September 2018 Seawords by Marine Option Program

Seaw rds The Marine Option Program Newsletter

September 2018

“The large influx of microfibers into our 4 oceans is coming directly from the clothes in our washing machines.”

THE CORA BALL TO COMBAT MICROFIBERS IN OUR OCEANS “EMBRACING THE MAN O’ WAR” FLASHBACK: 1986

September 2018 Volume XXXII, Number 7

Articles Page 3: Letter from the Editor Page 4: The Cora Ball to Combat Microfibers in our Oceans Page 6: Ocean Art Page 8: Shipwreck of the Month Page 10: Marine Mammal of the Month Page 12: Ocean Updates Page 14: Generation Blue Page 16: Hanauma Bay: September Calendar of Events Page 17: Flashback: 1986 Page 18: MOP Calendar of Events

About the Photography -Cover: Andrew Redding, Flickr -Table of Contents: Alan Graf, Flickr -September Calendar of Events: George “Slobirdr” Smith, Flickr. -Back cover: Marcel Huisman, Flickr. -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

loha!

Welcome to the September issue of Seawords! We have officially entered into a new school year! Want to make some changes this year to greatly benefit the environment? Kelsey Loenhorst, UHM MOP student, tells us about the Cora Ball - a new invention that is quickly becoming the environment’s best friend! Read all about it on page 4! Need a little update on what is going on in our vast oceans? Flip to page 12 and discover whale-dolphin hybrids, brand new technology and beautiful art made from the ocean’s ugly pollutant - plastic. Kayla White, UHM MOP student, provides easy-to-follow steps to ditch plastic on page 14! Make sure to read up on the featured marine mammal and Hawaiian critter, too! Don’t forget! We are always looking for writers and artists to join our team! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to brag to your friends that your writing has been published or that your poem or art piece was featured in a magazine! We welcome all students from any degree or background! What would you like to see more of in Seawords? Send us your thoughts! Mahalo for reading,

Seawords

Jenny Johnson, Seawords Editor

Volume XXXII, Number 7, September 2018 Editor: Jenny Johnson Camra Hopper (éminence grise) 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.

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The Cora Ball to Combat Microfibers in our Oceans By: Kelsey Loenhorst, UHM MOP Student

Cora Ball. Credit: All3DP. 4|â&#x20AC;&#x192;Seawords

nfortunately it is common to hear news of single use plastics accumulating on coastlines and harming marine life. Plastics such as straws, plastics bags and single use cutlery are a problem -but have you ever considered that your laundry machine might be contributing to marine pollution as well? Microfibers are defined as a synthetic fiber finer than one denier, having a diameter of less than ten micrometers. This is smaller than the diameter of a strand of silk. These microfibers are extremely small and extremely abundant in our oceans. Synthetic microfibers are particularly dangerous because they have the potential to be swallowed by fish and other marine life. Studies have shown health problems among plankton and other small organisms that eat microfibers, which then make their way up the food chain and ultimately end up on our plates. So how do our laundry machines come into play? The large influx of microfibers into our oceans is coming directly from the clothes in our washing machines. Researchers at the University of California at Santa Barbara found that, on average, synthetic fleece jackets release 1.7 grams of microfibers each wash. They also found that older jackets shed almost twice as many fibers as new jackets. Therefore, every time you run your washing machine, hundreds of thousands of microfibers are being rinsed down the drain. The Cora Ball is an extremely easy-to-use laundry product that is combatting this pollution. The Cora Ball is a plastic reusable ball the size of your palm that you simply toss into your wash load; this nearly effortless act catches up to 35 percent of microfibers per load! Inspired by the way corals filter the ocean, the Cora Ball collects microfibers into fuzz we can see, so we can dispose of them in the right way. Cora Balls last for years, are affordable and are making a huge impact. According to Cora Ball researchers, if 10% of US households use a Cora Ball, we can prevent the plastic equivalent of over 30 million water bottles from washing into our public waterways every year. That is enough water bottles to reach from New York City to London. You can also prevent microfibers from entering our oceans by buying less clothing or purchasing secondhand clothing. Less consumption, less waste! These are just a few simple actions that can make a huge impact for our oceans. n

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ocean art Portugese Man O’ War (Physalia physalis). Photo by: Francis Mariani, Flickr.

Embraced by the Man O’ War By: Taira Shibata, KCC Student

Taira’s poem was chosen from a collection of poems submitted to us by Eric Paul Shaffer, an HCC English Professor, and written by his English 201: Creative Writing class. 6| Seawords

On a very sunny day at Nānākuli beach, my friends and I went for a swim. The clear blue water reflected the sun. The sky had no clouds. The wind was calm. The sand was soft. As I stepped out of the water the snorkelers next to my friends warned us that Man O’ Wars were slowly coming to shore. I stepped onto the dry hot sand, I felt pain, an itch, a sting. I looked at my long braid to my right and found a Man O’ War in my hair with the venomous tentacles wrapped around my stomach. I didn’t know what to do. I had never been stung by a Man O’ War. I yelled for my friends in the water. One of them ran out, grabbed a stick to unravel the tentacles from my body. We headed straight to the lifeguard a quarter mile away. The hot dry sand burned my feet. The shores were covered with washed up Man O’ Wars. I couldn’t walk so my friend carried me. The lifeguard sprayed me with vinegar. I was in pain, itchy, and I smelt like a salad. We drove home with all the windows down since my scent was so strong. I left with no scars from the Man O’ War. But, I have never worn my hair in a braid to the beach since. n

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Shipwreck of the Month: Dmitrii Donskoi By: Kelsey Loenhorst, UHM MOP Student

he Dmitrii Donskoi was an Imperial Russian Navy armored cruiser, part of Russia’s Pacific Fleet. Built in St. Petersburg and launched in 1883, the 306-foot-long Donskoi was steam powered and driven by coal-burning boilers. In 1904, Japan attacked Russian holdings in the Far East and the Donskoi evaded enemy contact, acting as a commerce raider. In May 1905 the Donskoi took part in the

famous Battle of Tsushima, which was a decisive victory for Japan. After the battle the damaged cruiser fled north, pursued by Japanese ships. A day after the battle the ship’s commanding officer, Captain First Rank Ivan Lebedev, scuttled her off the coast of Ulleung and evacuated his crew to the island. Now, 113 years later, a South Korean company, Shinil Group, claims that it has discovered the wreck of the

Dmitrii Donskoi. US Public Domain, Wikipedia. 8| Seawords

Dmitrii Donskoi (1880 - 1905). Russian Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons. Dmitrii Donskoi off the coast of South Korea. Shinil also claims that the ship contains $130 billion in gold “treasure” on board. Photos and video of the wreck, including a section that appeared to show the ship’s name, accompanied the release. Shinil group has not uncovered the treasure yet but is confidently claiming its existence, “We believe there are gold boxes, and it’s historically proven,” company spokesman Park Sung-jin told Reuters. “The boxes were very tightly lashed, indicating there are really precious stuff inside.”

able cargo by sea with war with Japan looming on the horizon.

To add to the confusion of Shinil’s claim, a newly launched website described a “Donskoi International” crypto currency exchange as linked to the find. The website said it would “share profits” from the Russian wreck with the public by handing out its virtual currency to anyone who signed up to use the exchange. It promised additional coins to those who helped sign up others. South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Services However, the government-run Korea Institute of Ocean warned the public about investing in websites such as Science and Technology (KIOST) hotly disputed this this without validating the “treasure.” discovery by Shinil group. KIOST explained that they It’s unclear whether Shinil will receive government aphad discovered the same wreck in 2003. Their website proval of its salvage plans. Local laws aimed at preservprovided photos dated from 2007 of was said to be the ing national territory and property require the company wreck, along with maps of its general location. KIOST to deposit 10 percent of the estimated value of the shipand other academics also disputed the claim that the wreck before starting its salvage works. Only time will wreck contains $130 billion in gold, explaining there tell if the treasure actually exists in the Dmitrii Donskoi. would have been no point in risking transporting valun SEPTEMBER 2018 |9

By: Jeremy Gasta, UHM MOP Student

Common Minke Whale Marine Mammal of the Month:

Common Minke Whale

Species: Common Minke Whale Scientific Name: Balaenoptera acutorostrata Range: Oceans worldwide, though prefers cooler waters Diet: Krill, small fish and other animals Size: 23-30 feet

orqual whales are a group of cetaceans that include many of the largest whales alive, including the fin (Balaenoptera physalus), sei (Balaenoptera borealis) and the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), the latter of which is the largest animal that has ever existed on our planet. Ironically, this group also contains one of the smallest of the baleen whales, the minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata).

of up to 30 feet, but is usually between 23-26 feet. Until 2000, Balaenoptera acutorostrata was thought to be only one species of minke whale. However, now at least two species are recognized, the better known common, or Northern, minke, and the Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis). Researchers are currently wondering if a population of dwarf common minkes, off the east coast of Australia, should be considered a third species, or at least a subspecies.

Of course, that’s not to say the minke whale is especially small. It still outweighs many of the Minke whales are quite toothed whales and common worldwide, with dolphins, and reaching the common and Antarcweights of nearly nine tic species most poputons doesn’t exactly make lous in the Northern and it a lightweight. HowSouthern hemispheres, ever, among the giants respectively. Most popuof the sea, the common lations seasonally migrate minke whale is definitely Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Photo by: Wade from the cooler polar waon the small side among Lehmann, Flickr. ters to the tropics in the baleen (filter-feeding) summer, but small differwhales, and only the pygmy right whale (Caperea marentiations in their timing helps keep mixing between ginata) is smaller. The common minke reaches lengths the two species at a minimum. Despite this, there have 10| Seawords

Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) breaching. Photo by: Tom Benson, Flickr. been a handful of hybrids between common and Antarctic minke whales verified. Due to being smaller than their great cousins, minke whales were initially ignored as whaling targets as they would yield a smaller amount of resources such as oil and meat. However, as larger whale populations began depleting during the heyday of commercial whaling, minke whales were targeted more often. However, their numbers have remained strong, especially following the worldwide commercial whaling moratorium, and they are classified as â&#x20AC;&#x153;least concernâ&#x20AC;? by the IUCN. Like most cetaceans, however, they still face existential threats by human interferences such as nets and pollution. Besides manmade threats, the largest danger to minke whales are killer whales, or orcas (Orcinus orca). These large dolphins have been known to team up and take down whales much larger than them, meaning that smaller minkes face a very real predation threat from them. In some studies, 84% of stomachs of transient orcas have been found to have minke remains. However,

like their cousin the much larger sei whale, minkes have been blessed with a streamlined form and the ability to move fast through the water. Their main defense against orcas, or any predators, is to flee, and so the escape rate is high. Scientists have witnessed orca/minke chases go on for as long as an hour. The minke is also very agile and graceful, known to perform acrobatics through the water and full-body breaches of a kind that are usually only reserved for smaller cetaceans such as dolphins. Unlike more gregarious cetaceans, the common minke is not extremely social. They seem to prefer a solitary lifestyle, and are mostly witnessed alone or in groups no larger than four. However, where prey such as krill is abundant and there is no need for competition, the creatures can gather in much larger numbers. Common minkes live active lifestyles compared to other rorquals; they are very inquisitive and have been known to follow boats for up to half an hour. n

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cean updates

By: Kayla Palmer, UHM MOP Student

“IF WE KEEP PRODUCING (AND FAILING TO PROPERLY DISPOSE OF) PLASTICS AT PREDICTED RATES, PLASTICS IN THE OCEAN WILL OUTWEIGH FISH POUND FOR POUND IN 2050,” WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM.

Artist turns plastic trash into sea life sculptures

her associates have now picked up more than 21 tons of trash from the beaches of Oregon and she currently has In a New Orleans aquarium stands a sculpture of a 70 art pieces in three different exhibitions, including Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) composed New Orleans. Along with the display of the shark and of bottle caps and beach toys; near the shark is a jeljellyfish is a powerful walkthrough of a whale’s rib cage lyfish (Medusozoa) made up of cut water bottles. After made out of bucket lids, bottles and buoys. Next to each sculpture is a sign that proposes simple actions that can be done to reduce the large scale of pollution. Some examples are refusing plastic water bottles or straws and picking up fallen trash. A sign for a great white shark art piece states, “Every piece of trash picked up and properly disposed of is a piece that will not cause harm to local environments and animals.”

This dolphin hybrid is no ‘wholphin’

In August 2017 a hybrid between a melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra) and rough toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis) was spotted near Kauai, only the third known instance of a wild born hybrid in the Angela Halestine Pozzi’s sculpture. Photo by: Damon Higgins, The Palm Delphinidae family. Beach Post. According to scientists the hybrid seeing Oregon’s coast consumed by plastic, artist An- should not be labeled as gela Haseltine Pozzi began focusing on creating art that a ‘wholphin’ since that is awakens her audience to the crisis of ocean pollution. the given name to a previous hybrid between a false “I’d known its beaches all my life,” she said. “I went to killer whale (Pseudorca the ocean to heal and found that the ocean needed healcrassidens) and an Atlantic ing,” says Pozzi. bottlenose dolphin (TurIn 2010 Pozzi started a nonprofit called Washed Ashore siops) born in 1985 in Sea with a vision to save the sea with her art work. Pozzi and Life Park. Melon-headed whales (Peponoce Morse, NOAA/NM 12| Seawords

Scientists believe that the creation of the hybrid spotted in 2017 occurred when a melon-headed whale got separated from their group and began traveling with rough toothed dolphins. Researchers will be looking out for a decline in the population of the parental species which is often an indicator of a higher rate of hybridization. Unless widespread and continued hybridization occurs between the melon-headed whale and rough toothed dolphin, the hybrid will not be considered as a new species.

Ocean Gliders go deep to help improve hurricane forecasts In order to increase accuracy in hurricane forecasting, NOAA and the U.S. Navy have come together to deploy ocean gliders in the Caribbean and AtRough toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis). Photo by: Captain Smurf, Flickr. lantic Ocean. Torpedo shaped, remotely operated gliders dive a half mile depth ocean, it’s critical to take the ocean’s temperature and from the surface several times a day to transmit data by satellite to the Global Telecommunica- measure how salty it is. Not just at the surface, which tion Center used by NOAA’s National Weather Service. we measure with satellites, but down into deeper layers of ocean waters,” says Gustavo Goni an oceanographer The data collected from the glider show lower concen- from NOAA leading in glider research. n trations of salt in sea surface water, which may form a warm cap preventing cool water from upwelling and ultimately increasing the strength of hurricanes. Scientists also use data from the glider to estimate the likelihood of a weak hurricane, which is usually caused by the mixing of surface water and cool water below the surface. The collected data will be posted on U.S. IOOS Glider Data Assembly Center.

ephala electra). Photo by: Laura MFS/PIFSC, Flickr.

“If you want to improve prediction of how hurricanes gain strength or weaken as they travel over the

Ocean Glider. Photo by: NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Flickr.

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Actions for the Ocean

GENERATION

BLUE By: Kayla White, UHM MOP Student

ust within the last few months in the United States, almost everywhere we look we see an ad about threats from plastic drinking straws. Companies around the country like Starbucks and Walt Disney Company have started taking steps to be eco-friendlier by eliminating straws. Straws are “the big whoop” right now because it’s a single-use plastic that many people forget to recycle, but they’re far from our biggest problem when it comes to marine pollution. Eliminating straws is an easy way for anyone, no matter how much of an environmentalist they are, to be more “ocean-minded.”. This gives most people an easy route to reduce waste. This is a great movement that can reduce up to 175 million straws a day, but we have to make sure we don’t lose sight of the big picture. When saying no to a straw, we still walk out of places with a plastic cup, plastic lid and individually wrapped food in a plastic container. However, many environmentalists believe straws will be a “gateway plastic” to making greater changes in the upcoming years. Dune Ives, the Executive Director of Lonely Whale, the organization that led the straw ban in Seattle says, “Our straw campaign is not really about straws. It’s about pointing out how to prevent single-use plastics in our lives, putting up a mirror to hold us accountable. We’ve all been asleep at the wheel.” n

Clownfish (Amphiprion percula). Photo by: Guille, Flickr. 14| Seawords

THE OCEAN SPANS OVER 70 PERCENT OF OUR WORLD. It is responsible for regulating temperature, food production, sustaining numerous species, and is a source for inspiration for many people.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.

Find a straw alternative Many people see the videos or pictures of animals being strangled or choked by plastic and straws which have urged them to take action. Marine life is killed by plastic partially for this reason, but the larger reason lies within the composition of plastic itself. Toxic chemicals, like bisphenol-A (BPA), are released when it is broken down. BPA mimics estrogen and can mess with hormones and it can be carcinogenic. By switching to alternative straws made of glass, paper or metal, we are not only preventing the choking of marine animals by straws -we are preventing the slow chemical breakdown of plastic in the ocean.

Bring your own cups, bottles and bags The Ocean Conservancy’s 2017 Coastal Cleanup Report compiled data from beach cleanups from around the world and found the item most found on beaches was cigarette butts. Following were plastic bottles, bottle caps, wrappers and bags. Straws don’t appear until seventh on the list which means they only make up about 3 percent of the trash found on beaches and only .03 percent of total plastic waste worldwide. In order to take bigger steps towards being more “ocean-minded” we need to do more than just saying no to a straw. Bringing your own water bottle or mug to a coffee shop and bringing your own bags to the grocery store can help reduce more waste than just saying no to a straw.

Take a look in the mirror Each person is in a different situation with their plastic use and ability to make a change. For some it is easier than others for many reasons. Spend one day and be conscious of what you use that’s plastic. Is there something that could be easy to replace? For each person this can be different but by taking small steps, everyone can help contribute to cleaner oceans. Join others who have decided to stop “sucking” straws and see what other ways you can make a difference!

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SEPTEMBER 2018 NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Division

6 September

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Six decades of coral bleaching on a central Pacific Reef (Jarvis Island) • Hannah Barkley • Ocean and Climate Change Team

13 September

Thermal stress on coral reefs across the Pacific Islands • Roberto Venegas • Ocean and Climate Change Team

Can’t make it to Hanauma Bay?

Watch seminars live on YouTube, at Hanauma Talks Questions? Call #397-5840 or email hbaynews@hawaii.edu

20 September

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Patterns of reef fishes across depths and habitats • Jake Asher • Fish Ecology and Monitoring Team

27 September

Cryptofauna diversity in the tropical Pacific • Molly Timmers • Ocean and Climate Change Team

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT HANAUMA BAY SEMINARS: Science Talks or Educational Films

Thursday evenings at Hanauma Bay 6:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.

Admission is free - Parking free after 4 P.M. Watch Seminars LIVE on YouTube at Hanauma Talks

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FLASHBACK: 1986 By: Jenny Johnson, Editor

his flashback travels to the year 1986 when students were working hard at the Hawai‘i Transecting Workshop (HTW). The Kona coast provided students with the ultimate hands-on experience and training. Students were also given the opportunity to better their scientific research skills by learning how to properly define and analyze what they found in the salty sea.

When students and instructors were not on a boat or in the ocean, they found themselves at Hawai‘i Preparatory School (HPA) where lodging, lectures and a lab room could be found. Divemaster Geoff Saint and 34 others were housed in one building from May 26 to June 4. The long, but memorable and important days stretched from about 7a.m. to 10p.m. n

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September Photo credit: George “Slobirdr” Smith, Flickr

Sun.

Mon.

Tues.

Wed.

MOP Back to School BBQ Bellows Beach 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

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

Next month: October October 1: QUEST ID Exam October 6: Hawai‘i Undersea Research Lab October 21: Hike to Makapu‘u Tidepools

Labor Day No School

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

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

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

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

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

MOP & Community Events

Thurs.

Fri.

Sat. 1

Theater Thursday: Hanauma Bay 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

D Classes

0 p.m.

ID Classes

0 p.m.

ID Classes

0 p.m.

Theater Thursday: Hanauma Bay 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Tour of HIMB on Coconut Island Lilipuna Pier 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Theater Thursday: Hanauma Bay 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

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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!