DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Systematics, Island Biogeography, and Coevolution of native Hawaiian leafhoppers (Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae: Nesophrosyne) and their endosymbionts

共生细菌在昆虫多样化中发挥了重要作用。对生活在昆虫组织和器官内的特殊细菌内共生生物的研究，为新的生态适应、植物取食的起源和基因组进化提供了见解。本项目将研究两种内共生体在夏威夷本土叶蝉（蝉科：Nesophrosyne）多样化中的作用。这一群是一个极好的模范系统，因为我们知道夏威夷的地质历史，因为这些昆虫严格地使用特定的寄主植物，因为这些昆虫的某些种类只局限于个别岛屿。这一独特的时间和生态框架可用于测试昆虫-内共生体共同进化和适应当地环境的假设。这项工作涉及多个教育层次的学生，从小学和中学到本科和研究生课程。正在进行的NSF GK-12项目（五年级和七年级）利用项目资源丰富公立学校学生的科学教育。该项目还培养了本科生的应用研究技术。对nesophrosyne -内共生系统的研究将为研究这些关联在植食性昆虫的进化和多样化中的作用提供基础。对本地叶蝉的分类工作将为保护资源管理者和土地利用规划者提供更准确的夏威夷生物群信息。

Symbiotic bacteria have played a large role in insect diversification. Studies on endosymbionts, specialized bacteria living inside insect tissues and organs, have provided insight into novel ecological adaptations, the origins of plant feeding, and genome evolution. This project will investigate the role of two endosymbionts in the diversification of the native Hawaiian leafhoppers (Cicadellidae: Nesophrosyne). This group is an excellent model system because of the known geologic history of Hawaii, the strict use of particular host plants by these insects, and the restriction of certain species of Nesophrosyne to individual islands. This unique temporal and ecological framework can be used to test hypotheses of insect-endosymbiont coevolution and adaptation to local environments. This work involves students at multiple educational levels, from elementary and secondary schools to undergraduate and graduate programs. Ongoing work with the NSF GK-12 program (5th and 7th grade) uses project resources to enrich science education of public school students. This project also trains undergraduate students in applied research techniques. Work on the Nesophrosyne-endosymbiont system will provide the groundwork for examining the role of these associations in the evolution and diversification of plant-feeding insects. Taxonomic work on native leafhoppers will provide conservation resource managers and land use planners with more accurate information of the Hawaiian biota.