Life history, ecology and conservation of Hawaiian birds have been the focus of my research for over 30 years. More recently my work has included studies of geographic variation in morphology, genetics and behavior of three species of endangered passerines in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. My graduate students undertake research on these topics, as well as plant-pollinator interactions, conservation biology of rare plants and invertebrates, impacts of alien species on native Hawaiian biota and seabird behavior and conservation.

Hawaii has lost more species than any other geographic area on earth. This extinction crisis continues today, as biologists and managers work to prevent the loss of hundreds of endangered species, including more than 30 birds, 300 plants, and at least 150 species of invertebrates. In the last decade my research and that of my students has sought, among other things, to document the ecology of some of these threatened species and, through basic ecological research, to provide a sound biological basis for effecting their recovery. Ê

Selected References

Morin, M.P. and S. Conant. In press. Why isn't the Nihoa Millerbird extinct? Studies in Avian Biology.

Roberts, G., T. Male, and S. Conant. 1998. White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus). No. 378 In: The Birds of North America. (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.; The American Ornithologists' Union.

Conant, S. 1998. Birds. In: Juvik, J. and S. Juvik (eds.) Atlas of Hawaii, 3rd edition. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Tarr, C.L., S. Conant and R.C. Fleischer. 1998. Founder events and variation at microsatellite loci in an insular passerine bird, the Laysan Finch. (Telespiza cantans). Molecular Ecology 7:719-731.

Conant, S., H.D. Pratt and R. J. Shallenberger. 1998. Reflections on a 1975 ornithological expedition to the lost world of the Alaka`i and other notes on the natural history, systematics and conservation of Kaua`i birds. Wilson Bulletin 110: 1-22.

Morin, M. P., S. Conant and P. Conant. 1997. Laysan and Nihoa Millerbirds (Acrocephalus familiaris familiaris and A. f. kingi). No. 302. In The Birds of North America. (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.; The American Ornithologists' Union.

Seto, N.W.H. and S. Conant. 1996. The effects of rat (Rattus rattus) predation on the reproductive success of the Bonin Petrel (Pterodroma hypoleuca) on Midway Atoll. Colonial Waterbirds 19 (2):171-185.

Aguon, C. and S. Conant. 1994. Breeding biology of the White-rumped Shama on Oahu, Hawaii. Wilson Bull. 106:311-328.

Morin, M. P. and S. Conant. 1994. Variables influencing population estimates of an endangered passerine. Biol. Cons. 67:73-84.

Rose, R.G., S. Conant, and E.P. Kjellgren. 1993. Hawaiian standing kahili in Bishop Museum: An ethnological and biological analysis. J. Polynes. Soc. 102:273-304.

Fleischer, R.C., S. Conant and M.P. Morin. 1991. Genetic variation in native and translocated populations of the Laysan Finch (Telespiza cantans). Heredity 66:125-130.

Morin, M.P. and S. Conant. 1990. Nest substrate variation between native and introduced populations of Laysan Finches. Wilson Bull. 102:591-603.

Conant, S. 1988. Geographic variation in the Laysan Finch (Telespyza cantans). Evol. Ecol. 2:270-282.

Conant, S. 1988. Saving endangered species with translocation: Are we tinkering with evolution? Bioscience 38:254-257.