Cartoon depiction of a bromeliad island where phytotelmata capture falling canopy tree leaves and collect rainwater in varying quantities and volumes depending on their size, which then establishes aquatic habitats for hosts such as mosquito larvae

The Bromeliad model system. Bromeliad contents were circumscribed and sampled as four compartments, representing distinct trophic levels. An environmental matrix: water; a primary carbon source: leaf litter; primary consumers: detritivores (predominantly Wyeomyia larvae); and the carnivorous Toxorhynchites.

The keys to saving endangered species and improving the ecology of our communities may be found in thousands of microbiomes and microbes examined by researchers from the ocean to the summit of the Waimea Valley watershed on Oʻahu. Our team of researchers conducted a monumental field expedition by sampling more than 3,000 microbes and microbiomes from the ocean of Waimea Bay to the deepest part of Waimea Valley. The investigation revealed three key discoveries: microbes follow

In this perspectives piece we detail the importance of trans-disciplinary research for understanding microbiomes and the ways in which Hawaii provides excellent model study systems for this research. Link to publication