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Biophysical Lagrangian particle tracking models used to predict larval transport and dispersal are potentially sensitive to input parameters. Here we test the effects of four common input parameters (release interval, number of particles, diffusion, and release depth) for a 2D particle tracking model in the North Central Pacific Ocean. We evaluated the effects on modeled larval transport (particle movement) and dispersal (import) into the Hawaiian Archipelago from eight different regions for a shallow reef organism. Model results were sensitive to all input parameters to varying degrees across the planktonic larval duration/settlement windows and output metrics (transport vs. dispersal) tested. Variation in larval transport pathways 180 days after release was only evident when evaluating depth of release. In contrast, larval transport at 30 days post release did not vary when testing depth of release. Larval dispersal was not different for shorter settlement windows (30 days) regardless of the parameter tested. Occasional connections between distant archipelagos (e.g., Kiritimati, Okinawa, Wake) only occurred when larval duration was at its maximum (180 days), but these long- distance connections were also variable with depth of release. Out of the four parameters tested, changes in release depth resulted in the most significant differences for larval transport and had inconsistent connections for larval dispersal. These outcomes emphasize the importance of choosing a depth layer in future modeling studies. Because factors that affect larval depth distribution, such as spawning depth, buoyancy changes, and swimming behavior, are typically unknown for many taxa, future research should focus on field sampling to determine these in situ behaviors for better parameterization of models. 

Estimating stomatopod species diversity using morphology alone has long been difficult; though over 450 species have been described, new species are still being discovered regularly despite the cryptic behaviors of adults. However, the larvae of stomatopods are more easily obtained due to their pelagic habitat, and have been the focus of recent studies of diversity. Studies of morphological diversity describe both conserved and divergent traits in larval stomatopods, but generally cannot be linked to a particular species. Conversely, genetic studies of stomatopod larvae using DNA barcoding can be used to estimate species diversity, but are generally not linked to known species by analyses of morphological characters. Here we combine these two approaches, larval morphology and genetics, to estimate stomatopod species diversity in the Hawaiian Islands. Over 22 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified genetically, corresponding to 20 characterized morphological types. Species from three major superfamilies of stomatopod were identified: Squilloidea (4 OTUs, 3 morphotypes), Gonodactyloidea (9, 8), and Lysiosquilloidea (6, 7). Among these, lysiosquilloids were more diverse based on larval morphotypes and OTUs as compared to previously documented Hawaiian species (3), while squilloids had a lower diversity of species represented by collected larvae as compared to the seven species previously documented. Two OTUs / morphotypes could not be identified to superfamily as their molecular and morphological features did not closely match any available information, suggesting they belong to poorly sampled superfamilies. The pseudosquillid, Pseudosquillana richeri, was discovered for the first time from Hawaiʻi. This study contributes an updated estimate for Hawaiian stomatopod diversity for a total of 24 documented species, provides references for identification of larval stomatopods across the three major superfamilies, and emphasizes the lack of knowledge of species diversity in more cryptic stomatopod superfamilies, such as Lysiosquilloidea.