November 2014 Seawords by Marine Option Program

Seaw rds The Marine Option Program Newsletter

November 2014

VOLUNTEERING IN FIJI AQUARIUM FISH COLLECTING WHALES AS MARINE ECOSYSTEM ENGINEERS

“The beauty of these giants was unexplainable and anyone else who has seen this phenomenal event would say the same; you had to be there Not once was I afraid.”

November 2014 Volume XXVIII, Number 7

Featured articles Page 6: Volunteering in Fiji Page 13: Aquarium fish collecting: make an informed decision Page 18: Diving into the question: How do whales serve as marine ecosystem engineers?

About the Photography -Cover: Sergeant majors and snappers swim with the bull sharks in Fiji. Taken by Christina Curto, UHM MOP Student. -Table of Contents: Former UHM MOP student Corey Mutnik took this shoot of a banded coral shrimp in the Makapuâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;u Tidepools. -Letter from the Editor: Former UHM MOP Student Dieter Stelling shot this photo on the Big Island of Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i for Seawords in 2012. -November calendar of events: Dated data gathering equipment at Electric Beach also photographed by Mutnik. -Back cover: Sterling also took this close-up shot of an octopus for Seawords in 2012. -All uncredited photos by: MOP 2|

Seawords

Interactive table of contents: Letter from the Editor

pg 4 Aquarium fish collecting

pg 13 Critter of the Month

pg 20

Volunteering in Fiji

Ocean Updates

pg 6 Ocean Art

pg 10

pg 12

How do whales serve as ecoengineers?

So you want a MOP certificate?

pg 14 Questions about QUEST

Generation Blue

pg 16 Hanauma Bay Events & Flashback

pg 22

pg 24

pg 18 Wanna sea something cool? & Calendar

pg 26

Seawords Volume XXVIII, Number 7, November 2014 Editor: Kathryn Lam Assistant Editor: Brijonnay Madrigal Dr. Cynthia Hunter (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.

NOVEMBER 2014

Letter from the Editor Photo credit: Dieter Stelling, Former UHM MOP Student

his month we continue our look into the summer activities of MOP student employees. UHM MOP student and office manager, Christina Curto spent her summer with Projects Abroad in Fiji diving and volunteering in their shark lab. In other shark related news, on page 10 we have a follow up to an article in the March 2014 issue of Seawords on Palauâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts to create a shark sanctuary within their Exclusive Economic Zone. Also in Ocean Updates is an article covering the recent walrus beachings that Alaska has been experiencing. As those two articles and a third article on whales and their role in the ecosystem remind us, it is important to keep our oceans clean and healthy. This includes preserving species and educating ourselves. This is why we have provided a list of educational films as this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Generation Blue idea.

Thank you for reading,

--Kathryn Lam, Seawords Editor

Seawords

NOVEMBER 2014

MOP Summers

By Christina Curto, UHM MOP Student

Seawords

STUDENT PERSPECTIVE Our feature on University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa student employees continues in this issue as we take a look at what Office Manager Christina Curto was up to this summer.

ix months after completing NOAA’s Marine Underwater Techniques (MUT) course, my SCUBA mentor sent me a link to a new Project’s Abroad project in Fiji. It was solely a shark conservation diving project… my dream project. I had to do it. I planned my entire summer around seeing those sharks. As a QUEST graduate, fresh out of the water, I was ready to travel to Fiji and tackle the new turf. Little did I know that this adventure would be one of the most influential and exciting adventures of my life, second only to my big move to Hawai‘i. Besides the long nauseating bus ride, my first day in Fiji was incredibly welcoming. I met fellow dive volunteers from all over the world: Australia, Germany, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Canada, India, Wales, and even a couple from Hawai‘i who went to Hawai‘i Pacific University.

Shark Reef, a marine reserve leased from a local village in Fiji is one of the healthiest reefs in the Pacific and is home to the largest bull sharks in the world.

My first SCUBA dive in Fiji was phenomenal: soft corals and pinnacles 15 meters high. With the dive experience I had accumulated over the past two years as a MOP student, I felt completely at ease. I actually helped a lot with the training of the new divers by being a safe and attentive buddy. It made the dives all the more worthwhile. Since I had the necessary experience, I got to go on the shark dive my first week in Fiji. This dive is managed by the local dive shop, Beqa Adventure Divers [BAD]. Their mission is conservation based, so they often guide scientists, resource manager, and photographers on the dive in order for these professionals to

collect data from Shark Reef. They are surely not ‘bad’ divers whatsoever and were the best to lead groups down to dive with 40 bull sharks. The dive masters would go out early in the morning to prepare the shark dive. They filled bait boxes located at the bottom so that the bulls would be lured away from the upper water column where we entered. This particular dive site, Shark Reef, is a marine reserve leased from the local village. Twenty dollars from the dive fee that each diver must pay is given back to the village because they allow the use of the reserve. According to the project staff, it is one of the healthiest reefs in the Pacific. However, because it is also home to some of the largest bull sharks in the world, 2% of the reef is sacrificed in order for the dive to be safe. Divers must be stationary and sitting on the reef bottom so they will not float away into the sharks during feeding. This 2% is also the only place where eco-tourism takes place so as to keep the rest of the reef undisturbed. As volunteers on this project, we got to participate in our first shark dive just for the thrill of it. On the boat, divers were over-weighted and advised when to enter the water by the boat captain. This dive is orchestrated in a manner sort of like a tight military operation. For good reason, BAD has a 100% safety record for this dive. The first stop was straight to the bottom, 30 meters [90ft], then 15 meters, and a safety stop at 3 meters. We lined up behind a sturdy rock wall, lying on our stomachs [this dive is not really a dive at all, more of a “lay on the bottom

NOVEMBER 2014

and watch the awesomeness”]. The BAD masters flew over us with a huge trash can full of tuna heads. The others were behind us with long metal sticks, just in case. Once the trash can top opened to release the chum, in came the big beauty bulls. The regulars to the feeding arena were conditioned so that they would only be fed if they approached the feeders from the left side. This was an amazing feature of the dive which allowed me to witness the grace and control exhibited by these commonly associated “ravenous eating machines”. The beauty of these giants was unexplainable, and anyone else who has seen this phenomenal event would say the same; you had to be there. Not once was I afraid. I never really was afraid of sharks to begin with, but these lovely animals are considered the most dangerous shark species in the ocean. It is not that they should be mindlessly feared, but their immense stature and apex capabilities should be respected. Any skeptic about sharks would be dumbfounded and speechless if they were as close as I was to these beautiful beasties. There is so much more to these creatures than even the most experienced behavioral scientist on the project can understand. I still can’t comprehend it even after having done two of these dives [the first of which I almost lost my regulator in excitement, the second I actually had to pay close attention to count and ID the bulls].

Curto and Cardenosa, Lead Biologist measure a juvenile bull shark. This is part of a larger process that takes data on tagged sharks. (Courtesy of Projects Abroad)

This shark dive was one of the most breathtaking experiences of my life. However, it was not the only shark event that the project allowed the volunteers to participate in. I got to dive on roaming surveys of other sharks, rays, turtles, and indicator species within MPAs and control zones of the lagoon. Out-of-water training was needed to learn all of these species before the dives (after memorizing the 200 species for QUEST, I wasn’t too worried). The survey dives were remarkable. I saw white tip reef sharks almost every dive. I also came within touching distance of a stunning female zebra/leopard shark resting on the bottom. I admit I was squealing with excitement through my regulator bubbles.

Another favorite moment of the surveys was when Josh Fredrick, Field Biologist and Dive coordinator decided to take us into uncharted dive territory: the drop off. About ten minutes into the dive, I was looking into the dark blue abyss because I got an eerie feeling coming from that direction. Moments after that feeling, a female grey reef shark darted out of nowhere. I was more scared of her than I was of those big bulls! I tried frantically to get the attention of the divers in front of me. That was her turf and we were right in the middle of it. She circled the dive group and one of the guys actually blew his regulator out of his mouth because his jaw dropped so far. It was a priceless moment for sure. Volunteers also helped deploy the Baited Remote Underwater Video [BRUV], which was a metal frame with a bait box extended on a pole. A GoPro camera was mounted inside the frame with the bait box in view so that it could be recording for 90 minutes while we went to another site for the roaming surveys. This way the project was able to collect presence/absence data with and without diver presence. In fact, right before I left, a BRUV picked up footage of a drop-dead gorgeous tiger shark female teenager that devoured the tuna carcass that we had tied to the bait box. Along with surveys of adult sharks, the project also encompasses the tagging of juvenile bull sharks in the river nearest to Shark Reef. The juveniles are caught on small long-line baited hooks and before they are released, they are brought on the boat and injected with a Passive Integrated Transponder [PIT] tag into the tough skin behind the dorsal fin. The tag gives the shark an ID number and if the shark is caught again, the tag will indicate the 8|

Seawords

number and will have recorded his or her average growth rate. I actually got to assist with a tagging event. When the juvenile shark was pulled on the boat Diego Cardenosa, Lead Biologist, yelled “Chris I need you! Grab the tail!” I was stunned. I could not believe he was going to let me do that. I ran over and wrapped my hand around the small shark’s caudal fin. I handed the measuring tape to Diego and we measured the various lengths. I was so surprised that the captured shark remained so calm. It was one of the most rewarding days of the project. Once that juvenile was successfully released we all were ecstatic, especially Diego who was stoked to report that we had a super successful tag. The PIT tagging of the juveniles is crucial to understanding if those are the individuals that go to Shark Reef when they become adults.

“Not once was I afraid... It is not that they should be mindlessly feared, but their immense stature and apex capabilities should be respected. Any skeptic about sharks would be dumbfounded and speechless if they were as close as I was to these beautiful beasties. There is so much more to these creatures than even the most experienced behavioral scientist on the project can understand.” The project was also heavily involved in habitat restoration for the juvenile bull sharks by the raising and planting of mangroves. Ron, the local man in charge of the village outreach and mangrove nurseries, has launched a huge community recycling project which consisted of the villagers collecting bottles for a fee so that the mangrove propagules had containers to grow in so that they could be replanted more effectively. This provides a service for both the mangroves and the village by reducing waste through community involvement. Given that the local villages have rights over Shark Reef, as well as other neighboring reefs, community education is a crucial aspect of the shark conservation project. I participated in several community outreach activities such as painting their kindergarten building, planting nutritional plants for village use, and leading games related to shark education. Village involvement with the messages of shark conservation establishes a stronger link to the project. Ian Campbell, the Global Shark Program Manager at WWF, spoke to the volunteers and he said that the shark conservation project in Fiji is the “best” shark conservation project in the world right now. Its holistic approach to conservation is extremely effective; all projects should mirror what they are doing. To think, this wonderful project has only been up and running since January 2014. It was a bittersweet moment leaving the project, but I accumulated the beaming confidence to submit my information so that I could get involved with the Shark Lab and other research at the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB). I made such amazing connections during that month and I can see myself traveling back to Fiji to help the project thrive even more than it already has. I am, as we speak, looking into collecting of some of the data to analyze so that I can write a final report for my MOP project. I will never forget my wonderful shark conservation friends in Fiji and what I learned from them.  Please visit www.projects-abroad.co.uk/ volunteer-projects/conservation-and-environment/shark-conservation/fiji/ to learn more about Projects Abroad and Shark Conservation-Fiji and fijisharkdive.com/ to check out the famous Shark Dive.

Curto and the other volunteers pose in front of the kindergarden building that they helped to paint as a part of the community outreach activities in which the organization participates. (Courtesy of Projects Abroad)

NOVEMBER 2014

OCEAN UPDATES Palau shark sanctuary By Brijonnay Madrigal, Assistant Editor This article is a follow-up to an article in last March’s edition of Seawords about Palau’s intent to create a shark sanctuary in their Exclusive Economic Zone.

ecently, Palau has taken great strides in ocean conservation in support of one of the most threatened marine organisms in the ocean-sharks. Palau president, Johnson Toribiong recently announced the creation of the first shark sanctuary that will encompass 600,000 sq. km. of ocean within the entire Exclusive Economic Zone of Palau. Although the total land mass is small, the surrounding waters are vast, and the sanctuary will include an area the size of France. Approximately 130 threatened species inhabit the surrounding waters of Palau and action was deemed necessary to prevent species loss. Through the formation of the sanctuary, Toribiong is seeking to address the issue of illegal shark finning which is a problem in Palau and other nations around the world. Shark finning has become a growing problem causing Toribiong to also push for implementation of a commercial shark finning ban which would prohibit killing of sharks for their fins. There is much controversy about the unethical method of fin removal. Fins are removed while sharks are still alive and fins that are removed account for only 5% of their total shark biomass. The other 95% of the shark is disposed of in the ocean, where they are left to die. Shark fin soup is a delicacy in China and many other parts of Asia. Shark fin soup is associated with celebrations, wedding and holidays. The market demand is high along with the price. One kilogram of shark fin meat can cost up to $650 USD and one bowl can cost up to $100. The effects that this unsustainable market has had on shark populations have been astronomical,

with more than 100 million sharks killed each year globally for their value on the menu. Palau hopes to gain economic benefits from the creation of the sanctuary. The increase in sharks will attract snorkelers and scuba divers alike causing the tourism industry to grow. As more sharks begin to populate the sanctuary, people from all over the world will want to visit the only shark sanctuary in the world. Growth in shark populations may also improve the health of coral reef ecosystems. A decrease in sharks allows grouper population to thrive which consequentially reduces herbivores (i.e. parrotfish, blennies, gobies) residing on the reef. These herbivorous fish would normally eat algae growing on the reef. Without this control on their growth, macroalgae overtake coral reef habitats causing the coral to die. The coral reef system exemplifies the necessity for shark presence in marine ecosystems and effects that transcend throughout the entire food chain. Palau has become an active participant in creating solutions to reduce shark mortality and their leaders hope is that other countries will follow suit and take the initiative to pass ocean policy that will allow for conservation efforts to make an impact in their ocean communities. Some countries have already started implementing catch limits, regulations on shark finning and taking extra measures to ensure that shark populations have a chance to recover. If populations continue in this downward trajectory, the entire ocean ecosystem could be affected by the loss of these apex predators. Palau is hoping to change that. 

This oceanic blacktip shark was seen on O‘ahu’s North Shore during a shark cage dive. (Corey Mutnik)

10|

Seawords

Climate changes beach walruses By Jessica Lotts, UHM MOP Student

housands of walruses near Point Lay, Alaska have resorted to beaching themselves after the warming climate has melted the ice floes where they usually reside.

Walruses greatly rely on sea ice for a wide variety of reasons. Females give birth and raise their pups on it, and many use the sea ice as a resting place in between dives for food. Sea ice also provides an escape from many lurking predators. So, when an estimated 35,000 walruses have grouped themselves on the shores of Alaska, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a cause for concern. Research provided by the National Snow and Ice Data Center shows that the decline for the ice extent is at a record decrease of 13.3% per decade. Satellite data have shown the last ten lowest ice extents have all happened in the past ten years, 2014 being the sixth lowest. All the sea ice provided in the Chukchi Sea is essentially gone. Rising temperatures due to climate changes are what seem to be the cause for the melting sea ice, according to the NSIDC research website. The disappearing ice is a great threat for the walruses because now they have to travel farther to access their food supply in deeper waters. Without any resting sea ice to stop for breaks, the walruses are left exhausted and unprotected from predators. The massive gathering of walruses on beaches have scientists concerned for the safety and well-being for many females and their pups. Walruses are easily spooked and are known for stampedes with high mortality rates. The Federal Aviation Authority has been working to redirect planes to not fly directly over the congregation in an attempt to avoid a stampede, according to The Guardian date. Pilots must stay at least 2,000 feet high and half a mile away from the haul-out. Even though mass numbers of walruses have beached themselves in the past, the total number of animals recorded has never been this high, and levels of sea ice have never been so low. If efforts to help global changes arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t increased soon, it could have disastrous effects on walrus populations. ď Ž

This photo, taken in April 2004, depicts walruses in their natural environment. Since then, climate change has melted the ice on which they usually reside, causing thousands of walruses to group themselves on the shores of Alaska. (Alaska Region U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service courtesy of Flicker)

NOVEMBER 2014

|11

BLUE By Brijonnay Madrigal, Assistant Editor

Actions for the Ocean

GENERATION

THE OCEAN SPANS OVER 70 PERCENT OF OUR WORLD. It is responsible for regulating temperature, food production, sustaining numerous marine species, and is a source for inspiration among multiple other things. The ocean gives us so much and it is time for us to return the favor and take actions to make the ocean ecosystem healthy again. Almost every action that we take affects the ocean in some way. Our everyday choices can be tailored to support a healthy ocean. Here are some examples of green acts that will keep the ocean blue.

FILM FESTIVAL GALORE! Get more information! One of the best things you can do is to educate yourself about major ocean conservation issues. Watch an ocean conservation film to learn more about the issues pertaining to the ocean that matter to you the most, so you can take action to become a better steward of the ocean and the environment! Watch some of the suggested films below: 1) Interested in the issue of shark finning? SHARKWATER (2006) by director Rob Stewart deals with the misconceptions and public fear cultivated by the movie “Jaws” concerning the oceans top predators. 2) Imagine a world without fish! A SEA OF CHANGE (2009) by director Barbara Ettinger, focuses on the effects of ocean acidification on marine life and the possible outcome if we don’t start changing things about the way we live. This film was the recipient of the NOAA 2010 Environmental Hero Award and featured in the Honolulu International Film Festival. 3) BLACKFISH (2013) by director Gabriela Cowperthwaite premiered in the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and became a highly acclaimed documentary dealing with the issue of captivity of killer whales specifically targeting SeaWorld. This empowering film made quite the statement and caused major changes in how we view captive animal policies. 4) Have you thought about what you have been eating lately? THE END OF THE LINE (2009) by director Rupert Murray shows the devastating effects of overfishing on worldwide fish populations and the importance of sustainable seafood practices. He urges viewers to eat seafood responsibly so we can continue to enjoy seafood in the future. 5) Billions of pounds of plastic are currently swirling within the gyres of the world’s oceans. PLASTIC OCEANS (2010) by director Craig Leeson, brought together a team of scientists to send a powerful message about plastic in the ocean and to invite people to consider the implications.

12|

Seawords

(Daniel Jennings-Kam)

Aquarium fish collecting: Make an informed decision By Kathryn Lam, Editor

he battle between aquarium fisheries and environmentalists is a long standing one. With activists claiming that fish collecting, for profit or for amusement, is unethical and collectors saying that data prove fish populations are recovering. Either way, it is important to educate ourselves with the facts.

came to Hawai‘i in order to support local activists like Robert Winter, owner of Snorkel Bob’s, a dive shop chain in Hawai‘i. Feeling harassed, one of the fish collectors pulled the regulator out of one of the activist’s mouth. Both parties have filed complaints in court as a result of the encounter.

Currently it is legal to collect fish commercially for the aquarium trade in Hawai‘i. However, there are According to The Columbus Dispatch, an Ohio based rules and regulations that must be followed. First and newspaper, Aquarium fish trading removes about 30 foremost, a fish collector needs a license from the State million fish from the world’s coral reefs. Of these, less Division of Aquatic Resources. If fish collecting is than 2% come from Hawai‘i. The majority of the fish for the aquarium trade are collected in the Philippines taking place on the Kona coast of the Big Island there or Indonesia where cyanide fishing has been previously is a “White List” of forty species that fish collectors are used. This method of fishing consists of adding a sodi- permitted to take. This list was put together based on um-cyanide solution into water to stun fish in order to current data compiled by scientists that indicate those fish populations are healthy and able to sustain current make them easier to collect live has been made illegal levels of harvesting and only applies to this specific because it causes damage to coral reef environments. area. In addition, approximately 30 % of the Kona However, according to an article written by NOAA coast consits of no-take zones for aquarium collector. Fisheries coral reef ecologist Andy Bruckner, though illegal in most places the law is poorly enforced. In According to the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Hawai‘i, however, aquarium fish are caught using nets. Natural Resources, “this measure will help protect popOnce the middleman retailer price is added in, a previulations of species that are rare, potentially overfished ously $3.50 fish can go up in price from $30 to $60 per and/or are not suitable for home aquariums. This rule fish. will reduce the threat of population decline of rare species, a major concern of stakeholders interested in the This past July, the aquarium fish collecting trade came long-term health and biodiversity of our coral reefs.”  to the media’s attention when activists from the Sea Sheperd environmental group began to film local fish For more information on licenses, permits and how to collectors. Known for their controversial tactics such get and or renew them, please visit the following website: as throwing glass containers full of acid at Japanese http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/licenses-permits/. whaling boats in the Antarctic, the Sea Shepard group NOVEMBER 2014

|13

ART

14|

Seawords

If you are interested in submitting articles, photography, or art to Seawords, send us an email at seawords@hawaii.edu with the subject line “Student submission.” We accept submissions year round.

NOVEMBER 2014

|15

Diving into the Question:

How Do Whales Serve As Marine Ecosystem Engine By Brijonnay Madrigal, Assistant Editor

vidence has recently revealed that great whales play an important role as “ecosystem engineers.” The impacts of commercial whaling over the past few hundred years severely reduced populations. North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) were one of the first whales targeted and are now considered the most endangered whales in the world. Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) were also hunted to near extinction for their spermaceti oil and this biological resource was used for common household items such as oil lamp fuel, candles and pharmaceuticals. Overall, it is hypothesized that 90% of the initial great whale population was killed. Four mechanisms are key in illustrating whale’s contribution to the ecosystem. Eat or be eaten?

Whales contribute directly to the food web through their roles as predators and prey. They play a vital role in food chain dynamics and with the reduction of this apex predator, other species populations have either grown or have been reduced over time. Whales also serve as prey to other cetaceans. An example of this is the relationship between the orca (Orcinus orca) and gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus). Gray whales serve as prey for orcas and after gray whale populations were reduced by whaling, two things happened: 1) without this major food source, orca populations decreased and 2) orca prey type changed as they began to eat smaller marine mammals like pinnipeds (harbor seals, Stellar sea lions and sea otters). When a whale falls in the ocean… Similarly to a tree falling in a forest, a whale “falling” to the ocean floor has similar impacts. When whales die, their bodies sink to the bottom of the sea and serve as rich reservoirs for deep sea organisms. The carcass provides a carbon laden ecosystem. Whale falls are homes to detritus consumers such as microorganisms and tube worms but also provides a feeding ground for sharks. Because of the huge size of a whale’s body, this food resource is available for decades providing for more than 200 different macro fauna species. Researchers believe that due to the impacts of whaling, more species will go extinct with fewer whale falls because there will no longer be that the resource able to provide a location for colonization and an environment secluded from competition. The “Whale Pump” Whales contribute large amounts of nutrients to the ocean creating highly productive hotspots. This phenomenon of nutrient transfer has been termed the “whale pump.” Nitrogen is key to plankton production and is many times a limiting environmental factor but in whale fecal matter and urea there is a high concentration of nitrogen. Iron is deposited in the ocean through sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) fecal plumes. The horizontal dissemination of fecal matter from gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) is called the “Gray Whale Conveyer Belt” and describes the trail of feces that follows the whale’s migratory pattern, the longest annual migrations of any whales in the world. Being Physical Physical components of the ocean are also impacted by whale diving and feeding behaviors that disturb many layers of the water column. Humpback whales use a feeding technique called “bubble net feeding” to disorient 16|

Seawords

eers?

prey and eventually consume the fish. Gray whales also feed using a method called “benthic plowing” which stirs up the sediment and promotes nutrient generation, while also changing the topography of the ocean floor. The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 has prohibited whaling in the U.S. and other countries worldwide have implemented strategies for reducing whaling. NOAA scientists who study whale populations are seeing an increase in some great whale species such as sperm whale and the hope is that these populations will continue to rise because an increase in whales will only better the health of the ocean. 

Taylor Shedd

NOVEMBER 2014

|17

fflll

So you want a MOP certificate? Now that the Fall semester is approaching an end, it is time to start selecting classes for Spring semester. Here, readers can find everything they need to know to start of continue working on their MOP certificate.

What is the Marine Option Program (MOP)? The Marine Option Program is a marine certificate, activities, and resource program in the University of Hawai‘i System. The program is designed to combine academic requirements with practical hands-on experience in different areas of marine interests. Who is MOP for? MOP is for all majors! Through MOP you can obtain a marine orientation to your own major while earning an official UH Certificate that is registered on your transcript. MOP is open to any student who is enrolled at one of the ten UH System campuses. While MOP focuses on undergraduates it can also aid unclassified graduate students. We have Campus Coordinators at nine UH campuses (Manoa, Hilo, Honolulu CC, Kaua‘i CC, Leeward CC, Maui College, West O‘ahu CC, Kapiolani CC, and Windward CC) as well as a sister program at American Samoa CC. Students at UH campuses which don’t have a MOP Coordinator can enroll in MOP at any other campus.

18|

Seawords

Why choose MOP? In addition to the certificate component, the Marine Option Program can open doors to a wide range of ocean activities and discoveries. If you enjoy the ocean, like to participate in ocean sports or water activities, appreciate marine art and underwater photography or just have a curiousity about the ocean, the Marine Option Program can help you explore these interests and provide a venue to share your findings and experiences with other students, faculty, and the professional marine community. What are the requirements? In order to achieve a MOP certificate students must conduct a skill project and complete twelve credits of marine related classes. What courses can I take? There are many courses you can take to get a MOP certificate, but you can not double-dip. That is to say a credit that counts towards your major cannot count towards your MOP certificate. You can find a list of currently available courses to the right. Keep in mind that this list may change from semester to semester as some courses are only available

sizes exp ciplinary education, the opportunity to apply tra to the real world while y marine skills through a ship, research project, o skill projects have inclu shark lab at the Hawai‘i Biology (HIMB), worki Waikiki Aquarium, and coastal radars in order t rents. For more in-dept you can visit http://issu look at the September 2 recent list of student pr

In order to complete th dent must first take the (IS 100/BIO 104) which and is only offered in th class students will learn posals and hear several The next step is to enro Study Course for your project. In order to do so a project proposal must be submitted and approved by MOP. 

in the Fall or Spring. How can I complete the skill project?

The skill project is the heart of the MOP Certificate. Because MOP emphaperiential, cross-dise skill project is an aditional coursework you obtain practical a “hands-on” internor employment. Past uded working at the i Institute of Marine ing as an intern at the d helping to install to monitor ocean curth examples of projects uu.com/seawords and 2014 issue for our most rojects.

he skill project a stuMOP Seminar Course h is worth one credit he Fall. During this n to write research proguest speakers talk. oll in an Independent

Available courses Spring 2015: In order to complete the MOP certificate, Students must take one Introductory Ocean Survey Course and at least nine credits of 300-Level or higher courses.

Introductory Ocean Survey Courses: HWST 282 Hookele II: Hawaiian Navigation OCN 201 Science of the Sea ORE 202 Ocean Technology- Man and the Sea ZOOL 200 Marine Biology and Lab

Change GG 420 Beaches, Reefs, Climate Change GG 455 Hydrogeology HIST 482 Pacific Islands II (20/21st Century) HWST 352 Mahi‘ai Kalo II Advanced Taro HWST 353 Mālama Loko I‘a MET 310 Global Environmental Change (cross-listed as OCN 310) MICR 410/L Marine Microbiology and Lab NREM 301 Natural Resource Management**

300-Level or higher classes: ANSC 465L Aquaculture Production Lab BIOL 301/L Marine Ecology and Evolution and Lab BIOL 360 Island Ecosystems BIOL 404 Advanced Topics in Marine Biology

OCN 310 Global Environmental Change (cross-listed as MET 310) OCN 320 Aquatic Pollution OCN 363 Earth System Science Database (Restriction: Major) OCN 457 Coastal Ecosystem Ecology* ZOOL 410 Corals & Coral Reef Ecology

BOT 450 Natural History of the Hawaiian Islands

ZOOL 450 Natural History of the Hawaiian Islands

BOT 480 Algal Diversity and Evolution

ZOOL 465/L Systematic Ichthyology and Lab

ES 320 Ethnic Studies: Hawai‘i and the Pacific ES 393 Ethnic Studies: Change in the Pacific- Polynesia GEOG 302 Global Environmental Issues GEOG 401 Climate Change

*Current professor encourages students to consider this course whether or not they have met the pre-requisites. **Student needs to check with professor prior to taking the class if it is 50% marine related content.

GEOG 410 Human Role in Environmental NOVEMBER 2014

|19

Critter of the Month: 20|

Seawords

Photo credit: Corey Mutnik, UHM MOP

Spotted eagle ray Scientific Name: Aetobatus narinari A spotted eagle ray can be identified by its dark dorsal surface covered in white spots or rings as well as several venomous, barbed stingers located just behind the pelvic fins. Posing no significant threat to humans, the spotted eagle ray is a shy creature that generally avoids human contact. A tropical species, the spotted eagle ray can be seen at depths to 80 meters in the Gulf of Mexico, the Indian Ocean, off both coasts of the Americas, and Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i. This photo was taken in Hanauma Bay.

CALL TO ACTION Please check nearby coral reefs and report any signs of bleaching. Make an online report: www.eorhawaii.org Send photos to: rrcpcoordinator@gmail.com Bleached coral (on right) next to normal coral (leŌ) at Lanikai, O‘ahu on 9/23/2014 Photo credit: C. Hunter

MulƟple reports of coral bleaching have recently been received through the Eyes of the Reef Network. ‘Bleaching’ is a coral stress response, in this case likely due to high temperatures. It describes the loss of color from coral Ɵssue, which makes the coral appear white. Corals can recover from bleaching i temperatures return to a normal range. The peak bleaching season for the Pacific is July-- September.

More examples of coral bleaching:

Photo credit: J. Kenyon Photo credit: G. Aeby

Want to know more about the EOR Network or coral bleaching? www.oerhawaii.org www.facebook.com/eyesoŌhereef Flyer created by and used with permission from: Eyes of the Reef NOVEMBER 2014

|21

Questions about

QUEST

Katherine “Kiwi” Cyr

Q: Why did you come back to QUEST?

A: Mainly because I had such an amazing time last year- I really loved the experience of learning these new diving techniques and meeting new people I could connect with in different ways but also 2nd year quest focuses more on leadership and I eventually want to work in some type of marine education in a teaching role and learning leadership in this type of setting is one of the best ways I can gain experience. Q: What kind of advice would you give to future QUESTers?

A: Expect to work hard and expect to be stressed. But everything is worth it because we end up learning an amazing amount of skills. You learn about yourself and about other people. Be ready for almost anything and know you’re probably going to be stretched to your limits but again it will all be worth it. Q: What part of being a team leader do you like best? A: I like seeing my team grow- both individually and as a team. I really have enjoyed helping them become better divers and watching them become better divers and I like seeing them working together as a team and figuring out what works and what doesn’t work and helping facilitate that process Q: Why would you encourage someone else to come back to QUEST? A: To gain leadership experience that you wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else. It’s kind of one of a kind situation that you’re in. You really learn a lot about yourself being a QUEST leader. It’s a really amazingly great and rewarding challenge and it’s fun and you get to dive and work around a lot of amazing people. 

22|

Seawords

Julia Stewart Q: Why did you come back to QUEST? A: It’s a really amazing learning experience and a great opportunity professionally. Not just to network but also to learn to be a great scientific diver. Q: What part of being a team leader do you like best? A: I love when my team has a great dive. When they feel good about a dive, when they feel good about their buoyancy, when we get back with a smile on our faces. Q: What kind of advice would you give to future QUESTers? A: I think the schedule intensity is something people don’t realize, and how demanding the schedule is and how demanding the activities are. It’s pretty much going all about from 7 in the morning to 10 at night. Q: Why would you encourage someone else to come back to QUEST? A: I think anyone who wants to lead scientific-diving should come back as a MARE 364 student. Anyone who wants to become a better diver and professional because being a ream leader gives you different perspectives on diving and you have to embody your diving skills. 

Team leaders Julia Stewart, UH Hilo student and Kiwi Cyr, UH Mānoa student. (Kuwabara/UHM MOP) NOVEMBER 2014

|23

Calendar of Events at UH Sea Grant’s Hanauma Bay Education Program Marine Science in East O‘ahu ***Presentations take place in the theater of the Hanauma Bay Education Center, beginning at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday evening. Events are free and open to the public with no charge for parking after 5:30pm***

November Events Science moving forward “UH Sea Grant Graduate Students”

NOVEMBER 2, 2014 “Oahu’s research buoys have the longest record measuring water quality and CO2 chemistry” Gerianne Terlouw, Chemical Oceanography “Coral reef resilience under human impacts” Chris Jury, Biological oceanography “Humpback whale sounds: how to study them and what do they tell us?” Jessica Chen, Zoology with marine biology specialization NOVEMBER 9, 2014 Modeling Groundwater Inundation Due to Future Sea Level Rise in Honolulu Hawaii Shellie Habel, Geology and Geophysics “Exercising under climate change: How will the combination of high temperature, low oxygen, and high CO2 impact the peak exercise performance of marine fishes” Gen Del Raye, Biological Oceanography “Big Bucks for Bivalves? Producing and Selling Hawai`i-Grown Oysters” Jessie Qay Chen, Environmental Policy & Economics NOVEMBER 16, 2014 “Going with the flow? Larval connectivity in Hawaii” Johanna Wren, Biological Oceanography “Reservoirs and Vectors of Montipora White Syndrome: A Hunt for Coral Pathogens” Amanda Shore-Maggio, Microbiology PhD “Coral Disease Influence on Coral Species Composition Change in the Pacific” Alessandra Shea, Geography NOVEMBER 23, 2014 “Understanding Maui’s Groundwater Discharge to the Ocean” Joseph Kennedy, M.S. in Geology & Geophysics “Are algae taking over Maunalua Bay’s coral reefs?” Florybeth La Valle, Marine Biology

24|

Seawords

November Events cont. Science moving forward “UH Sea Grant Graduate Students”

“Tilapia: Don’t let their plain exterior fool you, they are cool!” Keano Pavlosky, Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering (MBBE) NOVEMBER 30, 2014 “Examining groundwater’s influence on nutrient uptake in a nearshore coastal environment: Maunalua Bay, Oahu, Hawai‘i” Christina Richardson, Geology and Geophysics “Forecasting climate change impacts on coastal ecosystem services in Hawaii through integration of ecological and social participatory models” Hla Htun, Natural Resources and Environmental Management “Acid/Base Oceans: Impacts of Chemical Changes Over Geologic Time” Bobby Thompson, OceanographyKeano Pavlosky, Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering (MBBE) For more information or questions please contact: Hanauma Bay Education Program 100 Hanauma Bay Rd. Honolulu, HI 96825 Phone: (808) 397-5840 Email: hanauma@hawaii.edu http://hbep.seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/

FLASHBACK: 1998 In Generation Blue each month we give tips on how to live more “green,” ocean-friendly lives. But sometimes the answer is simple-next time you go to the beach, follow the example put forth in this issue of Seawords from September 1998 and leave the beach cleaner than you found it. NOVEMBER 2014

|25

Wanna sea something cool? By Rachel Shackne, UHM MOP Student

ow do you endure the destructive weather events of Hawai‘i? A quick pre-hurricane Costco run for the necessities? Calling your family to reassure them you’re not going to paddle out and surf the incoming tsunami? Natural weather events like the one we previously experienced, Hurricane Ana, show us that we humans can endure what Mother Nature throws at us with preparation and resilience. But in cases of the marine world, hurricanes and natural weather events can take a much bigger toll on the ecosystem. Hurricanes have been known to result in tremendous numbers of dead fish, crabs, sea turtles, etc. due to reduced amounts of dissolved oxygen in the water, rapid salinity changes, and violent surf. In exploring the rubble along Sunset Beach, I stumbled upon this crab specimen, Percnon planissimum, commonly known as the flat rock crab. 

26|

Seawords

November

MOP & Community Events

Sun.

Mon.

Tues.

Wed.

Thurs. Fri.

Sat.

Coming up next month: Tour of Hyperbaric Treatment Center Kuakini Medical Center 1 - 5 pm

Thanksgiving Break No school.

Election Day No school.

11 Veteran’s Day No school.

Hawai‘i Aquaculture Tour UH Aquaculture Lab TBA

Tour of NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette Ford Island 2 - 7 pm

30 NOVEMBER 2014

|27

University of Hawai`i at Mﾄ］oa 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!