An Assessment of Nysius wekiuicola Populations and Thermal Microhabitat Conditions on Cinder Cones of the Maunakea Volcano, Hawaii

Author:

Kirkpatrick, Jessica

Title:

An Assessment of Nysius wekiuicola Populations and Thermal Microhabitat Conditions on Cinder Cones of the Maunakea Volcano, Hawaii

Periodical:

Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science

Year:

2018

Volume:

Master of Science (MSc)

Pages:

112

Subject:

Conservation biology Wildlife management Wekiu bug Cinder cones Mauna Kea volcano Insects Mauna Kea

Summary:

In this study, locations on a high elevation and a lower elevation cinder cone were sampled using attractant traps in a buffered random design six times from June 2016- 2017 to examine wēkiu bug distribution patterns within cinder cone habitats and across seasons. Results indicate that wēkiu bugs had a highly aggregated distribution, with up to 40 times higher bug densities at the higher elevation cinder cone, and the density of bugs changed within and between cinder cones throughout the year. We recommend preserving contiguous cinder cone habitats for the persistence of the wēkiu bug, and monitoring populations in a random sample design in known or restored habitats to effectively monitor wēkiu bug densities.

URL:

http://hdl.handle.net/10790/3502

Date:

February 2018

Collection:

Monographs