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University of Hawai`i at Manoa
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Dept. Chair:
Dr. Tom Ranker
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Home > People > Graduate Students > Richard Pender
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Richard Pender PhD Student Ecology Track Contact Information University of Hawai`i at Manoa Affiliations |
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Thesis Title: Pollination, mating systems and conservation of Hawaiian Lobelioideae (Campanulaceae) Personal Statement: I am broadly interested in terrestrial plant ecology, evolution and conservation, particularly on islands. Hawaii is an incredible place to study the ecology and evolution of plants, given the isolation of the archipelago, varying age of each island and range of habitats that occur here. I am fortunate to be developing a study on one of the archipelagos most impressive plant adaptive radiations, that of the Hawaiian Lobeliodeae (colloquially known as Lobelioids), a group of 6 genera (Brighamia, Clermontia, Cyanea, Delissea, Lobelia and Trematolobelia) containing c. 110 species of caduciforms, shrubs and small trees. Lobelioids were thought to have co-evolved with their putative pollinators, the endemic honeycreepers (Drepanidae), an adaptive radiation of 55 species. Due to the ill effects of humans, more than half of the archipelagos honeycreeper species have gone extinct. Of the species that still exist, around half are endangered. A similar fate has been bestowed upon Lobelioids with c. 30% of the species now endangered, while are also endangered. Through the use of pollination ecology studies and mating system surveys I hope to develop a better understanding of the reproductive biology. I also hope to elucidate whether honeycreepers are still viable pollinators where they occur in sympatry with lobelioid species. This will inform conservation managers on the best ways to conserve the remaining species of lobelioids in the Hawaiian archipelago. Awards:
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