Ascension : Ascension Island Conservation Department
Submitted by The Islander (Conservation Office) 07.10.2010 (Article Archived on 21.10.2010)

This relatively small grey locust has a wide distribution that includes Africa and many remote islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Locusta migratoria migratorioides, Tropical Migratory Locust

This relatively small grey locust has a wide distribution that includes Africa and many remote islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It has a distinct small form on Ascension but this can hybridise with the West African form. As its name implies this locust is a well known migrant and is likely to have reached Ascension from south-western Africa, or perhaps from West Africa in disturbed weather conditions. It requires grasses or sedges to complete its life cycle: both of these plant groups were present in the prehistoric vegetation on Ascension and grasses are now more widespread here; the locust becomes abundant after rains.

Conservation Activities

These pass few weeks we the Conservation Team have been doing plant census of the endemic plants around various parts of the island. Plant census allows us to monitor these special plants each year.

Ascension has seven endemic plants found here, they are called Asplenium ascensionis, Pteris adscensionis, Euphorbia origanoides, Xiphopteris ascensionense, Sporobolus caespitosus, Marattia purpurascens and finally recently re-discovered after about 50 years the Anogramma ascensionis.

With the growing of the introduced and invasive plants on Ascension, these endemic plants are finding it difficult to survive. Over the past few years endemic plant reintroduction sites have been positioned around the Green Mountain National Park and continuing propagation has been taking place in the shade houses on the mountain.

Recycling

We are looking for used drink cans (not crushed) for our endemic plants. If anyone is able to save cans please let us know so we can collect them.

Volunteers welcome. Please contact Olivia Renshaw or Natasha Williams. Ascension Island Conservation Department. Georgetown. Tel: 6359. Email:  olivia.renshaw@ascension.gov.ac

natasha.williams@ascension.gov.ac