02218nas a2200205   4500008004100000245016200041210006900203300001200272490001000284520153800294653002301832653001201855653001101867653002001878653001601898653001901914100001301933700002201946856004401968       2004                        eng d00aEvolution of satellite DNAs in a radiation of endemic Hawaiian spiders: Does concerted evolution of highly repetitive sequences reflect evolutionary history?0 aEvolution of satellite DNAs in a radiation of endemic Hawaiian s  a632-6410 v59(5)3 aSatellite DNAs are known for an unusual and nonuniform evolution characterized by rapid evolutionary change between species and concerted evolution leading to molecular homogeneity within species. In this paper we use satellite DNAs for phylogenetic analysis of a rapidly evolving lineage of spiders and compare the phylogeny with a hypothesis previously generated based on mitochondrial DNA and allozymes. The spiders examined include almost all species within a monophyletic clade of endemic Hawaiian Tetragnatha species, the spiny-leg clade. The phylogeny based on satellite sequences is largely congruent to those produced by mtDNA and allozymes, except that the satellite DNA yields much longer branches, with higher levels of support for any given node. Closely related species that have differentiated ecologically within an island are well resolved with satellite DNA but much less so with mtDNA. These results suggest that Tetragnatha stDNA repeats seem to be evolving gradually and cohesively during the diversification of these endemic Hawaiian spiders. The study also reveals gain–loss of satellite DNA copies during species diversification. We conclude that satellite DNA sequences may potentially be very useful for resolving relationships between rapidly evolving taxa within an adaptive radiation. In addition, satellite DNA as a nuclear marker suggests that hybridization or peripatry could play a possible role in species formation that cannot be revealed by mitochondrial markers due to its maternal inheritance.10aadaptive radiation10aAraneae10aHAWAII10aPacific Insects10aTetragnatha10aTetragnathidae1 aPons, J.1 aGillespie, R., G.  uhttps://pacleps.myspecies.info/node/18002074nas a2200253   4500008004600000245011200046210006900158520131100227653001701538653001401555653001901569653001701588653001101605653001601616653001701632653002001649653001401669653001901683653001401702653001701716100002101733700002201754856004401776       Submitted                   eng d     00aHabitat dictates the evolution of flightlessness in a radiation of Hawaiian moths (Thyrocopa: Xyloryctidae)0 aHabitat dictates the evolution of flightlessness in a radiation 3 aAlthough the ability to fly confers benefits to most insects, some taxa have become secondarily flightless.  Insect flightlessness may be more likely to evolve in environments such as islands and other windswept and alpine areas, but this prediction has rarely been tested while controlling for phylogenetic effects.  Here we present a phylogeny for the endemic Hawaiian Lepidoptera genus Thyrocopa, which has two flightless species that occur in alpine areas on Maui and Hawaii islands, and other volant species that live in below-alpine areas. We also explore patterns of inter-island colonization in Thyrocopa, and present the first Hawaiian study to sample a genus from nine islands. The phylogeny is composed of 63 individuals sequenced for portions of COI, EF1α, and wingless, for a total of 1964 base pairs.Results:  Our results indicate that two independent invasions of alpine habitats with concomitant loss of flight have occurred in Thyrocopa.  Conclusions: Loss of flight ability has evolved in a short period of geologic time in Thyrocopa, perhaps as a result of cold temperatures, high winds, and/or a lack of predation pressure.  However, several other Thyrocopa species that live on small islands with consistently high winds, such as Necker and Nihoa islands, retain the ability to fly.  10aBIOGEOGRAPHY10adispersal10aflightlessness10aGelechioidea10aHAWAII10aLEPIDOPTERA10aOecophoridae10aPacific Insects10aPhylogeny10aPhylogeography10aThyrocopa10aXyloryctidae1 aMedeiros, M., J.1 aGillespie, R., G.  uhttps://pacleps.myspecies.info/node/13502204nas a2200265   4500008004500000020001400045245022500059210006900284260000900353300000800362490001000370520133600380653001701716653001701733653001101750653000901761653001601770653002001786653001501806100001901821700001701840700001601857700002201873856004301895       2000                        Engldsh    a0030-887000aConservation status and research on the Fabulous Green Sphinx of Kaua'i, <i>Tinostoma smaragditis </i>(Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), including checklists of the vascular plants of the diverse mesic forests of Kaua'i, Hawai'i0 aConservation status and research on the Fabulous Green Sphinx of  cJan.  a1-90 v54(1)3 aIn 1895, a moth was captured in a mountain home in Makaweli, Kaua'i, that would captivate and elude entomologists for the next century. Tinostoma smaragditis (Meyrick), aptly nicknamed the "Fabulous Green Sphinx of Kauai'i" is a stunningly beautiful moth with green wings and thorax, pale brown hind wings, and orange antennae. Eighteen individuals are known to have been collected on Kaua'i. However, despite extensive searches in areas around Koke'e, all the specimens discovered until the 1990s were incidental catches, and the natural habitat and host plant of the moth remained unknown. This study describes the results of extensive searches of the diverse mesic forests with the aim of establishing range, habitat, and host-plant associations of the Fabulous Green Sphinx. In February 1998 a male T. smaragditis was attracted to a mercury vapor light set up in the diverse mesic forest. Subsequently, one other specimen was collected in a similar habitat type on another part of the island. However, the host plant of the moth remains unknown. In this paper we provide a history of collections, a summary of known biology, and a guide to potential host plants, including checklists of vascular plants found in the diverse mesic forests of two locations where T. smaragditis was found, Kalalau and Mahanaloa Valleys on Kaua'i.10aCONSERVATION10adistribution10aHAWAII10aHOST10aLEPIDOPTERA10aPacific Insects10aSphingidae1 aHeddle, M., L.1 aWood, K., R.1 aAsquith, A.1 aGillespie, R., G.  uhttps://pacleps.myspecies.info/node/9102555nas a2200229   4500008004100000245010300041210006900144300001200213490000700225520188200232653001102114653002402125653001402149653002002163653001402183653002002197653001502217653001202232653001602244100002202260856004302282       2002                        eng d00aBiogeography of spiders on remote oceanic islands of the Pacific: archipelagoes as stepping stones0 aBiogeography of spiders on remote oceanic islands of the Pacific  a655-6620 v293 aAim The composition of species in any given island community may directly reflect the processes of immigration such that species on a more remote island comprise a nested subset of those on the nearest less remote land mass. Alternatively, new species can arise on islands by less frequent colonization but subsequent evolutionary differentiation. In the current study the species composition of spiders is examined in native communities on three remote oceanic archipelagoes to test hypotheses concerning the relative importance for species accumulation of (i) immigration from the nearest land mass, vs. (ii) in situ speciation. Location The study focuses on three volcanic hot-spot archipelagoes in the Pacific: the Hawaiian, Marquesas and Society Islands. Methods Tetragnatha spiders were collected from the three remote Pacific archipelagoes as well as Australasia and America. Sequences of mitochondrial DNA (Cytochrome Oxidase I and 16S ribosomal DNA) were obtained from the spiders and a phylogenetic approach was used to examine relatedness among island endemic lineages of spiders, as well as associations between species on different archipelagoes with continental congeners. Results Within archipelagoes, species groups are largely monophyletic. When species groups are compared between archipelagoes, those on one archipelago are never the sister group to those on another archipelago. Rather, each archipelago has a mainland congener as its closest sister group. Main conclusions First, colonization of the Hawaiian, Marquesas and Society archipelagoes by Tetragnatha spiders appears to have occurred independently, most likely in each case from a continental source, but not from the nearest archipelago. Secondly, in situ speciation has occurred in the Marquesas and Society Islands in a similar manner to that in Hawaii, although apparently on a smaller scale.10aHAWAII10aisland biogeography10aMarquesas10aPacific Insects10aradiation10aSociety Islands10aSPECIATION10aSpiders10aTetragnatha1 aGillespie, R., G.  uhttps://pacleps.myspecies.info/node/6201187nas a2200169   4500008004100000020001400041245009200055210006900147300001200216490000700228520066700235653001100902653002000913653001900933100002200952856004300974       2002                        eng d  a0161-820200aHawaiian spiders of the genus Tetragnatha: IV New, small species in the spiny leg clade0 aHawaiian spiders of the genus Tetragnatha IV New small species i  a159-1720 v303 aThis study continues documentation of the adaptive radiation of species in the genus Tetragnatha in the Hawaiian archipelago. The five new species described here are representatives of the 'spiny-leg' clade, most representatives of which have already been described. The new species are T. kukuiki, T. kikokiko, T. anuenue, T. kukuhaa, and T. obscura. The species described are found in various different habitat types from low (e.g., 550 m on Oahu) to middle elevations (1660 In on Hawaii), and from dry to very wet forest types. As with other representatives of the clade, they are nocturnal hunters, do not build webs, and move actively around the vegetation.10aHAWAII10aPacific Insects10aTetragnathidae1 aGillespie, R., G.  uhttps://pacleps.myspecies.info/node/6301104nas a2200169   4500008004100000020001400041245010800055210006900163300000900232490000700241520057100248653001100819653002000830653001900850100002200869856004300891       2003                        eng d  a0161-820200aHawaiian spiders of the genus Tetragnatha (Araneae, Tetragnathidae): V. elongate web-builders from Oahu0 aHawaiian spiders of the genus Tetragnatha Araneae Tetragnathidae  a8-190 v313 aThis study continues documentation of the adaptive radiation of species in the genus Tetragnatha in the Hawaiian archipelago. The four new species described here are similar in gross appearance, all being brown and elongate. They all build orb webs low down in shrubby vegetation, and have disjunct or abutting ranges. The new species are T. limu, T. lena, T. palikeo, and T. uluhe. Different species occur in middle and high elevations, and in wet and dry habitats. Similar to other representatives of Hawaiian Tetragnatha, they are strictly nocturnal web-builders.10aHAWAII10aPacific Insects10aTetragnathidae1 aGillespie, R., G.  uhttps://pacleps.myspecies.info/node/6402141nas a2200169   4500008004100000020001400041245007300055210006900128300001000197490000700207520163900214653001401853653002001867653001901887100002201906856004301928       2003                        eng d  a0161-820200aMarquesan spiders of the genus Tetragnatha (Araneae, Tetragnathidae)0 aMarquesan spiders of the genus Tetragnatha Araneae Tetragnathida  a62-770 v313 aThis study revises the status of knowledge of the spider fauna of the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia. In particular, the genus Tetragnatha was noticeable for its poor representation in the Marquesas Islands by comparison with the large radiation in the yet more remote Polynesian archipelago of the Hawaiian Islands. Expeditions were conducted to determine whether Tetragnatha was indeed poorly represented in the Marquesas Islands, as the literature would suggest. In addition, specimens were studied from historical collections from this archipelago. The results indicate that the islands do indeed have a number of endemic Tetragnatha, and the genus does appear to have undergone adaptive radiation, although not nearly on the same scale as in the Hawaiian Islands. Results indicate that: (1) in addition to T. marquesiana Berland there are four new species, described here, each of which are endemic to the islands. Tetragnatha marquesiana is widespread in the northern islands, including Nuku Hiva. There are two additional species on Nuku Hiva: T. punua and T. oomua. Two new species are described from the southern islands of Hiva Oa (T. kapua) and Tahuata (T. tahuata). Tetragnatha kapua from Hiva Oa appears to be related to T. marquesiana. (2) Tetragnatha macilenta L. Koch does not occur on these islands. Reports of its widespread distribution through the Pacific can only be substantiated as far as the Society Islands. (3) Tetragnatha nitens (Audouin), which may not be indigenous, occurs in disturbed areas at high elevations in Nuku Hiva. In total, there are six species of Tetragnatha in the Marquesas Islands.10aMarquesas10aPacific Insects10aTetragnathidae1 aGillespie, R., G.  uhttps://pacleps.myspecies.info/node/6501909nas a2200169   4500008004100000020001400041245008600055210006900141300001200210490000700222520138600229653002001615653002001635653001901655100002201674856004301696       2003                        eng d  a0161-820200aSpiders of the genus Tetragnatha (araneae, tetragnathidae) in the Society Islands0 aSpiders of the genus Tetragnatha araneae tetragnathidae in the S  a157-1720 v313 aThis study revises the status of knowledge of the spider fauna of the Society Islands. Until recently, the literature on the spider fauna in these islands has suggested that the genus Tetragnatha in particular is noticeable for its poor representation in comparison with the large radiation in the Hawaiian Islands. Expeditions were conducted to determine whether this genus is indeed poorly represented in the islands as the literature would suggest. The results indicate that the islands actually have a number of endemic Tetragnatha, although there is no noticeable adaptive radiation as is seen in the Hawaiian Islands. Results of field expeditions in 1999-2000 and studies on historical collections have shown that: (1) Reports of the cosmotropical species T. mandibulata in the Society Islands are probably not valid; these were misidentifications for either T. macilenta or T. nitens. (2) Tetragnatha huahinensis is a synonym of T. macilenta. (3) There are three new species of Tetragnatha, all of which are described here and appear to be endemic to middle and high elevations of the Society Islands (from Tahiti, Moorea and Raiatea). In total, there are six species of Tetragnatha in the Society Islands: in addition to the three endemic species there is one possibly indigenous (T. macilenta), and two that may be of more recent introduction (T. nitens and T. maxillosa).10aPacific Insects10aSociety Islands10aTetragnathidae1 aGillespie, R., G.  uhttps://pacleps.myspecies.info/node/6600533nas a2200169   4500008004100000245004800041210004800089260004600137300001200183653002400195653002000219100002200239700002000261700001800281700002100299856004300320       2010                        eng d00aIsland biogeography of remote archipelagoes0 aIsland biogeography of remote archipelagoes  aPrinceton, NJbPrinceton University Press  a358-38710aisland biogeography10aPacific Insects1 aGillespie, R., G.1 aBaldwin, B., G.1 aLosos, J., B.1 aRicklefs, R., E.  uhttps://pacleps.myspecies.info/node/6702209nas a2200253   4500008004100000245012000041210006900161300001400230490000800244520142700252653002301679653002001702653001701722653001701739653001701756653002101773653001401794653002001808653002001828100002201848700002101870700002101891856004301912       2008                        eng d00aBiogeography of the fauna of French Polynesia: diversification within and between a series of hot spot archipelagos0 aBiogeography of the fauna of French Polynesia diversification wi  a3335-33460 v3633 aThe islands of French Polynesia cover an area the size of Europe, though total land area is smaller than Rhode Island. Each hot spot archipelago (Societies, Marquesas, Australs) is chronologically arranged. With the advent of molecular techniques, relatively precise estimations of timing and source of colonization have become feasible. We compile data for the region, first examining colonization (some lineages dispersed from the west, others from the east). Within archipelagos, blackflies (Simulium) provide the best example of adaptive radiation in the Societies, though a similar radiation occurs in weevils (Rhyncogonus). Both lineages indicate that Tahiti hosts the highest diversity. The more remote Marquesas show clear examples of adaptive radiation in birds, arthropods and snails. The Austral Islands, though generally depauperate, host astonishing diversity on the single island of Rapa, while lineages on other islands are generally widespread but with large genetic distances between islands. More recent human colonization has changed the face of Polynesian biogeography. Molecular markers highlight the rapidity of Polynesian human (plus commensal) migrations and the importance of admixture from other populations during the period of prehistoric human voyages. However, recent increase in traffic has brought many new, invasive species to the region, with the future of the indigenous biota uncertain.10aadaptive radiation10aAustral Islands10aBIODIVERSITY10aBIOGEOGRAPHY10adistribution10aFrench Polynesia10aMarquesas10aPacific Insects10aSociety Islands1 aGillespie, R., G.1 aClaridge, E., M.1 aGoodacre, S., L.  uhttps://pacleps.myspecies.info/node/6802125nas a2200217   4500008004100000245005300041210005300094300001400147490001000161520153400171653000801705653002301713653001101736653002401747653001501771653002001786100002201806700001601828700002001844856004301864       1994                        eng d00aMultiple origins of a spider radiation in Hawaii0 aMultiple origins of a spider radiation in Hawaii  a2290-22940 v91(6)3 aThe Hawaiian Islands are renowned for some of the most spectacular species radiations in the world. Most of these radiations have been attributed to single colonization events, although the evidence supporting monophyletic origins is often poorly resolved and/or ambiguous. Without a concrete understanding of the origins of species radiations, it is impossible to understand the phylogenetic pattern of species proliferation or the spectrum of morphological, ecological, and behavioral modifications attributable to a single colonist. In this study we examined the species radiation of the spider genus Tetragnatha in Hawaii. Unlike their mainland congeners, the Hawaiian Tetragnatha are extremely diverse in morphology, ecology, and behavior. We tested whether this diversity arose from a single or multiple colonization events. We coupled morphological (37 characters) and molecular (sequence from the 12S ribosomal subunit of mitochondrial DNA) approaches to assess the phylogenetic position of the Hawaiian Tetragnatha relative to continental congeners and to examine evidence for monophyly. We provide evidence that the Hawaiian Tetragnatha emanate from multiple origins. At least two independent species radiations, the "spiny-leg" clade and the web-building species Tetragnatha stelarobusta and Tetragnatha acuta, have arisen from one or more founder events. Two additional natural colonizations have resulted in the establishment of non-speciose lineages, as represented by Tetragnatha hawaiensis and Doryonychus raptor.10a12S10aadaptive radiation10aHAWAII10amolecular phylogeny10amorphology10aPacific Insects1 aGillespie, R., G.1 aCroom, H.B.1 aPalumbi, S., R.  uhttps://pacleps.myspecies.info/node/6902840nas a2200229   4500008004100000245007000041210006700111300001200178490000700190520219700197653001702394653001702411653001402428653001102442653001202453653002402465653002002489653001502509100002202524700002102546856004302567       2002                        eng d00aArthropods on islands: Colonization, speciation, and conservation0 aArthropods on islands Colonization speciation and conservation  a595-6320 v473 aIslands have traditionally been considered to be any relatively small body of land completely surrounded by water. However, their primary biological characteristic, an extended period of isolation from a source of colonists, is common also to many situations on continents. Accordingly, theories and predictions developed for true islands have been applied to a huge array of systems, from rock pools, to single tree species in forests, to oceanic islands. Here, we examine the literature on islands in the broadest sense (i.e., whether surrounded by water or any other uninhabitable matrix) as it pertains to terrestrial arthropods.We categorize islands according to the features they share. The primary distinction between different island systems is “darwinian” islands (formed de novo) and “fragment” islands. In the former, the islands have never been in contact with the source of colonists and have abundant “empty” ecological niche space. On these islands, species numbers will initially increase through immigration, the rate depending on the degree of isolation. If isolation persists, over time species formation will result in “neo-endemics.” When isolation is extreme, the ecological space will gradually be filled through speciation (rather than immigration) and adaptive radiation of neo-endemics. Fragment islands are fundamentally different. In these islands, the ecological space will initially be filled as a consequence of connection to the source of colonists prior to insularization. Species numbers will decrease following fragmentation through the process of relaxation. If these islands become more isolated, species will eventually arise through relictualization with the formation of “paleo-endemics.” Given sufficient time, this process can result in generic level endemism on ancient fragment islands, a phenomenon well illustrated in Madagascar and New Zealand. Recognizing the distinction between the different kinds of islands is fundamental for understanding emerging patterns on each, in particular speciation, biodiversity (e.g., neo-endemics versus paleo-endemics), and conservation (e.g., naivet´e in interactions with alien species).10aCOLONIZATION10aCONSERVATION10aEVOLUTION10aHAWAII10ainsects10aisland biogeography10aPacific Insects10aSPECIATION1 aGillespie, R., G.1 aRoderick, G., K.  uhttps://pacleps.myspecies.info/node/7108833nas a2200229   4500008004100000245015100041210006900192260005000261300001100311490000800322520807300330653001708403653002108420653001408441653001208455653001508467653002008482653001708502100002008519700002208539856004208561       2013                        eng d00aMyriad Mirids: The spectacular radiation of <i>Pseudoloxops</i> (Hemiptera: Miridae) plant bugs in French Polynesia (and the kids that love them!)0 aMyriad Mirids The spectacular radiation of iPseudoloxopsi Hemipt  aBerkeleybUniversity of CaliforniacJune 2013  a362 pp0 vPhD3 aStudies of natural history and biodiversity may not top most funding agencies' priority lists, but they should. It is an exciting time for the field of biology--we are sequencing whole genomes, devising sophisticated models to cope with accelerating climate change, and even tinkering with the possibility of bringing extinct species back to life. But in the meantime, we continue to ignore the documentation and discovery of the vast majority of extant life on our planet. Millions of species, each with their own unique evolutionary history and trajectory, remain unknown, waiting to tell us their story and teach us their strategies for success. Here, my collaborators and I demonstrate the importance of documenting the diversity contained within a single lineage of insects, from examining the best methods for accurately determining numbers of species to showing the downstream benefits of incorporating that knowledge into local education for the benefit of all.In the first chapter, we revise the taxonomy of a lineage of plant bugs (Hemiptera: Miridae) that has radiated in the islands of French Polynesia. Six species of endemic <italic>Pseudoloxops/italic> plant bugs were previously known from two islands in French Polynesia, indicating a small radiation. We collected ecological, morphological, molecular, and geographical data for hundreds of fresh and historical <italic>Pseudoloxops/italic> specimens, expanding the genus' range to nine islands in two archipelagoes (the Austral and Society Islands). We combined all of the above data sources in an iterative integrative taxonomy framework to test the six existing species hypotheses and to search for new diversity. We confirmed 3 of the 6 original species designations and synonymized the remaining 3 species, and delimited and described an additional 23 species, for a total of 26. Our analysis demonstrates the value of an integrative approach, as we discovered cryptic species and color polymorphism that may have been missed or misinterpreted using a species concept that relied on a single line of evidence. We also found evidence for population-level diversification and discuss the potential for future research on the role of color in this radiation.In the second chapter, we explore the relative importance of ecology and geographic isolation in this lineage to provide a first approximation of whether the radiation was adaptive or non-adaptive. We collected <italic>Pseudoloxops/italic> from a wide range of plants, with 27 species in 25 different plant families and 13 orders. We then inferred a combined Bayesian molecular phylogeny from three genes, including 25 of the 26 known <italic>Pseudoloxops/italic> species, to examine the roles of plant affiliation and geography (island distribution) in speciation. We reconstructed the ancestral states using parsimony for these two characters, and found 12 speciation events that were well-supported in the phylogeny. Both plant-switching and island-hopping were correlated with speciation. For the 7 speciation events for which we could unequivocally determine plant affiliation before and after speciation, 4 were associated with a plant shift. For the 8 speciation events where island distribution could be reconstructed, two involved shifts to a new island. There were 5 cases for which we could determine both character states before and after speciation. In three of them, speciation occurred within the same locality with a switch in plant taxonomic order, suggesting that the lineage has great dietary versatility. However, much more research into feeding needs to be conducted, as anecdotal evidence from <italic>Pseudoloxops/italic> outside of French Polynesia suggests they may be facultative predators. In the other two speciation events, there was neither a geographic shift nor a change in plant affiliation, suggesting some other mechanism for speciation. Based on our results, both plant-switching and geography have played a role in the diversification of this radiation. Finally, plant switching from flowering plants (angiosperms) to ferns was observed in two different parts of the radiation. This finding was surprising for two reasons--first, plant bugs are rarely associated with ferns, likely because of their highly toxic secondary compounds, and second because the expectation on islands is that organisms colonize ferns first and then switch on to other plants, since ferns are often among the first plants to arrive on newly formed oceanic islands. While a better-resolved phylogeny is needed to reconstruct the timing of speciation events, the character polarity in our phylogeny indicates that angiosperm use is basal to fern use.In the third chapter, we address the larger societal impact of taxonomic and biodiversity research by examining the effect of a natural history-driven curriculum on elementary schoolchildren's scientific knowledge. While studies have demonstrated the potential for natural history education to improve children's attitudes towards and knowledge of science and nature, few studies have been done in areas where indigenous culture heavily influences children's worldview. The lead author taught a nine-month natural history/biodiversity class focused on insects and plants to fifth-graders at the Pao Pao elementary school on the French Polynesian island of Moorea and tested their scientific knowledge before and after receiving the program. We compared their results to a control that did not receive the program, and while both cohorts improved, the experimental group's improvement was significantly greater (mean of 82.2% vs. 30.5%). We performed a delayed post-test evaluation three years after the conclusion of the program with a subset of the experimental cohort to test their retention and interest in science. A one-way ANOVA revealed significant differences between their pre-, post-, and delayed post-test scores, with the post- and follow-up scores significantly higher than the pre-scores. While the raw delayed post-test scores were lower than the post-scores, suggesting some regression, this finding was not statistically significant. The follow-up students also reported a strong interest in science, with 66.7% answering the question "Do you like science?" with "yes" and 20% with "sort of." They also indicated a strong affinity for insects and plants, with 50% of them volunteering insects as their favorite subject in science and 26.7% volunteering plants. Finally, the qualitative coding of the experimental group's test and survey responses revealed both the influence of indigenous culture on their scientific understanding and the appeal of taxonomy and field trips to children. When prompted for an example of a native plant, 24% of the experimental group named a plant introduced by the Polynesians, suggesting the misconception that plants with a prevalent role in indigenous culture have always been there. In the follow-up survey, 36.7% mentioned the field trips among their memories of the course, and 20% gave full scientific names for species they recalled from the class. The latter contrasts with the commonly held belief that taxonomy is too arcane to connect with the general public.Overall, our research demonstrates the scientific and societal benefits of thorough natural history and biodiversity studies. The use of integrative methods allowed for the discovery of a staggering number of plant bug species in a very small area of land, and the documentation of ecological attributes allowed us to show how this radiation of bugs has been both adaptive and non-adaptive. The integration of this biodiversity information and a focus on traditionally "uncharismatic" groups of organisms (insects and plants) in local education provided substantial gains in schoolchildren's scientific knowledge, and perhaps more importantly, helped to popularize science and nature. Our hope is that this work inspires future graduate students to pursue research on the unknown and the undiscovered, and to link their findings directly to local communities.10adistribution10aFrench Polynesia10aHemiptera10aMiridae10amorphology10aPacific Insects10aPsuedoloxops1 aBalukjian, B.J.1 aGillespie, R., G.  uhttps://pacleps.myspecies.info/node/6