Admiralty Islands - Ecology

Ecology

Due to the isolated location, the rain forests of the Admiralty Islands are home to rare and endemic species of birds, bats and other animals and are considered a separate ecoregion, the Admiralty Islands lowland rain forests. The majority of the forests on Manus still remain, but some of the smaller islands have been cleared for coconut farming. The typical tree species are various Calophyllum and Sararanga species.

58.5 km2 (22.6 sq mi) Ndrolowa Wildlife Management Area was declared March 1985 south of Lorengau on Manus Island and contains both terrestrial and marine regions. 240 km2 (93 sq mi) protected area has been established around the highest mountain on Manus, Mt. Dremsel, but the level of protection is still undetermined in UNEP World Database on Protected Areas. Further study of this ecoregion is required.

Three of the bird species endemic to Admiralty Islands have been listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List: Manus fantail (Rhipidura semirubra), Superb pitta (Pitta superba) and Manus masked owl (Tyto manusi). Three other birds are endemic to Admiralty Islands but are classified as non-threatened or least concern: White-naped friarbird (Philemon albitorques), Manus monarch (Monarcha infelix) and Manus hawk owl (Ninox meeki). Birds found mainly but not exclusively on the Admiralty Islands include Melanesian megapode (Megapodius eremita), Yellow-bibbed fruit-dove (Ptilinopus solomonensis), Yellowish imperial-pigeon (Ducula subflavescens), Pied Cuckoo-dove (Reinwardtoena browni), Meek's Pygmy Parrot (Micropsitta meeki), Black-headed White-eye (Zosterops hypoxanthus) and Ebony Myzomela (Myzomela pammelaena).

Mammals found only here or on nearby island groups include the large fruit bats, Admiralty flying-fox (Pteropus admiralitatum), Andersen's naked-backed fruit bat (Dobsonia anderseni) and Seri's sheathtail-bat (Emballonura serii) while the two pure-endemics are Admiralty Island cuscus (Spilocuscus kraemeri) and a local Mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys matambuai). The islands are home to two endemic Platymantis frogs (Platymantis admiraltiensis and Platymantis latro) and four lizards, while the Emerald green snail of Manus was the first terrestrial snail to be listed as vulnerable by the IUCN.