Why are there so many species on Earth? Why are some rare and others common? Why have some diversified into novel forms through evolutionary time while other remain seemingly static? These questions motivate us to pull together an equally diverse group of scientists to study how arthropod diversity assembles across the Hawaiian Islands. Arthropods present some of the most spectacular adaptive radiations in Hawaii and the Hawaiian Islands themselves, because of their geologic chronology, provide evolutionary snapshots during the development of arthropod communities. The ecological diversity of arthropods and chronosequence of Hawaii allow us to test novel biodiversity theories in an attempt to understand the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that underly emergent patterns of the distribution and abundance of species.

We thank the National Science
Foundation for Support

Our work is possible only by close collaboration with the stewards and managers of Hawaii’s natural areas. We thank all of them for their partnership and dedication