DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Ecosystem services provided by terrestrial Mollusca in Hawaiian rainforests

这项研究将量化夏威夷雨林中陆生软体动物（蜗牛和蛞蝓）在凋落物分解和营养物质循环中的作用。 软体动物是第二个最多样化的动物群体，在描述物种之后，节肢动物。陆生和淡水软体动物区系在世界范围内都处于极端的威胁之下，并有可疑的荣誉，有记录的任何主要分类群体的最高数量的灭绝。 此外，许多非土著软体动物正在其原生地以外的地区定居。这项研究提供了极好的机会，以解决陆生蜗牛和蛞蝓的生态重要性，以及如何在动物群的物种组成的变化，与罕见的地方性被广泛的入侵取代，可能会影响他们提供的生态系统服务。本研究将采用实验方法来解决两个主要问题：1）什么样的作用做最丰富的土地蜗牛物种（本地和引进），发生在雨林中的凋落物分解和养分循环？ 2)人口密度与其余本地蜗牛物种的功能作用有何关系？这项研究将对我们了解夏威夷本土生态系统的功能做出重要贡献。这也将是有价值的自然资源管理人员在他们的保护工作，包括制定适当的战略，保护少数现存的本地蜗牛物种。该项目涉及UH Manoa和UH Hilo之间的高度整合和协同合作，并将直接支持博士生的研究。

This study will quantify the role of terrestrial Mollusca (snails and slugs) in the decomposition of litter and cycling of nutrients in Hawaiian rainforests. The Mollusca are the second most diverse group of animals in terms of described species, after the arthropods. Terrestrial and freshwater mollusk faunas world-wide are under extreme threat, and have the dubious honor of having the highest number of documented extinctions of any major taxonomic group. In addition, many non-indigenous mollusks are becoming established in areas outside their native range. This study offers splendid opportunities to address the ecological importance of terrestrial snails and slugs and how changes in species composition of a fauna, with rare endemics being replaced by widespread invasives, may be impacting the ecosystem services they provide. This study will apply experimental approaches to address two major questions: 1) What role do the most abundant land snail species (native and introduced) that occur in the rain forest play in litter decomposition and nutrient cycling? 2) How is population density related to the functional role of the remaining native snail species? This study will be an important contribution to our understanding of the functioning of native Hawaiian ecosystems. It will also be of value to natural resource managers working in their preservation, including development of appropriate strategies for conservation of the few extant native snail species. The project involves a highly integrated and synergistic collaboration between UH Manoa and UH Hilo, and will support directly the research of a doctoral student.