beginning to recover.The study is the first experimental research to show that when seabirds return after invasive rodents are removed, they help move nutrients from land into the sea. The process is already supporting reef ecosystems and increasing fish populations much sooner than expected.According to Island Conservation, the research was carried out on Ulong Island in the Republic of Palau, an island nation in Western Pacific Ocean, as part of the Island-Ocean Connection Challenge (IOCC).
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in