Supporting Data

The graphs to the right are population densities of several bird species native in Guam per 100km. It
is easy to note that almost all graphs are declining; the population of these species are decreasing
throughout the years. All of these species have been affected by the BTS. The Guam Rail is a
particularly hard hit species that has been extinct naturally ever since the 1980s, but they, along with
Micronesian Kingfishers, are currently being bred in captivity to be released into the wild. Of
interesting note are the Yellow Bitterns and the Eurasian Tree Sparrows, whose population have not
completely declined. These two species move in between different habitats, the Bitterns in swampy
areas and grasslands, while the Sparrows have survived well in urban areas. These kinds of habitats
are limited in BTS numbers, thus allowing for the populations to rise due to adaptation. In the
appendix is a complete species summary table of all species affected by the BTS. (People.eku.edu)
Not only do the snakes cause natural disturbances, but they cost the Guam government an
estimated millions of dollars each year. Brown Tree Snakes often climb on top of manmade
structures, and up power poles supporting distribution wires and transmission lines. Contact with
these conductors can cause faults and short circuits. In the year 1982 alone, snakes caused 84

electrical faults, accounting for 252 hours of power outages on the island. The graph below shows
the frequency of electrical outages due to snakes throughout the years of 1978-1997. By the year
1996, there were roughly 215 outages, or approximately one outage every other day. (Everette)

As of March 2009, there are 26,000 snakes per square mile. Guam is 212 square miles large.
That’s 5,512,000 snakes on the island, and compared to the 177,718 humans living on Guam, that’s a
ratio of 31 snakes to 1 person. It is clear that the BTS situation on Guam is a dire one, with impacts
on the island’s ecology and biosphere. Humans are also affected in the damages of electric
appliances and also fear of snakes attacking children. This conservation project aims to remedy these
issues on Guam.