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Argyroxiphium sandwicense subsp. sandwicense, the Mauna Kea silversword, [1] is a highly endangered flowering plant endemic to the island of Hawaiʻi (Big Island) of Hawaii. It is the "crown jewel" [2] of the volcanic mountain Mauna Kea, from which it derives its English name. The Hawaiian name is ʻahinahina; it applies to silverswords more ...
There are over 1,300 invasive species in the Galápagos Islands, consisting of over 500 insects, over 750 plants and over 30 vertebrates. Most of the plants were brought for agricultural and aesthetic reasons. Due to their isolation, the Galápagos Islands are highly susceptible to invasive species, but the biodiversity of the islands make them ...
The island is part of the St Helen's (with Northwethel and Men-a-vaur) Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is designated for its rare flora and breeding seabirds. The SSSI was first notified in 1971, re-notified in 1986 and covers all land above the mean high-water mark.
Loch Druidibeg in the north of the island is a national nature reserve owned and managed by Scottish Natural Heritage. The reserve covers 1,677 hectares of machair, bog, freshwater lochs, estuary heather moorland and hill. [33] Over 200 species of flowering plants have been recorded on the reserve, some of which are nationally scarce.
These include seabirds, wading birds and a small number of resident land-bird species. Of 20 breeding species, Henderson Island has 16, including the unique flightless Henderson crake; Oeno hosts 12; Ducie 13 and Pitcairn six species. Birds breeding on Pitcairn include the fairy tern, common noddy and red-tailed tropicbird.
Green sea turtles make a 3,000-mile (4,800 km) journey every 3–4 years from Brazil to Ascension Island to breed. They have been a protected species on the island since the mid-20th century, and lay their eggs on the pristine and quiet beaches of the island. The turtles which survive to adulthood will return to breed at the same beaches.
Santa Rosa Island holds two groves of the Torrey pine subspecies Pinus torreyana var. insularis, which is endemic to the island. Torrey pines are the United States' rarest pine species. [1] The islands also house many rare and endangered plants, including the island barberry, the island rushrose, and the Santa Cruz Island lace pod.
Approximately 494,500 breeding pairs are thought to live on the island, 500 of which are king penguins. [1] Five other species have been recorded, but do not have a breeding population. [4] The largest breeding population of black-browed albatross is found on the islands, [1] making up over 80% of the world's black-browed albatross population. [16]