The Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk (HEAR) project, active from 1997 to 2012, provided essential information and tools to decision-makers, resource managers, and the public to address harmful non-native species in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Islands. Originating from USGS Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center and hosted by the University of Hawaiʻi, HEAR featured species databases, distribution maps, identification keys, and inter-agency communications—all aimed at preventing and managing invasive species.
Investigate species profiles: Students can browse HEAR’s online taxonomy to learn about invasive plants like Miconia calvescens and trace their island-by-island spread using interactive or printed maps .
Observe invasion trends: Use HEAR's visual data to track how non-native species expand across ecosystems, then connect those patterns to real-world impacts.
Create management plans: Develop a classroom "rapid response" strategy for an incipient invader using criteria drawn from HEAR’s records.
Reflect on prevention: Debate the ethics and economics of early intervention versus delayed action, referencing HEAR’s communication-focused model.
Invasive species ecology: understanding threats from species like Miconia
Island biogeography and how invasions impact endemism
Data literacy: interpreting distribution maps and species metadata
Conservation communication: use of mailing lists, stakeholder networks, and public web tools
Historical perspectives: how invasive species response evolved from 1997–2012
