Biodiversity of high islands
The biodiversity survey and inventory focuses on high and middle elevation sites (>150m) on the high-elevation islands to determine biological elements unique to the islands, as well as those that are likely to be Polynesian introductions or more recent arrivals. These high islands are in 4 archipelagoes, the Societies, Marquesas, Gambiers, and Australs (see map on the data page). Extinction in these islands, at least for birds, has been very high. For much of French Polynesia, arthropods are all that remains of a uniquely evolved fauna and, like the flora, are largely confined to elevations above 300-700m. These sites are where we are focusing the survey efforts.
