The third chapter of Gordon's dissertation has been accepted at the Journal of Biogeography.  This paper examines the interplay between historical biogeography and ecological opportunity in the native Hawaiian Nesophrosyne radiation.

Congratulations to Gordon for having another chapter of his dissertation published.  His paper on how host plants have shaped the diversity of native Hawaiian Nesophrosyne leafhoppers will appear in Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution soon! 

Over the weekend we heard that two papers had been accepted.  One, lead by Darren Obbard at the University of Edinburgh, examines dating in the Drosophilidae using several Hawaiian calibration points.  It will be appearing in Molecular Biology and Evolution.


The other is a survey of Wolbachia in endemic Hawaiian insects (see Figure) that will be out in Fly. The paper was coauthored by Gordon Bennett and former undergraduate Norma Pantoja.

We have a critical review of Michael Heads' new book on Molecular Panbiogeography of the Tropics in the June issue of Taxon.  My favorite part is the quote that leads off the review:

“Or they asserted that all those landlubbery creatures had walked dry-shod across a natural bridge, or had swum short distances between stepping stones, and that one such formation or another had since disappeared beneath the waves.  But scientists using their big brains and cunning instruments had by 1986 made maps of the ocean floor.  There wasn’t a trace, they said, of an intervening land mass of any kind.”

                                                                               Kurt Vonnegut, Galápagos (1985)

Congratulations to all the lab members who are graduating this year.  Gordon received his PhD and will be moving on to a postdoctoral position in Nancy Moran's Lab at Yale.  Crystal got her Bachelor's degree in Molecular Toxicology and is applying to Pharmacy School.  Best of luck to you both in the future! 

Gordon won second place for his presentation at the Entomological Society of America Meetings.  

Our collaborator extrodinaire, Neal Evenhuis, has just published some new species of Hawaiian Campsicnemus, one of which is named after Gordon! 

Gordon's revision of the Nesophrosyne specializing on Broussatia arguta has just been accepted in Zootaxa.  Congratulations!  Here's the link: http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2011/f/zt02805p025.pdf