June 2017 Seawords/ Photography Issue

Seaw rds The Marine Option Program Newsletter

June 2017/Photography Issue

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“Congratulations to all the entries this year! It was truly difficult to pick the top photos and it was an honor to see all your incredible work.”

MOP SPRING GRADUATION WHY THE LONG HOSE PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

June 2016

Volume XXX, Number 6

Articles

Page 3: Letter from the Editor Page 4: MOP Graduation Page 6: Seawords’ Good-Bye Letters Page 10: A Critter of the Month Page 11: Shipwreck of the Month Page 12: Why the long hose?

Page 14: Marine Mammal of the Month Page 16: Ocean Updates Page 18: Hanauma Bay Calendar Page 19: Flashback Page 20: Generation Blue Page 22: Calander of Events Page 24: 5th Annual Photography Contest

Page 26: Judge: Taylor Shedd

Page 28: Fauna

Page 36: Topside

Page 44: Under the Sea

About the Photography -Cover: Bryant Grady, UHH MOP Student, Photography Contest Winner 2016 -Table of Contents: Camra Hopper, Editor -June calendar of events: Jessica Lotts, Associate Editor -Back cover: Kayleigh Burns, WCC MOP Student -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.

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Letter from the Editor

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loha Readers, Seawords would like to present to you the 5th Annual Photography Issue! This year we also included our monthly content.

We hope you enjoy this year’s photography issue. Thank you to those who sent in their photos, this issue would not be possible without your amazing work. Congratulations to all our winners!

I would also like to send out a great, big mahalo to Jessica Lotts. She just graduated from UHM with a major in Journalism, minor in Women Studies and certificate in Marine Journalism from MOP. She has been part of Seawords as a volunteer writer for three years! For her last semester, I asked her to be the Associate Editor. It’s truly been an honor having her by my side. She’s improved a lot in her editing skills and layout skills, but she also taught me a lot about what it takes to be a mentor to a rising Editor. I wish her the best of luck in her future and thank her for her her dedication to Seawords. Mahalo Jessica!

Thank you for reading,

Camra Hopper, Seawords Editor

Seawords

Volume XXX, Number 6, June 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.

JUNE / PHOTOGRAPHY 2017 |3

Student Perspective

MOP GRADUATION: SPRING 2017

Graduates: University of Hawai’i at Manoa Yonatan Armon - Certificate Title: Wave Height Mapping

Project Title: Mapping wave height at breaking point on Oahu’s “7 mile miracle” Camra Hopper - Certificate Title: Marine Journalism

Project Title: Seawords: Past and Future Jessica Lotts - Certificate Title: Marine Journalism

Project Title: Seawords Internship: A Voice in Conservation Emily Menzies - Certificate Title: Maritime Archaeology

Project Title: Transcribing Hawaiian Islands Database University of Hawai‘i at Maui College Allison Miller - Certificate Title: Marine Education and Animal Husbandry

Project Title: Internship in education and curatorial programs at Maui Ocean Center Windward Community College Kaite Young - Certificate Title: Marine Molecular Biology

Project Title: Measuring the extent of DNA damage from ultraviolet radiation in zooxanthellae of Aiptasia pulchella using the comet assay University of Hawai’i at Hilo Chloe’ Blandino - Certificate Title: Reef Monitoring

Project Title: Year-long Comparison Surveys of Blue Rice and Cauliflower Corals at Richardson’s Ocean Park Sean Cantero - Certificate Title: Coral Research

Project Title: The Effect of Shade and Feeding on Three Hawaiian Corals: Porites compressa, Pocillopora damicornis, and Montipora capitate Victor Ciaramitaro - Certificate Title: Oceanography Outreach and Education

Project Title: Pacific Tsunami Museum Internship 4| Seawords

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n May 4th, 2017, the Marine Option Program held their 92nd graduation ceremony. This year, the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and Windward Community College held their graduation at UH Mānoa, while the other campuses held their ceremonies at their home campus. As always, graduation at UH Mānoa is a potluck event where family and friends dine together to celebrate the victory of their graduates. The opening remarks were presented by Jeff Kuwabara, UH Mānoa MOP Coordinator, and he introduced this year’s key note speaker, Chad Yoshinaga, National Marine Fisheries: Science Operations Division.

Yoshinaga’s keynote, “MOP to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands: A Path to a Career” explained that outreach plays an important role in conservation, andhow it educates the public to make the right decisions. Kuwabara, Dr. Cynthia Hunter (MOP Director) and Dave Krupp (Windard CC MOP Coordinator) presented each graduate with their MOP Certificates. As each student went out, they spoke about their future plans. Closing remarks were given

by Dr. Hunter, welcoming the new graduates to the MOP Alumni ‘Ohana. MOP would like to congratulate all of the MOP students on their success and wish them all the best of luck on their future endeavors. n

Amelia Dolgin - Certificate Title: Marine Technology

Project Title: Introductory Workshop to Raven Interactive Sound Analysis Software Brittany Maya Fuemmeler - Certificate Title: Marine Technology

Project Title: Elemental Analyzer and Isotope Ration Mass Spectrometer for Dummies Laura Ibbotson - Certificate Title: Reef Monitoring

Project Title: The Monitoring of Two Corals in Onekahakaha Beach Park for Coral Bleaching Mikayla Jones - Certificate Title: Invertebrate Research

Project Title: Shell Color Polymorphism in the Marine Gastropod Mitrella fusiformes Keelee Martin - Certificate Title: Marine Science Communication

Project Title: Writing the Waves: UH Hilo Seawords Contributions Shelby Marhoefer - Certificate Title: Reef Monitoring

Project Title: The Motion of the Ocean at Puako, Hawai‘i: A Relationship Between Water Motion and Coral Health Tyler Phelps - Certificate Title: Reef Fish Monitoring

Project Title: Scooters and Scaridae: Utilizing New Technology to Answer Ecological Questions Ashley Pugh - Certificate Title: Marine Aquaria and Aquaculture

Project Title: Hawaiian Nearshore Ecosystem Display Aquarium and Biological Filtration System Support Rachel Greer-Smith - Certificate Title: Reef Monitoring

Project Title: Marine Mammal Outreach and Education Ashlin Stahlberg - Certificate Title: Fisheries

Project Title: Trout, Salmon and Shrimp: Research Experiences with the Fish, Wildlife and Parks in Montana Michael Caban II Akamai-Stephens - Certificate Title: Hawaiian Fishpond Aquaculture

Project Title: Hale O Lono Loko I’a: Restoring Hawaii’s Past for the Future Valentine Vaeoso - Certificate Title: Marine Art

Project Title: MOP Mural Reinstallation Project

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Seawords’ Volunteer Writers’ Good-Bye Letters This is a collection of letters written by the volunteer writers of Seawords who will be graduating from MOP and college for their readers, you. Mahalo for reading our issue and enjoy these last pieces from your favorite writers.

This first letter is written by Keelee Martin, UHH MOP Almuna.

“ Dearest Reader,

As I write this, I’m looking at a list, not just any list, but my most favorite of the semester. It’s the “all that’s left” list and I have to tell you, there’s this word at the end of it that I just don’t understand. And why I had to write it in capital letters with red pen is beyond me—but there it is, “GRADUATION” looking back at me with all of its bittersweet finality. I guess I thought it would feel different than this, that maybe I would feel like I’m more prepared—qualified to take on the world. Alas, my CV does not read “Keelee Martin, ocean super hero.”

What my CV does tell me is that I have done some pretty neat stuff as an undergrad. A bulk of these things, I owe to the Marine Option Program (MOP). (You’ll have to forgive me; I am a sentimental senior buried deep in personal reflection). My degree taught me how to do science, but MOP taught me how to love it. Of course this calls for some examples! There is a difference between talking about the green sea turtle life history in lecture and cradling one’s head in your hand while it gets measured at turtle tagging (under federal permit), a difference between discussing coastal fishpond nursery grounds and monitoring its water quality parameters at 2:00 AM for fluctuations, and a difference between understanding the fragility of coral reef health in a changing world and conducting surveys as a QUEST student or as a SeaSTARS diver. These were the experiences that solidified my decision to pursue a scientific career.

When I started writing for Seawords in November of 2015, I had just discovered that the dream job I had been imagining in my head not only existed, but that I could practice it monthly. Hooray--science writing is totally a thing! I am still learning about what “good” science writing is—I certainly have not got it all figured it out yet but I think it parallels what my experiences in MOP did for me. It’s theory vs. practice—it’s about instilling emotion and being personally invested. It is one of the greatest successes in life to find something you can invest yourself in. For me it has pretty much always been writing. Words have always made me feel safe, inspired and validated. So when I lost sight of a career as a writer I made my biggest make as an undergrad.

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Keelee Jade-Martin as a Freshman in college.

Keelee Jade-Martin getting scuba certified by Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Student.

When I graduated high school I wanted to work for National Geographic as a journalist. I thought beyond being a writer/photographer combo, a science degree would allow me to be taken seriously. When I got to college I became really insecure about my dream to work for National Geographic, I began doubting that I had any creative promise and started worrying about how I was going to pass chemistry, get an internship and become a researcher. I was so caught up in what I thought I “should be doing” that I lost what I wanted to be doing. I got burned out really fast and could not see how I could combine my love for the ocean and language. In my second semester at UH Hilo, I took a lot of gen-eds to explore if I was in the right degree program. It was my Dad who encouraged me to stick with marine science. He told me a lot that year, “Kee—this is the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do.” At that time, it really was—and what a privilege that my greatest struggle was directing a path towards the future. I stuck with it—and I found science writing, my way to mesh ocean and language.

So of course it comes as no surprise that my “biggest mistake” ends up being my greatest lesson. My favorite George Harrison lyric comes to mind, “With every mistake we must surely be learning.”

As this red, caps lock GRADUATION gets closer and closer I can’t help but notice that where I’m heading is really not too far from that 18-year-old dream to work for National Geographic. I still want to try and make people feel with image and word—and I can say confidently that having both the science theory and practice, my work will be better because of it. The original idea morphed into something else (actually more well-suited for me), but the core aspiration remains the same. My current goal is to pursue a graduate degree in science communication and I don’t think I would feel so compelled to do so without having this experience writing for Seawords. Thank you for reading—thank you for letting me make publish my learning experiences.

And for you, my dearest reader, here is my greatest lesson of five years of undergrad: Don’t be afraid of what you want.

Charge ‘em!!!

Grateful, Keelee Jade, UHH MOP Student

”

JUNE / PHOTOGRAPHY 2017 |7

This letter was written by Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Alumnus. Although he has graduated from MOP and UHH, he has volunteered to continue writing Seawords’ Dive Safety segment. Mahalo Tyler!

fellow good-looking readers, I am in denial. Graduating “ My has not “hit me” yet. My undergrad has been a long and tre-

mendous journey. It started with two years at a private liberal arts college in California, and changing my life for the better by starting over at UH Hilo. Words cannot describe the impact that MOP has had on my career. From incredible volunteer opportunities with the turtle response team, being afforded countless opportunities after QUEST, to watching my writing grow from the privilege of writing for you.

Like all of us, I have had my fair share of ups and downs but they have made me into the person I am today.

As much as I would like to decompress, things will not be slowing down just yet. Immediately after I present my senior thesis at UH Hilo, that same day, I fly to Batangas, Philippines, for my next research expedition with Cal Academy. A week later I return back to Hilo for commencement then shortly after spend a couple of weeks diving in Bali. In June I will be completing my NAUI Course Director Workshop, finishing my climb to the top of the training pyramid. Hopefully afterwards, I will be attending MAST on O‘ahu before taking a contract position in Kiritimati (Christmas Island) conducting fish surveys with a research team for the month of July. The remainder of the year I plan on teaching dive classes through my own business, Balanced Divers, in Hilo. Being self-employed will allow me the flexibility to prepare papers for publication, writing grant proposals and accompany Cal Academy on future trips.

Many people have accused me of “living the dream,” I agree with them. If I have made you envious of the opportunities I have earned, I offer you this advice. My friends that know me in real life describe me as the Energizer Bunny. Partly because I look cool in pink, but mainly because I, never, stop, going. Bet on yourself. One of my favorite quotes is from Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, “If you think you are beaten, you are...If you like to win, but think you can’t, it’s almost certain you won’t...Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man. But sooner or later the one who wins, is the one who thinks he can!” Invest in yourself.

Keep taking action on as many opportunities and learn as many new skills as possible. Do whatever it takes to get your foot in the door. Here’s my trade secret for networking--do not “cold approach” them. A handshake or email from a “nobody” means nothing. Have someone introduce you and it works 100 times better. When you do get in contact, do not be needy. Build rapport and offer value to them first. What can you do to help them? Divers, an easy one is to offer collecting samples as a volunteer. If an opportunity is available doing something you do not necessarily like, take it! It’s your way in! When you do, mail a thank you note (my secret weapon). Never stop networking and never stop investing in yourself. In other words, “stay thirsty my friends” and always dive safely.

”

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“Peace Out MOP”

Written by Jessica Lotts, Associate Editor and UHM MOP Alumna

something different about walking around a campus you “There’s know you’re leaving. It’s like you’re seeing it for the first time again.

When I walk through Legacy Pathway, I’m not worrying that I’ll be late to class anymore. I’m remembering the first time I took this route through campus and how the light shining through the trees was so pretty. I look at Campus Center and flash back to when it was under construction. Spalding Hall is no longer just a freezing lecture hall, the Art Building isn’t just the place I’d stay up until 2:00 a.m. painting and the Media Lab isn’t my most dreaded walk anymore. They are all memories, pieces of my college career that rush forward every time I see them, and I remember what it felt like the very first time I experienced them.

And Dean Hall is no longer just the building where MOP is, but the most important building on campus. It’s my safety, my office, my lunchroom, my meet up spot and my second home.

When I joined MOP in the Spring of 2014, I was an absolutely terrified freshman, 3,000 miles away from anything that felt familiar. I had no idea what I was doing, but the first time I made my way to MOP and saw the intern & job postings outside the door, I knew I found where I belonged at UHM. I walked in as a journalism major with a passion for the ocean and MOP handed me the keys to the best part of my college career, Seawords.

I’m a firm believer that any one person, any one action, no matter how small has the power to make a difference in the world, and I owe that belief to Seawords. I started with Seawords as a volunteer writer, and after dozens of published articles, and attending weekend classes to learn InDesign, I was promoted to Associate Editor.

By having an affiliation with Seawords, my door of opportunity has swung open. I have had the chance to intern for the 2016 International Coral Reef Symposium, and talk and meet with great minds like Sylvia Earle while interning at the 2016 International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s World Congressional Congress. I was able to join the National Park Service as they sent ROVs into the depth of the USS Arizona, and best of all, I got to have a platform to share it on.

The experiences I’ve had with Seawords are truly unforgettable and the skills I’ve acquired with this publication are something I will take with me as I continue on my career path. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the support and encouragement of Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator, Dr. Cynthia Hunter, MOP Director, and the rest of the Seawords crew.

I will forever be thankful to them for giving me this unforgettable opportunity.

”

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critter of the month

Chromis verater. Photo by: Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator.

Damselfish

By: Alicia Gregor

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Scientific Name: Chromis verater Category: Damselfishes Size: 4 to 8 in.

Depth: 35-500 ft.

Distribution: Hawai‘i

he Chromis verater, more commonly known as the threespot chromis, is endemic to Hawai‘i’s reef ecosystems. These small, black and grey fish can usually be found aggregating in small groups above the seafloor in rocky areas and reefs where strong currents carry zooplankton, giving them access to eat at any time. The threespot chromis gets its name from the three small white spots that can be found along their bodies. One spot can be found at the base of their dorsal fin, the second is located at the rear base of the anal fin, and the last pupil-sized white spot can be found at the mid base of the caudal fin. n

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Shipwreck of the Month: YO- 257 Accessibility: Relatively accessible and easy dive, right off Waikīkī Aquarium; strong currents.

Max Depth:115 ft Species Commonly Found: Reef sharks, turtles, barracudas Year it sank: 1989

Photo by: Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Alumnus

By Alicia Gregor, UHM MOP Student

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he YO-257 was built in the 1940’s and was an active navy yard oiler during World War II, the Vietnam war and the Korean war. The ship was in charge of carrying asphalt for runways to Yap in the Western Caroline Islands. There, it helped re-pave the dirt runway that had originally been built by the Japanese. After its day, it was sold to Atlantis Submarines in 1989 which made it into an artificial reef and popular dive site in Waikīkī. Today, the YO-257 ship can be found two miles off of Waikīkī where it sits upright in about 100 feet of water. n

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Why the Long Hose?

An Introduction to the DIR/ Hogarthian Configuration

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Article and Photos by Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Alumnus

ou’ve probably seen them before. Those “tech” divers with the silly 7ft long hose wrapped around their necks. You’ve probably noticed their shiny metal back plate, donut shaped wing, and minimalist harness too. Why would someone want to dive like this? We already look good, so it’s not a fashion choice. There’s actually an incredible amount of thought and reasoning that goes into everything we are wearing, and, not wearing. As Leonardo da Vinci once said, “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” I could not agree more. If you are one of those people that have maybe been intrigued or confused about the infamous long hose, allow me to introduce you to our simplistic configuration.

In the late 1980s and 1990s, divers became allured to the mystical realm of Florida’s caves. Overtime these black holes claimed the lives of many that did not have the right equipment or training for this demanding environment.

An experienced cave diver sought to create a minimalistic configuration with fewest failure points. He was known in the community as “Hogarth.” One day he pulled down a speed limit sign in his neighborhood, bent it, drilled slits through it, and laced it with a continuous piece of nylon webbing… nothing that could break in a cave. This was the first “back plate” and the birth of the Hogarthian configuration that is known worldwide today.

Since the street sign, it has evolved into a philosophy known as Doing it Right (DIR) diving. It is the best docu-

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mented equipment configuration and diving methodology in the world, mainly because DIR was standardized for safety in challenging technical diving environments.

In a recreational setting, it’s acceptable for everyone to have their own placement of alternate air source with various accessories. If you are several hundred feet underground, kilometers away from the surface, and run into an emergency, you don’t want to guess where your buddy’s alternate air source is. You don’t want to be thinking of the specific hand signal your buddy uses to communicate gas pressure.

This was the safety concern that DIR addresses.

Thinking with the end goal in mind, a system of standardized signals, protocols and equipment configuration was created that could be applicable to any environment.

Now I know what you’re thinking, “there are no caves where I live; why should this matter to me?”

Especially if you are a new diver, wouldn’t you rather learn a consistent approach that you could apply throughout your diving career? It’s certainly less frustrating than having to relearn a whole new way to do things or spend hundreds of dollars on new equipment to change environments. Have you ever been diving with someone for the first time and had to have a whole conversation on how the other person does their hand signals? As DIR divers, it doesn’t matter where we go in the world or who we dive with because we all operate and communicate the same way.

lower body down. The harness is made of a single continuous piece of nylon webbing which is advantageous.

It’s extremely durable and cheap to replace, win-win!

As one piece, it’s infinitely adjustable allowing you to easily change sizes if you switch gear, like to a drysuit.

No more awkwardly placed d-rings sewed on by a factory; you can move to where you exactly want them.

The webbing also allows you to create a comfortable and custom fit that is exactly to your body. No more “hickies” on your neck from jacket-style BCDs riding up high on you. The DIR back plate uses a crotch strap to keep everything down where it’s supposed to be. The crotch strap also has a d-ring to clip off your tow cord as you’re scootering along.

So, why the long hose? If you are in an out-of-gas emergency, wouldn’t it be comforting to breathe the same regulator you just saw your buddy using? In DIR we donate the primary regulator, not the alternate, because we know with certainty that it is a functioning regulator. We then can switch to our alternate which sits right below our mouth on a necklace, an easily accessible position.

A 7ft long hose is used because that is the length you need to air share in a single file line. Could you imagine doing an air share while locking arms through the Sea Tiger? Thinking with the end in mind, in this configuration we could air share through a restriction in a wreck or cave. Also found on your regulator, we have a 24” high pressure hose with a thin brass submersible pressure gauge (SPG) secured to you by a stainless steel bolt snap. That’s it. No big consoles that can trap water and corrode your hoses or gear retractors that can break.

But with all the metal it must be really hard to travel with, right? Unlike jacket style BCDs, the back plate and wing system is modular. The “wing” refers to the air cell or bladder that rests behind your back plate and secured from behind by your cylinder mounting hardware, or single tank adapter. The wing is literally shaped like a donut, allowing gas to pass freely without getting trapped in inconvenient places. The whole system of back plate, wing and tank adapter is all modular. Unscrew the wing nuts and everything comes apart in 10 seconds. You then can move the weight to where you want it to be in your luggage. This system is also scalable to your diving. When I need to bring more gas for a dive, usually for going deeper or in an overhead environment, I can attach my same back plate to my doubles and just use a larger wing. You don’t have to buy a full new set of gear again!

Like the equipment configuration, the hand signals and protocols used in DIR diving are also minimalistic. Simple and direct communication makes the team safer. In traditional DIR, we use a light canister for signaling. Instead of clanging on your tank and waking up the poor lobster beneath you, shining your light in their direction works well to get your buddy’s attention and can also be applied to overhead environment diving.

Speaking of “breaking,” you would be hard pressed to These universal techniques and protocols are the heart break anything on a DIR buoyancy compensator de- of what makes DIR safer. vice (BCD). All components are made of metal and nylon webbing, no plastic buckles. The system begins While the original DIR package has been tried and with a metal back plate, either aluminum or stainless tested, chances are you or someone you know, dives a steel. It’s positioned right over your lungs on your back, derivative of a DIR system. Many manufacturers have encouraging nice flat trim. More weight on your back started to build harnesses with plastic adjustable clips, also means less on your weight belt that can drag your appealing to the majority of divers that still have clips JUNE / PHOTOGRAPHY 2017 |13

on their rigs. Although they are more comfortable than traditional jacket style BCDs, they still have the down sides of plastic buckles that can break. Another commonly seen derivative are divers that use back plate and wing BCDs but with “standard” hoses (a black 28” primary hose and yellow 30” alternate hose). Some instructors prefer to teach new divers this way and not in long hose because it will task load the students. The long hose only requires a little bit of additional management and learning it will provide valuable experiences throughout the diver’s career. Luckily from here, making the switch is as easy as changing your hose lengths (for around $50). Managing the long hose takes a bit of practice but once you have it down, you will be able to dive comfortably and safely in any diving environment.

So, “why the long hose?” You don’t have to be a technical diver to dive a long hose. You may not have an interest in doing any advanced forms of diving now. Investing into this safer equipment configuration and system will better prepare you for when you are ready for that next course. Why not change configurations back and forth based on your environment? Diving the same way every time will keep your skills fresher and help you grow to be a more competent diver with a solid foundation. Some divers think of DIR as a cult. I think of it as a big family. As humans we are naturally attracted to those that dress and act like us. Possessing that commonality has allowed me to foster remarkable relationships worldwide while making my diving much safer.

The next time you go diving, think about the way your equipment is set up and ask yourself if you’re ready to try Doing It Right. n

S

ome whale Many spec ruthlessly i commercia black right whale ( lumped into a sin tives the North Pa na japonica), and balaena australis) Marine Mammal the great leviathan a very slow swim of the Month: than six miles an Black Right Whale surface and in the ing habits, has a v compared to othe this high blubber instead of sinking these traits made By: Jeremy Gasta, UHM MOP Student and profitable, giv Species: Black Right Whale “right” whale to ki right whale popul Scientific name: Eubalaena glacialis severely that even Range: North Atlantic Ocean most critically end Diet: Small marine invertebrates All three right wha closest relative, the Size: 50-60 feet long cetus), were once c

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es just don’t have any luck. cies of whale were hunted in the past, before the 1986 al whaling ban, but the (Eubalaena glacialis), once ngle species with its relaacific right whale (EubalaeSouthern right whale (Eu), had it the worst among ns. The black right whale is mmer (rarely moving faster n hour), sticks close to the e shallows due to its feedvery high blubber content er whales, and, because of content, floats when dead g like most cetaceans. All e hunting them very easy ving them the name of the ill from whalers. The black lations were decimated so today they are among the dangered of all the whales.

whale species, though a more recent study has concluded that they should be separated into multiple species. Also known as the Northern right whale or North Atlantic right whale, the black right whale is the most threatened of its kin. While black rights usually range between a length of forty to fifty feet, with the record of sixty-one feet, one third of that length is their enormous mouth, which houses the longest baleen strips of any whale, up to sixteen feet long. Like other mysticetes, right whales use this baleen to filter out small invertebrates and plankton from the water for food, preferring copepods in this case.

Most of their prey amasses at very shallow depths, meaning that black rights feed at or just below the surface, leaving them vulnerable to whalers in the past and boat strikes today. Right whales can easily be identified from other species by rough, white patches called callosities on their heads and jawline, and stand out distinctively from their dark hide. Much like researchers can recognize individual humpback whales (Megaptera ale species, as well as their novaeangliae) by their tail marks, individual e bowhead (Balaena mystiright whales can be identified by these calclumped into a single right losities. Their exact lifespan is unknown, but as rights are closely related to the bowhead whale, which can live over 200 years, it’s likely these creatures are very long-lived as well.

On Feb. 16, 2014, biologists with Duke University and UNC Wilmington spot a -year old male right whale entangled in eavy fishing rope while conducting reearch for the U.S. Navy 40 miles east of acksonville, FL. Photo by: FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Flickr.

One of the more interesting facts about these cetaceans are how generally peaceful they are.

While they are not very gregarious and tend not to live in large groups, aggressive behavior between two black right whales has never been recorded. Even males, when competing for mates, have never behaved aggressively to one another, which is surprising among mam-

mals and even other whale species. Their apparent ability to get along seems to extend even to other species, as they have been known to associate with humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins (Delphinidae tursiops). Large, filter-feeding basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) compete directly with right whales for food, yet there have never been any known skirmishes between the two species. When threatened with a predator, the whales have been known to team up to form a circle with their heavy, flailing tails pointed to the outside to ward off the danger.

They are also known to be quite playful, and mothers have been seen to chase their calves around before lovingly scooping them up in their flippers in a touching human-like manner.

Black right whales’ numbers fell drastically due to whaling, and although numerous protections are set in place for them now, they still remain in danger of extinction with fewer than 400 individuals left. Humans are still the cause of half of all black right whale deaths, with the two main reasons being entanglement in fishing gear and strikes from boats. Black right whales feed mainly at the surface but keep a low profile and are hard to spot, leading to many deaths and injuries from boat collisions. Entanglement in nets and other fishing gear can suffocate a whale, and even those that escape may be weakened or harmed from the encounter, which can lead to poorer health, shorter lives, and overall lower reproductive success. A 2012 study found that over 80% of black right whales have been entangled at least once, with 60% having been entangled multiple times. Despite numerous protective measures, these threats are causing black right whales to remain very endangered, and scientists are fearful that they may be unable to recover.

The future of this whale is uncertain, but as there are many attempts to conserve them, and the general public is being made more aware of their plight via ecotourism and whale watching, there is also a fair amount of hope. n

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cean updates

By Gina Selig UHH 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. Woodchips float on top of water and could potentially clean aquaculture waste photo by JumpingJax, Flickr

Wood Chips Could Clean Aquaculture Wastewater Aquaculture has become a major contribution to the world’s food source. Fish provides more than 1 billion people with most of their daily animal protein. In regions with the greatest number of resource-poor and vulnerable people, fish is often the primary animalsource food. On March 17, 2017, an article was published in Marine Science Today, explaining the University of Illinois’s experiment to make cleaning aquaculture wastewater more efficient. This organic system works by filtering water from a fish tank through a bioreactor which is a container filled with wood chips. The wood chips in the container filter out solids, bacteria and nitrogen for 24 hours. Simple solutions like this are cost effective and great for the planet!

Decoding the Genome of Starfish to help save Coral Reefs The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in Australia is loved by many for its diversity. However, about two-thirds of the GBR has been suffering from coral bleaching over the past three years. One of the challenges that also contributes to the decline in coral heath have been outbreaks of crown of thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci, that eat coral polyps. A single female can produce up to 120 million 16| Seawords

offspring in one spawning season. Crown-of-thorns starfish gather in masses after releasing pheromones.

Decoding the genes they use to communicate could allow scientists to fabricate environmentally safe baits that trick them into gathering in one place and make removal much more efficient. Husband-and-wife Professor Bernard Degnan and Associate Professor Sandie Degnan have done just this. The Degnans worked alongside a team of University of Queensland researchers, and long-standing colleagues at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) to sequence the of crown-of-thorns genome and its pheromones.

The Degnans believe that a similar approach could also be used to combat invasions of sea snails and other marine pests throughout the world.

Spiderman Worm-snail Discovered in Florida

Photo by Elena Kallis, Flickr

We all love the comic book story of the friendly neighborhood Spiderman, but what if his superpowers were in the hands of a newly discovered snail?

Scientists announced a new species of worm-snail that is brightly colored, lives on shipwrecks, filter-feeds like a whale and shoots webs like Spiderman. The new species, Thylacodes vandyensis, is named for the "Vandy," the nickname the SCUBA diving community has given to the USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenburg, a retired naval vessel which was intentionally sunk to serve

as an artificial reef in the lower Florida Keys. It turns out these snails don't use their slime to move. They use it to hunt. Dr. Rüdiger Bieler, Curator of Invertebrates at Chicago's Field Museum and the lead author of a paper in the journal PeerJ, explains more about this newly discovered creature. "The snails have an extra pair of tentacles down near the base of their body, almost like little arms. These tentacles are what they use to shoot slime," explains Bieler. "They shoot out a mucous web, just like Spiderman but in slow motion.

Microorganisms get stuck in their web, and the snails uses their mouths to pull the web back in and strain the food through barbs on their tongues. They filterfeed, much like baleen whales." Discovering the newly arrived snail species, says Bieler, is an important step to monitoring coral reef health. "The artificial reefs could serve as the canary in the coal mine," says Bieler. "If we monitor their presence on the shipwrecks, we can keep

swim in schools, our study shows that they're influencing one another," said lead author Mike Gil, a National Science Foundation postdoctoral research fellow in the UC Davis Department of Environmental Science and Policy. “They eat more algae when they're surrounded by more fish. We don't know why that is, but it likely must do with safety in numbers. These fish may perceive that their chances of getting killed by a predator, like a shark, are reduced when more prey are around." Fish are copy cats, much like humans-- they follow each other’s behavior. From swimming to a patch of reef to dine on algae or fleeing from a predator, fish copy each other which adds more complexity to the behavior of the reef fish community.

Accurate Data on the Population of dolphins in Hong Kong

The Chinese white dolphin, Sousa chinensis, is medium in size and can either be a light shade of gray or white in color. They also can have a pinkish tint to them depending on where they live. Experts believe they change their blood vessels in order to adapt to the different changes in temperatures.

Poaching of the Chinese white dolphin is a huge problem. In many areas, they are hunted for their meat. In others, they are killed to prevent the Photo by Giri Trisanto, Flickr fishermen from having to share the fish with these animals. Assessing the population of this dolphin has tabs on them and potentially stop them from spreading been a difficult task. Researchers at the University to the living reefs." of Hong Kong completed the first comprehensive population assessment. The recent study reported by Fish and their Predators the dolphin monitoring program contracted annually On April 10, 2017, the University of California, Davis, by Hong Kong's Agriculture estimates that there are 60 published a new study conducted off the remote island Chinese white dolphins remaining. n of Mo’orea in French Polynesia. Researchers set up video cameras monitor how fishes responded to the presence and absence of predatory threats. The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Fish are very important to not only the ecosystem but the health of corals.

By eating algae that can kill corals and overtake reefs, fish can help protect the reefs. However, overfishing can remove the algae-eaters and can even cause remaining fishes to eat less and therefore impact their overall health. "Even though these fish don't Chinese white dolphin at the Sentosa dolphin lagoon in Singapore.

Photo by: Gordon Wrigley, Flickr.

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June 2017

Understanding Ocean Changes

15 June

1 June •

King Tides – A window into the future •

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Swimming on the dock of the bay: higher tides and nuisance flooding in Hawai‘i • •

22 June

8 June World Oceans Day! •

Hilo ‘ia a pa‘a: braiding a tight cord of knowledge

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Surging seas and shifting shorelines • •

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29 June • • • • •

Splish, Splash, Science! Keeping an eye on near shore water quality in Hawai‘i • •

• •

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FLASHBACK: 1996

A

By: Camra Hopper, Editor

ncient Hawaiians had the technology and knowledge to fish for octopus using cowry shells as bait, these artifacts were the subjects of the 1996 Maritime Archaeology Surveying Techniques (MAST) course. Their goal was to map the artifacts from a site off Waikīkī Beach found by Michael Pfeffer, University of Washington Ph. D student.

During this time, Maritime Archaeology was a new and unexplored field in comparison to dry land. This was the third year in a row MOP had offered MAST with Hans Van Tilberg as the MAST Instructor.

“Archaeology is interesting because we can learn about the past,” said Don Froning, MAST Participant. “Underwater archaeology is even more interesting because so little has been done, so there are many more opportunities.”

The caption of the picture, displaying the fishing artifact, explains the two instruments needed as lovers, “The handsome pohaku (stone) is the husband to the lovely female leho (cowry). When joined, they sway in the ocean. The he‘e (octopus) comes to watch and cannot resist the leho, its favorite food.”

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GENERATION

Actions for the Ocean

BLUE

Photo by Suse

By: Jessica Lotts, Associate Editor

W

e’ve made it through another school year, MOPers! That means summer is finally upon us. Although this is a time for students to let loose and relax, it is still important to keep in mind your impact on the environment. Let’s not have another “Flotilla” incident, where beach goers left hundreds of floaties, bottles, and various other kinds of trash scattered along the shore. Below are some ways for you to have a fun and green summer!

Have a “Beach Clean-Up Party.” Get together with some friends at the beach and see who can pick up the most trash. Have a prize for the person who collects the most!

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e H., Flickr.

Get your BBQ grub from the farmers market! Eating local not only supports your community, it negates travel cost and time to ship food across seas. This means less environmental impact and fewer carbon emissions.

Drink a lot of water, but don’t waste it. It is extremely important to stay hydrated during these hot summer months so drink, drink, drink, but don’t waste your leftover water. Just because the water you may have accidentally left in your car is all toasty warm, it does not mean it is trash. Repurpose your leftovers, feed the plants, give it to your pets, use it to clean something, get creative with your ideas and avoid using plastic water bottles!

Have a great summer, and see you in the fall!!

Background photo by Jessica Lotts, Associate Editor.

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June

Photo by Jason Jones, HIMB Marine Safety Manager.

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

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Letter to the Photographers Dear Seawords Readers and Photographers, On behalf of Seawords I would like to congradulate every single one of you on your amazing photos, each are absolutely gorgeous. The MOP staff was granted with a difficult task in selecting our winners. We hope you enjoy the Fifth Annual Seawords Photography Contest!

Along side a few of the images are describtions or fun facts. Along with our category winners, we have provided then with an optional interview and image of themselves.

We hope you enjoy looking through the photos taken by all these wonderful photographers:

Kayleigh Burns WCC MOP Student Nina Bean, UHM MOP Student Bryant Grady, UHH MOP Student Jessica Lotts, UHM MOP Student

Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Student Elizabeth Williams, UHH MOP Student Tess Chapman, UHM MOP Student

Also, many thanks to Taylor Shedd, MOP Alumnus, for his help in determining the winner of the 2017 Photography Contest, Bryant Grady, second time winner. The second place photo is by photographer Kayleigh Burns, WCC MOP Student, which is featured on the back cover of this issue.

Thank you, Camra Hopper, Editor

Background picture by: Camra Hopper, Editor

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Contents:

THE PHOTOGRAPHY ISSUE 24 26 Taylor Shedd

34

Topside

Fauna

42

Under the Sea JUNE / PHOTOGRAPHY 2017 |25

TAYLOR SHE UHM MOPAlmnus

M

y name is Taylor Shedd and I am honored to be this year’s Photo Contest Judge. Some of you on the Mānoa campus may remember me, or have seen my short hair clean-shaven freshman picture on the back of the door. I came to Hawai‘i from Indiana to study marine biology, but specifically to join MOP. When I came to visit the campus as a junior in high school I met with Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator, and he told me about all the hands-on experience and opportunities available at the university. I was already aware that I was a visual learner and excelled in hands-on learning environments. While in MOP I participated in QUEST, MAST, American Cetacean Society (ACS), and Scientific Diving. Now with long hair and a beard, two years after my graduation I took the skills, experiences and philosophy from MOP around the world with Global Expeditions Group.

and scuba diving. During my time here gram, which is basically a recreational s teaching for two years I’m excited and re ography for a master’s program in Marin ing this summer.

My philosophy for photography is simila of three rules while I shoot pictures.

#1. The Rule of Thirds – splitting your

aligning your subject on the intersecting to be empty space that draws your eye t space.

#2. Know Your Light Source – this is Global Expeditions Group is the parent company of SeaMester, which is a col- creates a darker imagine, whereas when lege study abroad program on schooners around the world, and ActionQuest, frame naturally. However, there are more which is a teen leadership program run aboard smaller vessels teaching sailing strobes, flashes, fluorescent lights, etc. Pla 26| Seawords

HEDD

e I headed up the marine science pro- it changes your pictures as a whole. scientific diving course for teens. After #3. Patience – half of a good photo is luck. Every second things change and eady to join Scripps Institute of Oceanmove. Light could shift just a little, that wave might break a little early, or that ne Biodiversity and Conservation startwhale might breach. Be patient and take lots of photo. With digital photography, external storage and editing software you can take as many pictures as you ar to that of my life: simple. I only think want and make minor adjustments to them.

From these three rules my favorite subject matter to shoot has become wildlife, frame into three by three squares and both marine and terrestrial. I enjoy being outside and exploring, so I enjoy takpoints of the squares. This allows there ing photos of wildlife. That is my advice to all photographers out there--find to the subject and creates background your favorite subject matter, whether it be human portraits, natural landscapes or fish. If you enjoy what you do, you will naturally want to do it and become better at it. Congratulations to all the entries this year! It was truly difficult to again, simple. Shooting into the sun pick the top photos and it was a honor to see all your incredible work. Keep up n the sun is behind you it lights up the the amazing work and never stop exploring!l! n e light sources than just the sun, such as ay with angles and shadows to see how JUNE / PHOTOGRAPHY 2017 |27

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Interview: Bryant Grady UHH MOP Student Double Major in Marine Science and Political Science

Q A

: What is your connection to MOP?

: I am a MOP student at UH Hilo I currently have three ideas for a MOP Project right now but they are top secret. I attended QUEST last summer and I am attending MAST this summer on Oahu.

Q A

: How did you become interested in photography?

: I have been interested in photography for many years it started when was very young, my mom would give me one of those five dollar disposable underwater cameras that you can buy at the ABC stores and I would take them snorkeing. My photography expertise grew eventually and I am now obsessed with it.

Q A

: What kind of camera did you use?

: Canon T5i with 18-55mm lens with a Meikon housing and two sola 3000 lumen video lights.

Q A

: What’s the story behind this photo?

: This shot was a surprise. I had been on a dive searching for a specific type of coral to photograph when I stubled upon this amazing scene. I have to admit the crown of thorns are a lot faster than I expected.

Q A

: When you go to take a photo what sorts of things do you look for?

: When I do photography, there are two ways that I am able to take shots that I really enjoy. The first way is picturing a subject and planning a picture I want to take. For these types of pictures, I will often

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do specific dives purely for the purpose of getting that shot. The second way I like to take pictures is by just going out and diving and simply finding visually appealing subjects and then photographing them in a visually dazzling way!

Q A

: What is your favorite type of photo to take?

: I don’t really have favorite type of photo to take I spilt it pretty fifty fifty between macro and wide angle but I think my favorite photo is one that captures moments underwater, scenes that capture some type of story or action sequence of animal behavior that draw you in and make you want to more about it. n

“This is a great marine biology nerd photo. I have never seen an Ancanthaster planci being eaten in all my dives in Hawai‘i. The use of the strobes and lighting was pretty good, eliminating most of the particulate in the water and focusing mainly on the subject.”

Taylor Shedd said.

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1st Runner-up:

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i Fuzz Face -Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Alumnus

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Fauna extended: Hooked g -Bryant Grady, UHH MOP Student

i Peek-a-boo -Elizabeth Williams, UHH MOP Student

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2nd R

Runner-up:

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TOPSIDE

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Bryant Grady, UHH MOP Student Double Major in Marine Science and Political Science

Q A Q A

: What kind of camera did you use?

: Canon T5i with l series 70-200mm lens : Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the story behind this photo?

: To get a shot like this it is all about the timing.

I woke at around 3 AM to be able to get to the lava flow just before sunrise. It is a 4-mile hike in so it important to have plenty of time to get there and ready for the shot. The reason I love going this early is because as the sun rises it creates an amazing palate of color across the lava plume highlighting the pinks and purple colors especially. To get the shot I had to be patient, waiting for the perfect time to time the long exposure pictures. If you take them to early in the morning they will be to dark and you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get all the color and if you wait too long the sun will have risen to much and you lose the colors again so there is a very fine window of opportunity. n

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“This is an amazing photo that I would hang on my wall. The colors and the use of focus draw your eyes in and make the photo almost flow and move. I like the contrast between the darkness of the rocks and the light of the waves crashing on the shore. This is a great example of what long exposures and different layers of focus can do to a photo.”

Taylor Shedd said.

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Runners-up:

1st Runner-up: Tonariki g

-Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Alumnus

2nd Runner-up:

f Kalaupapa Mystery

-Jessica Lotts, UHM M

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MOP Alumna

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h Pele Sunset

-Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Alumnus

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iTable Wave -Jessica Lotts, UHM MOP Alumna

fOcean Bliss

-Elizabeth Williams, UHH MOP Student

hLand meets Sea

-Elizabeth Williams, UHH MOP Student

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UNDER THE

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E SEA

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Interview: Kayleigh Burns WCC MOP Student Q A Q A : What is your connection to MOP?

: This May I completed the MOP program at Windward Community College. : How did you become interested in photography?

: I began Scuba Diving several years back and was always so amazed by what I would see so I eventually started to document my interactions through photography.

Q A Q A

:

What

kind

of

camera

did

you

use?

: Nikon D800/ 16-35 mm, Ikelite Housing (4.175 port / 8 in dome). :

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

the

story

behind

this

photo?

: I am a Shark Naturalist and Shark Safety Diver for One Ocean Diving. This photo was taken on one of our pelagic dives out of Haleiwa with Sandbar and Galapagos sharks.

Q A

: When you go to take a photo what sorts of things do you look for?

: I love shooting underwater where there are so many changing elements to a photo. Light, visibility and movement all comes into play. This can make it very difficult to get a specific shot. I just try to relax as much as possible and observe the subject in their natural environment. Concentrating more on the interaction than my gear.

Q A

: What is your favorite type of photo to take?

: I love taking underwater photos of any type of marine life but sharks must be my favorite. They are so beautiful and graceful moving around the water and their bodies are so perfectly designed. Their awareness in the water is unbeatable! n

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“This photo is precisely what I described in my Three Rules of Photography. The subject is off center in a way that suggests movement of the subject forward. Having the main subject light up more than the others highlights in and draws your eye towards it, but also to the darker subjects around. The blue cathedral effect of blue water is really evident in this shot. Lastly, the patience and effort, plus a little luck, in this shot was worth it.”

Taylor Shedd said.

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1st Runner-up:

fFlaming C -Nina Bean,

Mistaken identity

-Joshua Levy, UHM Student 48|â&#x20AC;&#x192;Seawords

fBula

-Kayleigh Burns, WCC MOP Student

iPuffer

-Nina Bean, UHM MOP Student

2nd Runner-up:

Cerata

UHM MOP Student

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hTurtle Detail

-Jessica Lotts, UHM MOP Alumnus

h Minacious

-Tess Chapman, UHM MOP Student 50|â&#x20AC;&#x192;Seawords

iVoyage -Keyleigh Burns, WCC MOP Student

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h Epic Stare Down

-Nina Bean, UHM MOP Student

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iDyad -Tess Chapman, UHM MOP Student

hAgape

-Tess Chapman, UHM MOP Student

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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!