Aspects of the Life History and Foraging Ecology of the Endangered Akiapolaau

Home range sizes averaged 10.7 ha and did not differ between males and females. Annual survival for adults was 0.71. Avian diseases appear to restrict Akiapolaau to higher elevation forests where mosquitos are rare.

Protection of remaining old-growth koa and ohia forests above the mosquito zone are critical to the survival of the species. Geographic Description: Akiapolaau were studied at five study sites on Hawaii: Keauhou Ranch (19.52, -155.33; 1,740 m elevation), Kilauea Forest (19.52, -155.32 1,630 m), Hamakua (19.78 -155.33; 1,770 m), Kau Forest (19.22, -155.65; 1,750 m), and a Dry Forest site (19.82, -155.55 1,865-2,800 m). 1.5.2 Bounding Rectangle Coordinates Methodology: 25-162 stations were surveyed each month at each study site using the variable circular-plot method with 8-minute counts (Scott et al. 1986) to obtain indices of Akiapolaau abundance.