Wildlife/Nature information
Ascension Island is home to a vast array of plant and animal species.

Seabirds
Ascension Island was formed from volcanic eruptions many years ago. It was home to millions of seabirds until man settled and then cats, rats and other invasive predators. The population of sea birds subsequently decreased due to massive predation by the introduced mammals. Seabird nesting around Ascension became confined to inaccessible cliffs, and small offshore islands, the largest of which, Boatswainbird Island, is the only nesting site in the world for the endangered endemic Ascension Frigatebird.
In 2001 the Seabird Restoration project was initiated. The primary mammal predator: feral cats, was successfully eradicated. Continuous monitoring of the coast has shown that seabirds are now returning to nest on the mainland. Seabirds have been found and recorded around different parts of the island and numbers nesting are increasing annually. Around the island we have seen 6 of the 11 species of seabirds, including the Masked Booby, Brown Booby, the Brown Noddy, make their way back onto Ascension. We are waiting in anticipation for the return of the Ascension Frigatebird.
Sooty terns (locally known as wideawakes) managed to survive on the main island of Ascension. This is probably due to their strange breeding cycle.

For more information about seabirds of Ascension please Click here to download pdf of Ascension Seabirds leaflet (29 O Seabird Leaflet)

Click here to download Ascension Bird List (29a O Ascension Bird List)

Land birds
We have 4 species of land birds present on Ascension, most of which were introduced at various stages many years ago. There is the Red-necked Francolin, the Common Myna Bird, the Yellow Canary and the Common Waxbill.

Introduced plants
Ascension Island natural habitat is bare, volcanic rock. Most of the plants seen on the island today were introduced, many by Kew Gardens. Some were planted in order to increase rainfall and some were brought for food supplies and building resources. Most of the introduced plants can be seen at Green Mountain.

Endemic plants
There were 10 Endemic plants on Ascension, of which 6 remain and 4 have gone extinct.

For more information about Endemic plants of Ascension please Click here to download pdf of Endemic plants of Ascension leaflet (30 O Endemic Plants of Ascension Leaflet)

Inshore fish and Endemic Fish
Ascension has a variety of inshore and pelagic marine life. A few fish species that are seen more regularly than others are: Black Durgeon or Black Triggerfish (also known locally as the Black fish), Jacks, Sergeant Majors (Five Fingers), Rock Hind (Ascension Grouper), Conger Eel. Frequently encountered invertebrates include octopus, sea urchins, and shrimp (Ascension has 2 endemic species of shrimp). Ascension also has its own endemic fish species, the most familiar being the Resplendent Angelfish.

For more information about Ascension Island Endemic fish, please Click here to download pdf of Dive Ascension leaflet (31 O Dive Ascension Leaflet)

Cetaceans
Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises are often seen around Ascension Island.

For more information please Click here to download pdf of Whales and dolphins leaflet
Click here to download pdf of Whales and dolphins poster (32 O Whales and Dolphins leaflet & 32a Whales and Dolphins Posters)

Endemic shrimp
There are 74 species of crustaceans known around Ascension, of which 14 are endemic. Another North American biologist has identified 27 species of marine amphipods around Ascension Island rock pools.

Inland from Shelly Beach (east Mars Bay), there are groups of different pools. These represent an 'anchialine' habitat. Pools are water filled crevices that have no surface connection with the sea, but are salt or brackish and are influenced by tides. The pools are about 50-100m inland and are evidently connected to the sea underground.
These tiny pools are the only known habitat for two particularly interesting species of shrimp, which are found nowhere else in the world, they also contain a number of other endemic animals, as well as clusters of the striking of globular green alga Valonis ventricosa and interesting coral in the genus Favia.

The presence of shrimps in the pools was recorded by John Packer in the 1968 edition of his Ascension handbook, but the first collections were apparently made in 1970 by Douglas S Rogers, an employee of Pan American World Airways. The first shrimp found was named Typhlatya rogersi in honour of Mr. Rogers; this species is pale pink and semi-transparent, and is abundant in the pools. The other remarkable fact about this species is that its relatives live mainly in freshwater subterranean habitats, especially on islands of the Caribbean.

The second shrimp species was collected by Mr. Rogers later the same year and named Procaris ascensionis. It was the first known member of the new family of shrimps, but related species have been found in similar habitats in Bermuda and Hawaii. It is bright orange, and is larger but less common in the pools than Typhlatya of which it is a predator.

Geology
Ascension is an isolated, relatively young ocean island lying some 100km west of the mid Atlantic ridge. The nearest land is St Helena, an island 1296km to the South- East. Ascension was formed by volcanic activity about 1.5 million years ago; Ascension did experience another volcanic explosion which formed Sisters Peak and this eruption took place about 600-700 years ago. The most recent volcanic activity was within the last 200 years, so Ascension is considered to be 'active' in geologic terms.

For more information download the please Click here to download pdf of Geology of Ascension leaflet (33 O Geology of Ascension Leaflet)

Invertebrates
On Ascension Island there are a total of 315 species of invertebrates that have been recorded.

For more information about Invertebrates of Ascension please Click here to download pdf of Invertebrates information (34 O Invertebrates information)

Endemic invertebrates
There are about 26 endemic invertebrates found only on Ascension, they are divided up into 11 groups.

For more information about Endemic Invertebrates, please Click here to download pdf of the endemic invertebrates leaflet (35 O Endemic invertebrates leaflet)

Turtles
Every year, male and female green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) migrate to the tiny South Atlantic island of Ascension, a distance of over 2000km. Here they mate, and the females crawl ashore to lay their eggs in the sand. How they navigate and find Ascension is not fully understood, but it is possible that they use a combination of smell and magnetic orientation. It is estimated that more than 5000 female green turtles nest on Ascension Island each year, making it one of the largest rookeries in the Atlantic Ocean.

The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is also found in Ascension's waters, although it is not known to nest here. Most individuals appear to be small and medium size juveniles.

Click here to download pdf of Green Turtle information (35a Green Turtle information))

Pictures: