Dr. Brenden Holland, CCRT Associate Researcher, and Dr. Daniel Rubinoff, UH Mānoa Professor of Entomology, traveled to Guam last month to assist University of Guam (UoG) researchers in their search for rare endemic species of tree snails and butterflies.  Accompanying them were UHM post-doctoral researcher Dr. William Haines and Doctoral Candidate/DLNR Rare Snail Specialist David Sischo. 

The goal of the project, led by Dr. Dan Lindstrom, UoG Assistant Professor, and funded by the Department of Defense, is to survey regions of the island for several species of Guamʻs land snails and butterflies to gain information on the status of the populations and to assist with the management of these natural resources.  Dr. Holland, Director of the Endangered Tree Snail Conservation Lab at UH Mānoa, provided support and shared his expertise in conservation efforts with the endangered Hawaiian tree snails. 

The collaborative effort also served as a reunion of sorts for Dr. Holland, Dr. Lindstrom, and Dr. Curt Fiedler, UoG Associate Professor and butterfly team co-leader in the project.  Both Dr. Lindstrom and Dr. Fiedler received their Ph.D.'s from the Department of Zoology at UH Mānoa.

David Sischo collects DNA samples in the field. (Photo credit: Brenden Holland).

The Guam tree snail, Partula radiolata, a critically endangered species. (Photo credit: Brenden Holland).

The Center for Conservation Research and Training's (CCRT) successful, on-going collaborative effort on the island of Kauaʻi with Intelesense Technologies, a manufacturer of wireless environmental sensors and sensor management devices, was recently featured in a case study published by Intelesense. 

Started in 2009, the collaborative project involving CCRT, Intelesense Technologies, and The Waipā Foundation, a local non-profit group, has been monitoring climate in the valley, as well as water quality and flows in Waipā stream with the purpose of determining the impact of human activities in the valley, and providing critical information for water resource management and long-term agricultural plans by the residents of Waipā valley. 

Taro plants in Waipā Valley, Kauaʻi. (Photo courtesy of The Waipā Foundation),

Led by Mr. Mike Kido, Research Associate at CCRT, the project highlights a focus of CCRT of integrating environmental research and technology development to help address sustainability issues such as biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection.  Read a PDF of the Intelesense Technologies case study.