1 2 FORUM/REVIEW ARTICLE 3 4 A research strategy for biodiversity conservation on New Zealand’s 5 offshore islands 6 7 David R. Towns 1* , Peter J. Bellingham 2, Christa P.H. Mulder 3, Phil O’B. Lyver 2 8 1Research and Development Group, Department of Conservation, Private Bag 68 908, 9 Newton, Auckland 1145, New Zealand. 10 2Landcare Research, PO Box 40, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand 11 3 Department of Biology and Wildlife & Institute of Arctic Biology, University of 12 Alaska Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA 13 *Author for correspondence (Email:
[email protected]) 14 15 Abstract: New Zealand’s (NZ) offshore islands are refuges for many threatened 16 species, a high proportion of vertebrate diversity, and the world’s most diverse fauna 17 of seabirds. We present key issues and questions that can be used to guide research on 18 the conservation of biodiversity on these islands. Four global reviews formed a basis 19 from which we identified research questions of potential relevance to the management 20 of NZ islands. The research questions were assigned in the context of nine objectives 21 proposed as a means of achieving ecological integrity. For each of the nine 22 objectives, we then asked what has been achieved in terms of island research and 23 management, and what needs to be achieved in order to meet long term goals. We 24 used local examples to identify issues and questions specific to islands in the NZ 25 region. Our analyses revealed two research areas in which current understanding is 1 26 poor.