Intra- and inter-annual distribution and density fluctuations of high alpine restricted arthropods on the summit of Maunakea, Hawaii

Relative density and distribution data of three endemic arthropod taxa, Nysius wekiuicola, Lycosa nr. hawaiiensis, and Agrotis new sp., demonstrate extreme variability in trapping rates within and between years on Maunakea.  Efforts to record, track and predict biodiversity and abundance of arthropods in the alpine stone desert aeolian ecosystem on the 4,205m summit of the Hawaii Island has led to a comprehensive species list and demographic descriptions of resident endemic taxa. The summit region of Maunakea is an environment under scrutiny by government agencies and the public to ensure land stewardship maintains the conservation goals of limited impacts to natural conditions, and the extent and population status endemic arthropods are a key metric to assessing conservation goals are met.  There is inadequate evidence to assert long-term decline of resident arthropods in the summit region of Maunakea, and there is evidence to support no range contraction of the endemic arthropods within the region.