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Invasive alien species are a major threat to native insular species. Eradicating invasive mammals from islands is a feasible and proven approach to prevent biodiversity loss. We developed a conceptual framework to identify globally important islands for invasive mammal eradications to prevent imminent extinctions of highly threatened species using biogeographic and technical factors, plus a novel approach to consider socio-political feasibility. We applied this framework using a comprehensive dataset describing the distribution of 1,184 highly threatened native vertebrate species (i.e. those listed as Critically Endangered or Endangered on the IUCN Red List) and 184 non-native mammals on 1,279 islands worldwide. Based on extinction risk, irreplaceability, severity of impact from invasive species, and technical feasibility of eradication, we identified and ranked 292 of the most important islands where eradicating invasive mammals would benefit highly threatened vertebrates. When socio-political feasibility was considered, we identified 169 of these islands where eradication planning or operation could be initiated by 2020 or 2030 and would improve the survival prospects of 9.4% of the Earths most highly threatened terrestrial insular vertebrates (111 of 1,184 species). Of these, 107 islands were in 34 countries and territories and could have eradication projects initiated by 2020. Concentrating efforts to eradicate invasive mammals on these 107 islands would benefit 151 populations of 80 highly threatened vertebrates and make a major contribution towards achieving global conservation targets adopted by the worlds nations.

The loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta is a large marine turtle with a cosmopolitan repartition in warm and temperate waters of the planet. The South Pacific subpopulation is classified as 'Critically Endangered' on the IUCN Red List, based on the estimated demographic decline. This precarious situation engages an urgent need to monitor nesting populations in order to highlight conservation priorities and to ensure their efficiency over time. New Caledonia encompasses a large number of micro and distant nesting sites, localized on coral islets widely distributed across its large lagoon. Adequately surveying nesting activities on those hard-to-reach beaches can prove to be challenging. As a result, important knowledge gaps prevail in those high-potential nesting habitats. For the first time, an innovative monitoring scheme was conducted to assess the intensity of nesting activities, considered as a proxy of the population size, on an exhaustive set of islets located in the 'Grand Lagon Sud' area. These data were analyzed using a set of statistical methods specially designed to produce phenology and nesting activity estimates using Bayesian methods. This analysis revealed that this rookery hosts a large nesting colony, with a mean annual estimate of 437 nests (95% Credible Interval = 328–582). These numbers exceed that of the previous estimated annual number of loggerhead turtle nests in New Caledonia, highlighting the exceptional nature of this area. Considering the fact that similar high-potential aggregations have been identified in other parts of New Caledonia, but failed to be comprehensively assessed to this day, we recommend carrying out this replicable monitoring scheme to other locations. It could allow a significant re-evaluation of the New Caledonian nesting population importance and, ultimately, of its prevailing responsibility for the protection of this patrimonial yet endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present Mobile Augmented-Reality Games for Instructional Support (MAGIS), a framework for the development of mobile augmented-reality (AR) games for education. The framework supports off-the-shelf, state-of-the-art technologies that enable AR tracking and rendering on consumer-level mobile devices, and integrates these technologies with content-generation tools that simplify the development of educational AR games, especially those that extensively use narrative-based game design and player-location tracking such as location-based historical or museum adventure games. We use "Igpaw: Intramuros," a proof-of-concept game developed using MAGIS, to help describe the current state of the framework and to show its efficacy for implementing outdoor location-based educational games, and we briefly outline future development plans to improve MAGIS' AR support (especially those involving indoor scenarios) as well as to improve the instructional design and authoring phases of AR applications written using this framework.

Due to its unique biodiversity and extreme endemism rates, New Caledonia archipelago is listed as one of Earth’s 35 biodiversity hotspots. New Caledonian biota is now threatened by invasive species, with introduced rats considered to be particularly damaging. At the initiative of local institutions and NGOs, an innovative scientific experiment has been launched to quantify the Response of Forest Ecosystems to Rodent and Cat Control (REFCOR) and to test the relevance of such control at a large spatial scale (200 ha) on a dense evergreen rainforest (Mont Panié Wilderness Nature Reserve). Rat control will begin mid-2014 with a short toxin knockdown, and will thereafter involve intensive trapping sessions over the next 6 years, together with biodiversity monitoring and experiments. Rat impact studies initiated in early 2013 also aim to identify possible biodiversity indicators that could be used for a rapid assessment of rat control efficiency and effects. One of the major impacts of invasive rats is the disruption caused to plant and bird reproduction processes, placing them at high risk. Pre-and post-control experiments include the assessment of palm fruit consumption rates and of predation risk to artificial bird nests. Initial surveys of both rat populations and palm fruits (2 species), as well as artificial bird nest predation experiments, were conducted in 2013. Rat abundance was high, fluctuating among study areas and seasons, with more individual reproducers in December than in May. Fruit predation was high for one of the two species, in line with the rat abundance pattern. Surprisingly, artificial bird nest predation by rats was far lower than expected. These first results corroborate the influence of rats on some taxa. Monitoring and experiments will be repeated after and throughout rat control. This “before-after-control-impact” project, conducted in close collaboration with local stakeholders (Dayu Biik NGO), offers a unique opportunity to evaluate 1) the feasibility of controlling rat populations in the New Caledonian rainforest by trapping as an alternative to long-term poisoning, and 2) the benefits of rat control for native biodiversity and rainforest ecosystem functioning.

A great part of the Earth's biodiversity occurs on islands, to which humans have brought a legion of invasive species that have caused population declines and even extinctions. The domestic cat is one of the most damaging species introduced to islands, being a primary extinction driver for at least 33 insular endemic vertebrates. Here, we examine the role of feral cats in the context of the island biodiversity crisis, by combining data from reviews of trophic studies, species conservation status reports, and eradication campaigns. The integration of these reviews permits us to identify priority islands where feral cat eradications are likely to be feasible and where cats are predicted to cause the next vertebrate extinctions. Funding agencies and global conservation organizations can use these results to prioritize scarce conservation funds, and national and regional natural resource management agencies can rank their islands in need of feral cat eradication within a global context. © 2013 by American Institute of Biological Sciences. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Invasive rats (Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus, R. exulans) are recognized as a major threat to native island ecosystems and biodiversity. On many islands, two or three invasive rat species [...]

A new depolarization channel has been implemented in the BarcelonaTech University (UPC) multi-wavelength lidar system. The optical and mechanical designs are presented. The special configuration of the total power channel is also detailed, with the relevant aspects in measurement inversion. Some preliminary measurements are presented for Saharan dust intrusion events.