Sun, surf and spiders: taxonomy and phylogeography of Hawaiian Araneae

Abstract

Remarkable suites of endemic and often rare species are characteristics of isolated land masses. This is particularly true of the Hawaiian Islands, where extreme isolation has been associated with accentuation and acceleration of the processes of both evolution and extinction. The biota is well known for its extraordinarily high levels of endemism: species frequently occupy minute distributional ranges. At the same time, anthropogenic disturbance, either direct or indirect, is causing rapid species decline. No other area in the USA has such a high proportion of endemic species nor suffers the impact from as many new invading species as Hawaii. As a consequence, the archipelago represents a microcosm for studies in evolution and conservation. The Hawaiian Islands