February 2017 Seawords by Marine Option Program

Seaw rds The Marine Option Program Newsletter

February 2017

“The Palau expedition was a dream come true for the 8-yearold boy. The reef structure and diversity exceeded all expectations.”

DOING SCIENCE AT 500 FEET EXPLORING THE USS ARIZONA GREAT BARRIER REEF: ALIVE OR DEAD?

February 2017 Volume XXXI, Number 2

Articles Page 3: Letter from the Editor Page 4: Doing Science at 500 Feet Page 8: A Look at UH Hilo Page 10: A Look at UH Mānoa Page 12: Exploring the USS Arizona Page 14: Marine Mammal of the Month: Humpback Whale Page 16: Ocean Art: Jamie Yoshida Page 18: Great Barrier Reef: Dead or Alive? Page 20: Ocean Updates Page 23: Critter of the Month Page 24: Generation Blue Page 26: Hanauma Bay: Calender of Events Page 27: Flashback Page 28: MOP Calendar of Events

About the Photography -Cover: Camra Hopper, Editor -Table of Contents: Jessica Lotts, Associate Editor -November Calendar of Events: Amelia Dolgin, UHH MOP Alumna -Back cover : Koa Matsuoka, UHM MOP Alumnus and Photography Contestant -All uncredited photos by: MOP -Disclaimer: any photo taken from flickr.com is used under the Creative Commons License and is credited appropriately with links to the user’s flickr account. 2| Seawords

Letter from the Editor

loha! I hope you all love what’s in Seawords’ February 2017 Issue!

Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Student went on another amazing diving adventure with Cal Academy to Palau! Jessica Lotts, Associate Editor, had the opportunity to witness the National Park Service deploying a ROV into the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor. Keelee Martin, UHH MOP Student, and I also put together a segment about what to expect from our home campuses (Hilo and Mānoa) throughout the semester. If any MOP Student from the other UH campuses would like to write a summary about their upcoming MOP events for publication, let me know! Lotts also wrote a fantastic piece debating if the Great Barrier Reef is actually dead, as some sources say. In Ocean Art, Jamie Yoshida’s poem, “Secluded Sandy Beach” was picked from a collection of poetry from Professor Eric Shaffer’s English 201, Creative Writing class. What would you like to see more of in Seawords? Send us your thoughts! Mahalo for reading!

Camra Hopper, Seawords Editor Seawords

Volume XXXI, Number 2, February 2017 Editor: Camra Hopper Associate Editor: Jessica Lotts Dr. Cynthia Hunter (éminence grise) Jeffrey Kuwabara (éminence grise) Seawords- Marine Option Program University of Hawai‘i, College of Natural Sciences 2450 Campus Road, Dean Hall 105A Honolulu, HI 96822-2219 Telephone: (808) 956-8433 Email: <seawords@hawaii.edu> Website: <http://www.hawaii.edu/mop> Seawords is the monthly newsletter of the Marine Option Program at the University of Hawai‘i. Opinions expressed herein are not necessariliy those of the Marine Option Program or of the University of Hawai‘i. Suggestions and submissions are welcome. Submissions may include articles, photography, art work, or anything that may be of interest to the marine community in Hawai‘i and around the world. All photos are taken by MOP unless otherwise credited.

FEBRUARY 2017 |3

Doing S Reflections from the

Angaur island, Palau. Photo by Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Student.

ifteen minutes. That’s all we have at 500 feet. Hours of preparation, years of training, for just a quarter of an hour. All other fundamentals like buoyancy, propulsion techniques, team awareness and the nuances of your equipment have to be habitual. Each dive costs hundreds of dollars. Wasted seconds are wasted money. In every breath you take, millions of inert gas molecules rush into your tissues. This is decompression diving. Going to the surface is not an option. If you do, you will die. Why do this kind of diving then? We are the first human beings to see these reefs and often the first to see new species. It is the most euphoric and intense fifteen minutes imaginable.

project consisting of three teams. Members of preparing a plane to fly the “shallow” team (diving to 130 feet) were One of the perks to the the invertebrate curators from Cal Academy use very cool “toys”. O based out of HQ, the Coral Reef Research the $2,000 “NERD” (N Foundation. For us, the “deep” team, we oc- play), a full trimix clo cupied a significant portion of the facility at computer conveniently Sam’s Dive Tours, the largest diving operation up display! After an in in Palau. Lastly, there was a team of aquarists was time to get to work who had the responsibility of caring for all the Each day started at 6:0 live specimens that were collected. This team our hotel. It was the only operated out of Biota, a local and sustainable wifi as most of the other aquaculture facility. The glue holding all of us together was Project Manager, Cristina Castillo, who was back-andforth between the Long before this dive, there was a little boy facilities ensuring who looked up at an aquarium exhibit and everything was gosomething inspired him to become a marine ing smoothly. biologist. Do you believe in love at first sight? Growing up with the Aquarium of the Pacific The expedition bein Long Beach, California, the boy was mes- gan with the unmerized by the “Tropical Pacific,” a section packing all of the of the aquarium that re-created Palau’s coral cylinders, safety reefs. Fast forward to this past September. A equipment, comgracious email invitation to attend an expedi- pressed gas, and tion with the California Academy of Sciences rebreather conteam to Palau. Missing this trip was not an sumables that were option! The expedition was scheduled to begin sent two months December 6. The trip would occur well before earlier. After orgafinals. Meeting with farsighted and flexible nizing the equipprofessors, it was negotiated that exams would ment, it was time need to be taken early. to assemble the rebreathers and Palau is an incredible island country located blend gas, lots of 4,600 miles southwest of Honolulu. The misgas. Since preparsion for the expedition was to conduct bioing a rebreather to diversity surveys and collect live specimens dive is similar to Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Student diving in P for the Steinhart Aquarium. This was a huge

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Science at 500 Feet: Cal Academy Palau Expedition

y, checklists are a must. e project was getting to One essential “toy” was Near Eye Retinal Disosed circuit rebreather y located on your heads nitial check out dive, it k.

00am with breakfast at y time to get half-decent r guests were still asleep.

By: Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Student

After coffee, scrambled eggs, and emails, we shuttled down to the dive center, departing at 7:45am. We stayed in the capital, Koror, where about 70% of the population of Palau lives. On our drives to the dive center, sometimes in the back of a truck, we were overwhelmed by the beautiful island country. On the way, we would stop at a local market to buy lunch for the day. It didn’t have a diverse menu. Milkfish, teriyaki chicken, and fried chicken were our options. Needless to say, some of us got tired of fried chicken by the fifth day in a row. Who knew a PB&J sandwich could be such a comfort food?

Palau. Photo by: Luiz Rocha, Cal Academy.

By the time we strategically arrived at Sam’s Tours at 08:15, the morning boats had departed--leaving us room to operate. Typically, we spent about two to three hours preparing for the dive. This included assembling the rebreather, packing the CO2 scrubber, analyzing gasses, programming our gasses into the dive computers and getting all of the collection equipment aboard our chartered 40 foot boat. If we

were going to be collecting fish, a chase boat followed us with our team of aquarists. The teams generally left the dock between 10:00 and 11:00. Once we made it to the day’s dive site, all personnel participated in an extremely detailed and thorough safety briefing. We reviewed the dive plan with every contingency imaginable. After we were in agreement, it was time to suit up. Everyone was quiet as we mentally visualized the dive and conducted our individual pre-dive safety checks. With a 100 pound rebreather on our backs, and a cornucopia of safety equipment in our pockets, our safety diver led us through the team’s pre-jump checklist. After we splashed into the water, it was time to receive our scooter, nets, fish decompression chambers, and all of our bailout cylinders from the crew. With everything clipped off, the team visually confirmed that everything was where it was supposed to be and that there were no visible leaks. Due to the complexity, it usually took over an hour from the time we geared up to begin our dive. The team made eight mesophotic dives during the expedition with an average max depth of 360 feet and an average run time of four hours. Our planned depth and duration was mainly predicted by the dive site’s topography. Logistics definitely played a significant factor. If our site was further away, we tried to keep the dive shallower and shorter. The exception to this was the dive at Angaur Island, the southernmost island in Palau. We knew from talking to locals and looking at bathymetry maps that this is where we would have the best chance of finding a desirable species of Centropyge. Everything was prepped the day before to leave FEBRUARY 2017 |5

for an incredible 40 minutes at 430 feet which resulted in 5.5 hours of decompression! It was our most productive dive. We collected a dozen beautiful specimens, including two undescribed fish species. The long decompression was worth it.

Dive computer signalling dive #60’s max depth was 501feet. Photo by: Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Student.

As marine scientists, we know that most bony fish have a gaseous swim bladder. As divers, we know that Boyle’s Law states the pressure and volume of a gas have an inverse relationship. The swim bladders in fish expand as they are brought to the surface due to the decrease in ambient pressure. Obviously this poses a huge health concern for the fish. Traditionally, scientists have used hypodermic needles to puncture the swim bladder to off-gas the fish as they come up from the dive. This is a very stressful process that often results in mortality. The ichthyologists and aquarists at Cal Academy have invented a solution to this problem, the fish decompression chamber.

the dock at 07:30 for the two hour boat ride out. Spending more time on the bottom also meant for greater decompression obligations. Remember how I said we only had fifteen min- After the fish are caught at 400 feet they are utes to work at 500 feet? At Angaur we worked placed into a porous acrylic cylinder with

Photo by: Luiz Rocha, Cal Academy. 6| Seawords

a depth gauge. We the feet to slow our decom while providing enoug the fish aren’t too stres placed into a larger wa Divers then puff a sma into the lid before it is at cends, the bubble expan causes the chamber to Our team of aquarists attach an off board gas does not lose pressure d Back on board the chas tach water filtration tu the aquaculture facility days constantly tending gas the fish slowly and s

Our dives in Palau we the best aquarium you’v ply it by ten! This attem coral reefs. The diversit able, but overwhelmin couldn’t even lay a finge feet b explod also f the fir the w we saw ery di collec cal wa surrou and on female every to sta sion a “wow!

You how w ing th decom we lei sects reefs w watch vorite a scho

en ascend to about 250 mpression accumulation gh ambient pressure so ssed. The fish are then ater filtration housing. all bubble of nitrox gas ttached. As the team asnds inside the filter and hold a static pressure. meets us at 100 feet to supply so the chamber during the final ascent. se boat, the aquarists atubing and haul back to y. They then spend two g to the chambers to off safely.

ere incredible. Imagine ve ever seen and multimpts to describe Palau’s ty was not only remarkng. At “West Pass,” we er on the bottom at 200 because everything was ding with life! Palau is famous for becoming rst shark sanctuary in world. Rightfully so, as w sharks on almost evive. During one of our ction dives off a vertiall at 360 feet, we were unded by 20 reef sharks ne very curious 11 foot e tiger shark. It took ounce of discipline ay focused on the misand not look up to say !”

might be wondering we passed the time durhese four to six hour mpressions. Frequently, isurely did video tranand documented the with our cameras. Fish hing was a personal fae. Time flew by studying ool of colorful Anthia-

dinae or a family of clownfish in their anemone. Other activities included: practicing line skills, studying the scientific names of local fish on laminated cards, cruising with the scooters, listening to music, spontaneous dance competitions, cutting away fishing line, and writing graduate school application essays. We also need to stay hydrated by drinking from our underwater hydration packs and keep up with our calories. Grapes, bananas, and tubular apple sauce are team favorites! We did not return to the dive center until 4:00 to 5:00 or later. As tired as we were, the work did not stop. The boat needed to be offloaded, gear rinsed, cylinders filled, and rebreathers disassembled and sanitized. We left the dive center at about 7:00 to 7:30 after our two hours of cleanup. After we got back to the hotel and took a quick shower, we walked to a nearby restaurant for dinner at 20:00 to 9:30. Returning to our rooms at 10:00 to 11:00, falling sleeping was not an issue. Then it at all started again the next day. This continued for four days straight, then one dry “day off,” then back at it for another four days. I am extremely grateful to the California Academy of Sciences for allowing me the funding and privilege to accompany them on this expedition. The Palau expedition was a dream come true for the 8-year-old boy. The reef structure and diversity exceeded all expectations. Our deep team caught over 30 live specimens for the Steinhart Aquarium. It will be the first time that some of these species have ever been displayed in an aquarium. A few of these species are also new to science! Advancement in diving technologies has allowed us to explore these mesophotic ecosystems. Who knows what else we will discover on our next expedition to Easter Island! n

Dive boat. Photo by: Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Student. FEBRUARY 2017 |7

A Look at UH Hilo MOP

By: Keelee Martin, UHH MOP Student

t UH Hilo we wrapped up the Fall 2016 semester congratulating our three MOP graduates: Pauleen Fredrick, Jasmine Panelo and Andy Zheng. Over the semester, MOP took students camping after participating in a Ka Loko o Kīholo community work day with The Nature Conservancy restoring an ancient fishpond. MOP students also attended an Eyes on the Reef Training, spent a rainy day out in Hilo Bay driving small boats through our UH Hilo Boating program, and celebrated the Fall semester with the MOP/Marine Science welcome Pa‘ina barbeque.

have hosted students who are interested in completing QUEST on two of their dive days to see what diving for science consists of and to help collect water quality data. In October, they also hosted a training pool session/calibration snorkel to give further experience in sizing and identifying fish and estimating coral health. Looking ahead there are four more exciting events MOP has planned. On Feb. 17, MOP will have the incredible opportunity once again to assist as research assistants in turtle tagging at Punalu‘u with NOAA and Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy. This relationship has been ongoing for more than 30 years and has given decades of MOP students hands-on-experience helping to tag and release turtles. On Feb. 25, MOP will help with NOAA’s Sanctuary Ocean count at Upolu Point, on the North side of Big Island. Volunteers will arrive on site and will count humpback whales as they pass by. The ocean counts occur statewide and dually provide a fun experience for volunteers, both resident and visitor as well, as give a better glimpse into the population that migrates to Hawaiian waters. On March 11, MOP will take out the student life center’s boat Seeking Adventures for a whale watch outside of Hilo Bay. Planned for peak season to see humpback whales, it should be an excellent trip!

MOP events for this Spring semester have already begun. On Jan. 21 we took a tour of Ke Kai Ola Monk Seal Hospital, a facility of the Marine Mammal Center, which opened in July, 2014, in Kailua-Kona. The only one of its kind in Hawai‘i, it exists to treat, rehabilitate and ultimately release critically endangered monk seals. In addition, the SeaSTARS gave a public talk (Jan. 24) at Mokupāpapa Discovery Center in downtown Hilo in honor of their first birthday back in November. Matt Connelly (head supervisor of SeaSTARS), Julia Stewart (SeaSTARS co-coordinator), and Rosie Lee (SeaSTARS co-coordinator) presented the goals of the squad, the organization behind it all, and what their data have shown thus far. The team has completed 18 dives and Finally, UH Hilo MOP is excited to announce that it 75 surveys (including benthic photo quads and vidwill host the annual MOP symposium from April 8-9 eo transects) over three sites and eight months. They at Hālau Maluhia at Ke‘ei, which is the research site for 8| Seawords

QUEST. MOP students across the UH system will present their skills projects and have the privilege of camping at this beautiful location with good company. The symposium provides a professional platform for MOP students to share their skills projects via presentation or poster. In addition to meeting and listening to what other MOP students have been up to awards are given for the best internship, best research project, best poster, the John P. Craven award (given in honor of Dr. Craven’s legacy of MOP to the student/ “Child of the Sea” with the most inspired presentation), the PACON International Hawai‘i Chapter MOP Symposium award (given to the student with the best paper that integrates marine science and technology with a Pacific focus) and the Anna Toy Ng Memorial MOP scholarship (given to the student who “exhibits excellence in marine scholarship, ocean stewardship, and contributions to MOP”)

[quotations for Mānoa MOP website]. As the semester unfolds, stay informed with your MOP campus coordinator for details about events, opportunities and important dates regarding QUEST; applications for this summer are due March 8. Information for your MOP campus coordinator and email are listed below. Hilo (Matt Connelly: uhhmop@hawaii.edu), Honolulu Community College (Will Smith, PhD: wsmith@hawaii. edu), Kapi‘olani Community College (Mackenzie Manning: kccmop@hawaii.edu), Kaua‘i Community College (Stephen Taylor, PhD: svt@hawaii.edu), Leeward Community College (Alyssa Haygood: amh4@hawaii.edu) Mānoa (Jeff Kuwabara: manoamop@hawaii.edu), Maui College (Donna Brown: donnabro@hawaii.edu), West O‘ahu (Megan Ross, PhD: mcolvin@hawaii.edu), and Windward Community College (David Krupp, PhD: wccmop@hawaii.edu). n

UHH MOP at Kīholo with the Nature Conservancy. Picture by: Lisa Parr, UHH MOP. FEBRUARY 2017 |9

UHM MOP Students touring Hawai‘i Underwater Research Labratory (HURL) at Makai Pier given by Max Cremer and Terry Kirby.. Photo by: Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator.

Students went on a tour of the ocean floor of Waikīkī with Atlantis Submarines. They visited a shipwreck (YO257) and an artificial reef, saw lots of marine life including big ulua and honu, Photo by Atlantis Submarine Staff. 10| Seawords

A Look at UH Manoa MOP By: Camra Hopper, Editor Looking back on last semester, UH Mānoa’s MOP went on several exciting adventures. A few favorites included going aboard the Atlantis Submarine to dive up to 111 feet off Waikīkī to view artificial reefs and wrecks, and getting to learn about and go inside a manned submersible, Pisces IV, at the Hawai‘i Underwater Research Laboratory (HURL). As Fall 2016 came to an end, Mānoa MOP graduated two students with their certificates: Erica Donlon and Rebecca Weible. The Spring 2017 semester began with the usual introduction during New Student Orientation, Camera Care Workshop, QUEST and MAST meetings, plus QUEST ID classes taught by Jeff Kuwabara, UH Mānoa MOP Coordinator, to prepare students for this summer’s upcoming QUEST. UHM MOP also spent the day at Bellows Beach for their semi-annual MOP Back to School BBQ with tons of food and good company. Looking forward, Mānoa MOP will be touring Hiki‘analia and the Marine Education Training Center (METC), home to the Polynesian Voyaging Society. Hiki‘analia is the sister canoe to Hōkūle‘a, which will be finishing her trip around the world in July. QUEST ID Exams and Applications are due in February, so if you plan on doing QUEST make sure to talk to your MOP Coordinator (at any campus) to see what you still need to do. There are still several events that Mānoa MOP has in store for their students, such as the Maritime Archaeology Symposium, volunteering at the humpback whale count, tours of Dolphin Quest and the local fish auction, a day/night snorkel at Sans Souci, the MOP Symposium (which will be held in Kona), an Earth Day beach clean-up, and finally, MOP Graduation on May 4! All MOP events are free (unless otherwise stated), but do require a $5 deposit to reserve your spot, which is refunded once you show up. Come into Dean Hall 105A to grab this semester’s MOP calendar to learn about dates and times for these events or check the calendar in the back of Seawords for monthly updates! n

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Exploring the USS Arizona: Where Time Stands Still Written by: Jessica Lotts, Associate Editor Pictures by: Brett Seymour, Deputy in Chief of National Park Services Submerged Resources.

he monument seemingly floats upon the water as I make my way down to the remains of the USS Arizona Memorial. A stark white against the cerulean sea, with the American flag waving strong and proud in the wind. When the National Park Service tour boat approaches, the voices of the tourists and boat engines, are drowned out. Everything goes quiet. I am overcome with emotion as I step onto the memorial dock where I will be joining the National Park Service and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution as they send their ROV (remotely operated vehicle) aptly named, 11th Hour, inside the USS Arizona. The National Parks Service (NPS) is on a mission to preserve the legacy of the USS Arizona and the history of Pearl Harbor itself. After the infamous Japanese bombing on December 7, 1941, the USS Arizona’s contents are now finally being discovered, but only with the permission of the remaining survivors. It was extremely important for the team to have the permission of all remaining crewmembers to explore their sacred ship. On this special mission, the 11th Hour gathered video of never before explored areas of the vessel, took samples, and measured the oxygen levels in different parts of the craft. The team had had an early start, working long before my noon arrival. Unfortunately, finals prohibited me from spending more than just a few hours with them. I followed the path into the belly of the memorial, where tourists snapped photos and stood before a wall of names never to be forgotten. Wide-eyed, I followed directions to a small room on the right-hand side of the monument. There was a woman outside the door, and

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I nervously told her I was looking for Brett Seymour, Deputy Chief of NPS Submerged Resources. At the time I had no idea who this woman was, but that may have been for the best because if I had known Jennifer Hayes, famous underwater photographer/journalist for National Geographic was standing before me I may have been too star-struck to mumble out more than a few words.

I walked inside the control room and my attention was immediately drawn to a rusted telephone on one of the various screens. We were really inside the USS Arizona. I was in awe; I couldn’t look away. The darkened control room consisted of at least a dozen monitors streaming from the ROV feed that was piloted by Evan Kovacs, alongside camera engineer and imaging specialist, Louis Lamar, both of whom are from the Advanced Imaging and Visualization Laboratory at the Woods Hole O c e a n o g r ap h i c Institution. I sat beside Seymour and Kovacs in a fold-up chair, my eyes glued to the screen. I joined just as they were trying to navigate through Ward Room V on the third deck towards The paths the ROV took through the ship. the ship’s stern. Photo by: National Park Services.

A jacket still hanging in an officer’s stateroom on the USS Arizona’s third deck.

Stalactites hanging from the ceiling on the third deck. With each turn, something new and incredible appeared. Towering black stalactites of an unknown substance hung from the ceilings of the lower decks. A desk with an opened leather-bound book lay perfectly still, a pair of shoes on the floor, and sinks with porcelain dish soap trays remain undisturbed, stopped frozen in time after that fateful day.

I had to leave just as they were unpinning the ROV, because a twenty-five page final paper was calling my name. Stepping out of that small dark room, the memorial looked different, as if it were the first time I had ever seen it. I walked to the railing on the left-hand side and watched the trail of bubbles left by the divers in their efforts to retrieve the ROV. I stared at the remnants of the ship with a new connection and a new appreciation. As I The levels of oxygen ranged down to a mere ~3.8%, boarded the tour boat back to the harbor, I watched the allowing these incredible artifacts to remain virtually memorial slip from view, feeling indescribably grateful fresh. Of all these hidden treasures, one in particular to have been allowed the opportunity to explore such a stood out most to Brett Seymour. It was an immacuhistoric relic. lately preserved uniform that still delicately hung in an officer’s stateroom. He was able to search through re- It is with the efforts and data collected by NPS and their cords and track down the family of the suit’s owner and partners at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and actually show them the images of their grandfather’s National Geographic that we are starting to understand uniform. The family was very gracious and appreciative the secrets within the Arizona, and how long we have to for the opportunity to have a glimpse into their grand- protect and preserve its history for generations. n father’s life at that time, and it is a moment Seymour will not soon forget. Kovacs maneuvered the vehicle using a small control panel hooked to a computer monitor that gave a first person perspective from the ROV. Between tugs, tangles, bumps, and at one point a large encrustation from the ceiling fell and pinned the ROV to floor, jamming its vertical thruster, clear navigation was no easy task. The team had to make many adjustments to avoid repeats of these little hitches. After being pinned inside the wreck, they took a trip to Home Depot to form a makeshift plexiglas shield to avoid any future falling objects.

The sampling device mounted on the ROV in Arizona’s second deck. FEBRUARY 2017 |13

By Jeremy Gasta, American Cetacean Society Student

Humpback Whale Marine Mammal of the Month:

Scientific Name: Megaptera novaeangliae Range: Worldwide, but generally polar waters in Summer, and tropics in Winter Diet: Small fish and crustaceans Size: 40-52 feet

Humpback Whale

here are hundreds of species of marine mammals in the world, several dozen of which reside in Hawai‘i. Yet there is one species in these islands that is perhaps more beloved than all: the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). With pods from the chilly Arctic waters currently arriving en masse for their tropical winter vacations in Hawai‘i, no time seems better to take a look at these awesome visitors. Humpbacks were first recorded scientifically in 1756, by the French zoologist, Mathurin Jacques Brisson. The name “humpback” was awarded to it due to the characteristic back arch they make at the surface before diving. The whale has since become well known for its massive annual migration, energetic behavior, and docile, approachable attitude that has made it essentially the poster child of whale watching. While beloved by whale researchers and enthusiasts alike for these traits, perhaps the most impressive achievement of the humpbacks are their yearly migrations from the poles to tropics. Each year, humpbacks will spend their summers either in chilly northern seas or off the coast of Antarctica, feasting on the krill, plankton, crustaceans and small fishes that live there. A single whale can devour up to one and a half tons of food a day. Like the majority of great whales, humpbacks are baleen whales, meaning they have strips of hair-like

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baleen instead of teeth. Baleen whales are filter feeders, taking massive amounts of water into their mouth, then using their tongue to push it out, with any available prey getting caught in the baleen on the way out. Despite their massive sizes and mouths, humpbacks have surprisingly small throats and cannot swallow anything larger than a salmon. However, during the cooler winter months, the vast majority of humpback whales migrate to tropical and subtropical locations, including Hawai‘i, Mexico, southern Asia and Guam (the exact location depends on the specific humpback population). Females come here to safely birth and raise their calves away from the onslaught of predatory orcas, while males follow in the hopes to win the chance to mate. During this time, the humpbacks eat very little, as the less-nutrient-rich tropical waters do not support any of their normal food sources, and they live entirely off of the fat reserves they built up over summer. n

Humpback whale. Photo by: Ki

Photo by: Taylor Shedd, UHM MOP Alnumnus and Photography Contest Contestant.

Kimberly James, UHM MOP Alumna and Photography Contest Contestant. FEBRUARY 2017â&#x20AC;&#x192;|15

Ocean art

Secluded Sa Poem by: Jamie Yoshida,

Photo by: Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP C

It’s late morning, and there’s no one on the secluded sandy beach except a family of ten enjoying the privacy. The sun lounges lazily

in the overcast sky intent on being bleak, but the children don’t m

a day at the beach hasn’t happened in a while. The wind drags wa

to the shore, and reluctant waves slap back and forth in reply. Un

of the wind’s efforts, the children laugh and kick the waves at each and back to the sea with bare feet.

Light raindrops fall but are quickly absorbed by both sand and se

Already wet, the children don’t feel a thing. On the horizon, wave on the reef and throw foam in the air, but the children only have

for the hermit crabs hobbling about trying to find shelter in the s

Just beyond the reef, the clouds get thicker and darker. The ocean

in the distance, no trace of blue. The children laugh and play while still lingers on that secluded sandy beach.

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andy Beach

HCC English 201 Student

Coordinator

mind;

aves

naware

h other

ea.

es crash eyes

sand.

n is ominous

e the light

I’m from Yap, Micronesia and am currently in the Maui College of Human Services program, but creative writing has always been a hobby of mine.

Jamie’s poem was chosen from a collection of poems submitted to us by Eric Shaffer, an HCC professor, and written by his English 201: Creative Writing class. Mahalo for your support and yearly controbution. FEBRUARY 2017 |17

The Great Barrier R Photo by: Oliver Tacke, Flickr.

n October 11, 2016, The Great Bar- most prized possessions is no small claim, and was rier Reef (GBR) of Australia was pro- met with a lot of backlash. nounced dead by Outside magazine. The Guardian degraded the obituary, saying it was Outside went as far as to write an obitu- written with a “tongue-in-cheek nature” that was ary for the world’s largest structure visible from greatly over exaggerspace, stating, “The Great Barrier Reef of Australia ated. Instead, they offer passed away in 2016 after a long illness. It was 25 that the GBR is not dead, million years old.” The article went on to describe but under severe stress, how the GBR touched the lives of millions, yet was like most global coral destroyed by climate change and ocean acidification structures. Despite mass with direct involvement with human contact. bleaching events happening worldwide, The obituary scientists claim that was an emoregardless of being tional piece that bleached, the corals sparked many are not yet dead. other news organizations to Coral bleaching ocjoin together curs after corals are to write articles exposed to prolonged mourning the high temperatures which cause corals to eject loss of the inthe symbiotic algae embedded in their flesh, escredible 1,400 sentially turning them stark white. Though some mile network of corals do die from bleaching, there is a chance reefs. However, for recovery after corals reach this stage. In fact, Photo by: Farberifrohe the death of research from NOAA has suggested that some Wunderwelt, Flickr one of world’s corals may be able to adapt to moderate climate

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“

The Great Ba Australia passed after a lon It was 25 mil

Reef: Dead or Alive? By: Jessica Lotts, Associate Editor

change. The 2013 study reports that corals may be more resilient than previously thought, given that corals have already adapted to rising temperatures over the past century. Therefore, just because vast expanses of the GBR are experiencing bleaching, it does not necessarily mean that it is dead.

arrier Reef of d away in 2016 ng illness. llion years old.

Outside’s obituary was met with alarming concern, but this scare tactic approach was not taken lightly among scientists. “This is a fatalistic, doomsday approach to climate change that isn’t going to engage anyone and misinforms the public,” said Kim Cobb, a coral reef expert at Georgia Tech in an interview with The Guardian.

”

Whether you believe the GBR is dead or near dying, one thing is clear. It needs help. n

Difference between a healthy coral and a dying coral. Photo by: Smithsonian National Zoo, Flickr.

FEBRUARY 2017 |19

cean updates

By Alicia Gregor, UHM MOP Student

“IF WE KEEP PRODUCING (AND FAILING TO PROPERLY DISPOSE OF) PLASTICS AT PREDICTED RATES, PLASTICS IN THE OCEAN WILL OUTWEIGH FISH POUND FOR POUND IN 2050,” WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM. Pair of vaquita sighted during 2008 survey in Gulf of California. Photo by Paula Olson, NOAA Fisheries West Coast, Flickr.

San Diego Navy May be Vaquita Dolphins’ Last Chance have the chance to repopulate. The plan is risky, and at Survival may not work; no one knows how Vaquitas will behave in captivity, but it may be their last hope. According to The Vaquita dolphin (Phocoena sinus) is rumored to Barbara Taylor, a biologist at the National Oceanic and be the world’s most endangered marine mammal, with Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Navy has no population numbers estimated at under 100 individuals time to waste--if no actions are to be taken in the imtotal (CBS News). However, hope may be on the horimediate future, Vaquitas soon will be ofzon. The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program based in ficially extinct. Although there are many San Diego is partnering with scientists and conservaconservationist groups such as Save The tionists around the world to save this species in a very Whales, and Cetacean Specialist Group, interesting way, with Navy dolphins. their efforts alone have not been enough. The Vaquita dolphin is a small cetacean that can be The Navy truly may be these cetacean’s found almost exclusively off the coast of Baja, Califor- last hope. nia. The species once lived comfortably off the Mexican As a result of Vaquitas’ small stature coast when population levels were over 600 in 1997 (San and grey pigment, they are very difDiego Union Tribune). However, because of accidental ficult for humans to spot; this is where entanglement in fishing nets, these dolphins have too the dolphins come in. Dolphins’ capaccommonly become bycatch and consequently, populaity to learn and their ability to echolocate tion levels have dwindled to an astonishing 60 individumakes them the perfect candidates to als (San Diego Union Tribune). According to an article help their distant Vaquita relatives from recently published in the Union Tribune, the Mexican their possibly gloomy fate. On trajectory government has made many efforts to preserve the Vato take place in May of 2017, select group quita population, however, the illegal fishing industry is of dolphins will be released into the gensimply too large to defeat. Vaquitas become entangled eral areas where the remaining Vaquitas in gillnets used by these fisheries, leading to their deaths are; if all goes as planned, the dolphins and overall population decline. Despite the failure of will use their sonar abilities to lead Navy many conservation efforts, the U.S. Navy has devised vessels to the Vaquitas, where they can a plan that they believe will save this dwindling spebe brought to safety. cies. The plan suggests removing the Vaquita from their native homes and keeping them in an area where they Although the plan to save the Vaquitas 20| Seawords

may seem somewhat far-fetched, it may be the last resort for these animals. They have long suffered and are at high risk where they are now, so moving them to an area free of its current threats may be just giving them the conditions suitable for a healthy life and re-population may be just the thing to save the species.

moved from his natural home in Iceland and has since resided in many different locations, all of which were in tanks. Tilikum began his captive life in America in 1992. During this time, he was responsible for the deaths of three people and injured many more, sparking the critically acclaimed documentary Blackfish.

After Blackfish was released, an enormous movement against Sea World was launched and Tilikum’s name known almost everywhere. While there were those who voiced their discontent with Sea World, their profits actually increased during this time and ultimately, Tilikum served his purpose, creating revenue for Sea The Infamous Tilikum World. Has Died According to National Geographic, Tilikum played a Tilikum the killer whale (Orcinus Orca) passed away on major role in the reproduction of orcas at SeaWorld. It January 6, 2017, and some say has finally been set free. is estimated that he sired about 21 offspring during the Tilikum developed a lung infection caused by bacterial approximately 30 years Tilikum resided at SeaWorld, pneumonia in 2011, which eventually led to his death until his recent death. (Orlando Sentinel). Although he was responsible for the death of two trainTilikum lived a very long, controversial and presumably ers and one trespasser in the span of 20 years, Tilikum rough life. When he was just two years old, he was re- was never really the main target of the public’s rage,

Killer whale preforming a deadhead. Photo by: Taylor Shedd, UHM MOP Alumnus. FEBRUARY 2017 |21

most people looked beyond his animal instincts and understood the true tragedy in his life’s story.

helpful to understand how the oceans absorb CO2. If the annual CO2 cycles of the Antarctic Ocean can be observed, scientists will better be able to understand the Regardless of the controversy spurred by his life in capeffects of CO2 on these regions and the sea life that retivity, Tilikum will be remembered as the whale who sides there. changed the way the world saw orcas, SeaWorld, and animals’ lives in captivity. Shadwick’s new technology is a high-tech mooring system that will reach over 60 feet past the ice, and be able New Mooring Tool Will Help to Measure Oceanic Carto measure CO2 levels at different depths. The mooring bon Dioxide Levels in the Antarctic Year Round system is essentially an anchor that reaches down past Dr. Elizabeth Shadwick and colleagues from the Vir- miles of arctic ice and is anchored to the bottom of the ginia Institute of Marine Science, have developed a new ocean. All along the mooring, there are complex sentechnology that will be able to measure ocean acidifi- sors that will allow Shadwick to measure CO2 levels at cation levels underneath arctic ice. Measuring these different depths in the arctic. The development of this levels will help scientists and conservationists better technology will allow a first ever view of the Antarctic’s understand acidification in arctic areas. Before this CO2 year round. development, research could only be completed in the The knowledge that Shadwick will gain from this tool summer months of Antarctica. The development of this will help science understand the effects of CO2 cycles high-tech equipment will allow for deeper knowledge systems on this little-studied area of the world. These and understanding of anthropogenic effects in polar reresults will be applicable in the understanding of global gions. climate changes effects on the arctic and how deeply its Understanding polar areas and how humans affect consequences can be felt in this polar region. n them is crucial to scientists’ understanding of ice’s role in what reaches the water underneath. Moreover, very little is known about how surface water is affected by ice covers during the winter months in the Antarctic. Understanding this may help to give scientists and look into our future, or our past; depending on whether ice permits or prevents CO2 to reach the water below the surface. According to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the ocean has taken in approximately 1/3 of human carbon dioxide emissions; however, the ocean can only accumulate so much CO2 before its living organisms will start to feel the negative effects. Therefore, it may be 22| Seawords

Paul Butler diving on lines near ice edge. Antarctica, Wyatt Earp Is. 1981 December 28. Photo by: Dr. Robert Ricker, NOAA/NOS/ORR.

critter of the month The Upside Down Jellyfish (Cassiopea andromeda)

Range: Throughout the Indo-Pacific and Hawaiian Islands Size: Up to 30cm in diameter Diet: Zooplankton Coloration: Yellow or brown with pale white spots and streaks Habitat: Shallow tropical waters, lagoons, and mangrove areas

he Upside Down Jellyfish lives in the waters of the Indo-Pacific and the Hawaiian Islands. These unusual jellies can grow up to 30cm in diameter and are usually brown or green with pale spots. The coloration of these jellyfish depends on the specific location that they are found. The Upside Down Jellyfish feeds on drifting zooplankton but can also acquire energy through a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae, photosynthetic algae that lives inside the tissue of the jellyfish. These jellyfish live in shallow tropical lagoons and in mangrove areas in waters up to 30m deep. Most jellyfish are bell-shaped, live in the open water column, swim and drift around in search of food. The upside down jellyfish is quite unusual in looks and in behavior. These jellyfish spend most of their time resting upside down on the seafloor. While most jellyfish are bell-shaped, the upside down jellyfishâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bell flattens off, allowing the animal to easily rest on the bottom. These jellyfish are typically observed sitting in this

manner, gently pulsating their bells to create water flow over their arms. When resting on the ocean floor, upside downjellies are often mistaken for plants or for sea anemones. Even though upside down jellyfish spend most of their lives on the seafloor, they are not restricted to completely sedentary lifestyles. These jellies can swim quite well, however they only tend to swim from one resting spot to another, never continuously. When agitated the upside down jellyfish will pulse rapidly, release a slime-like substance into the surrounding water, and may even swim away. Upside down jellyfish are not highly dangerous to humans. Like most jellyfish they have nematocysts, or stinging cells, that are used for defense and to capture food. Due to their diet consisting mainly of plankton and other small organisms, the sting of upside down jellyfish is proportionally weak. Stings are therefore only slightly irritating and often entirely painless to humans. n

Upside down jellyfish in front of diver. Photo by: prilfish, Flickr.

FEBRUARY 2017â&#x20AC;&#x192;|23

fter a great day of snorkeling/diving, visiting an aquarium, or even seeing movies like Finding Nemo, many people are inspired to bring the rare and beautiful fish they have seen into their own personal aquarium. Having a home aquarium can be a thrilling addition to your everyday life, providing you with endless entertainment and deeper understanding about your tanks inhabitants. However, it is extremely important to realize that though these animals may inspire and awe you, they still require care and in-depth attention that may surpass your abilities as a novice aquarist. After the release of Finding Nemo, clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) sales spiked upwards of 40% according to Hakai Magazine, despite the movies overall message of “free the fish.” This skyrocketing demand has left clownfish populations nearly decimated in places like the Philippines and Great Barrier Reef, according to The Washington Post. University of Queensland PhD candidate, Carmen da Silva, told The Huffington Post Australia, “There’s nothing wrong with owning a marine fish in an aquarium but I think a lot of people didn’t realize 90 percent of clownfish sold are taken from the wild.” Did you fact check this? Having a home aquarium can be a truly enriching experience, but it is important to adequately care for your fish and ensure they were sourced ethically. Below are some ways for fish owners to provide for their underwater friends:

24| Seawords

1. Many people who

aware of their origins. R wild can have severe ec with health consequenc you buy, check: https://c tory of these fishes to m aquarium dweller they c ium. For example, ma feed exclusively on live c possible to keep alive on

Educate yourself is not enough to fill you and use store-bought fis of complex creatures wi taining happy and healt monitoring of pH leve changing. For a guide o tenance, visit: http://w um-maintenance-tips-a

3. Know your abilitie

ed on the time, mainten ing an aquarium, it is cru limits and know the lev to provide. You should animal without having sufficiently provide for t badly you may want it.

on tank knowledge. It ur tank with salty water sh food if you have a mix ith varying diets. Mainthy fish also requires the els, filtration, and water on aquarium tank mainwww.algone.com/aquariand-fish-care-guidelines

es. Once you are educatnance, and cost of ownucial to understand your vel of care you are able never buy or adopt any the adequate means to the animal, despite how

GENERATION

BLUE

Actions for the Ocean

buy tropical fish are unRemoving fish from the cological impacts, along ces on the animal. Before cites.org/ for the life hismake sure your potential can be kept in an aquarany butterflyfish species corals, making them imn commercial fish food.

By: Jessica Lotts, Associate Editor

FEBRUARY 2017â&#x20AC;&#x192;|25

February 2017 Amazing Anima February 2017 February 2017 Amazing Animal Adaptations

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2 February 16 February

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9 February •

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The mysteries and marvels of miniature marine monsters

9 February

February 2017 17

How February an eye can work like an ear: the visual 9 systems of mantis shrimp 23 Febr

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26| Seawords

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FLASHBACK: 2005

Happy 12th Anniversary Jeff Kuwabara, Manoa’s Marine Option Program Coordinator.

uawabara first worked for Mānoa MOP in 1992 as the MOP Student Coordinator before he graduated in August of 1995 with a B.S. in Zoology and a MOP certificate. He also worked with the Hanauma Bay Education Program to build an interpretive center. This center is the reason everyone must see an educational film once a year in order to visit the reserve. Next time you watch the film, see if you can spot the man himself!

By: Camra Hopper, Editor

to help start a volunteer program and educate the public about reserve preservation and the importance of the NWHI. In 2005, he called himself an “environmental and marine educator,” which he has continued to do as MOP Coordinator. For the past 12 years he has encouraged students to gain experiences outside of the classroom’s four walls.

Seawords would like to congratulate and thank Kuwabara for years of success, with many more After his time at Hanauma Bay, he managed a to come! n discovery center in Hilo, for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve FEBRUARY 2017 |27

February “Friendly Wave” humpback whale. Photo by: Amelia Dolgin, UHH MOP Alumna.

Sun.

Next month: February

Mon.

Tues.

- March 4 - Tour Dolphin Quest - March 16-24 -Fish Auction -March 27-31 - Spring Break

QUEST Limu I Dean Hall 104 6:00 p.m. - 9:00

Sunday’s at the Bay: Hanauma Bay 3 - 4 pm

Wed.

QUEST ID Exam Dean Hall 104 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Sunday’s at the Bay: Hanauma Bay 3 - 4 pm

Maritime Archaeology Symposium UHM BusAd101

President’s Day, No School

Sunday’s at the Bay: Hanauma Bay 3 - 4 pm

26 Sunday’s at the Bay Hanauma Bay 3 - 4 pm

28| Seawords

ID Classes

MOP & Community Events

Thurs.

Fri.

0 p.m.

Tour of Hikianalia & METC Sand Island 1:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

QUEST Application Due

Sat. 4

Maritime Archaeology Symposium UHM BusAd101

Humpback Whale Count Spitting Caves 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

FEBRUARY 2017â&#x20AC;&#x192;|29

University of Hawai`i at MÄ noa Seawords, Marine Option Program College of Natural Sciences 2450 Campus Road, Dean Hall 105A Honolulu, HI 96822-2219 Address Service Requested

Thank you for reading!