Summer 2018 Seawords by Marine Option Program

Seaw rds The Marine Option Program Newsletter

Summer 2018

are an immediate threat to 18 “Microplastics marine life yet the amount of them entering our oceans is growing substantially.”

MOP GRADUATION: SPRING 2018 “YOU’RE GOING TO DIVE, WHERE!?” A DIVER’S ULTIMATE TRAVEL GUIDE KILAUEA IS STILL ERUPTING

Summer 2018 Articles

Page 3: Letter from the Editor

Volume XXXII, Number 6

Page 4: MOPers Hike to Ka‘ena Point Page 6: MOP Graduation: Spring 2018 Page 8: “You’re Going to Dive, Where!?” A Diver’s Ultimate Travel Guide Page 13: Critter of the Summer Page 14: Ocean Art Page 16: Hanauma Bay: July Calendar of Events Page 17: Kilauea is Still Erupting Page 18: Small but Mighty Threat; Microplastics Page 19: July Surf Report Page 20: Shipwreck of the Summer Page 21: How does bleached coral affect the marine life? Page 22: UH Mānoa Updates Page 24: Marine Mammal of the Summer Page 26: Ocean Updates Page 28: Generation Blue Page 30: Hanauma Bay: August Calendar of Events Page 31: Flashback: 1988 Page 32: Big Island Surf Page 34: MOP Calendar of Events

About the Photography -Cover: Howard Ignatius, Flickr -Table of Contents: Dhilung Kirat, Flickr -July Calendar of Events: Floyd Manzano, Flickr. -Back cover: Angela Sevin, Flickr. -Dive Safety Page 10 and 11: Dennis Jarvis, Flickr. -Dive Safety Page 12: Derek Keats, 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. 2| Seawords

Letter from the Editor

loha!

Welcome to this very special Summer 2018 issue of Seawords! Summer is the perfect time to travel! Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Alumnus, is here to help you with your travel plans! Check out his useful travel guide for divers on page 8 to ensure you will get the most out of your trip! Want to learn more about the Kilauea eruption? Flip to page 17 to find out the facts about the eruption in UHM MOP student, Kayla White’s article - and don’t forget to send warm thoughts to the ohana’s on Big Island. Don’t miss your opportunity to become more knowledgeable about the severity of microplastics in our oceans. Read all about these tiny plastics in UHM MOP student, Kelsey Loenhorst’s article on page 18. Curious about out how UH Mānoa is helping our oceans and marine life? Kayla Palmer, UHM MOP student, has you covered on page 22 with her UH Mānoa updates article! 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 submissions from all students from any degree or background! What would you like to see more of in Seawords? Send us your thoughts!

Seawords

Jenny Johnson, Seawords Editor

Volume XXXII, Number 6, Summer 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.

SUMMER 2018 |3

MOPers Hike to Ka‘ena Point By: Jenny Johnson, Editor

Ka‘ena Point Natural Reserve Area. Photo by: Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator.

OP students had quite the adventure on the field trip to Ka‘ena point. The hike was nothing short of magical, as students saw Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi), humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris), Laysan albatrosses (Phoebastria immutabilis) and an incredible amount of indigenous plant species. Not only is Ka‘ena Point an extraordinary trail for seeing Hawai‘i’s animals

Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis). Photo by: Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator. 4| Seawords

in their natural habitat, experiencing the crashing waves against rigid rocks and being able to run your hands against the many layers of hardened lava that had once flowed like melting ice cream, but it is also something more. Ka‘ena Point was a leaping place for ancient Hawaiian spirits to enter the spiritual realm. Upon learning this, I was honored to experience this extraordinary place! MOPers were extremely lucky to have Dr. Mark Merlin join on the field trip to share his wisdom and knowledge on many subjects, but mainly the abundance of plant species that are all along the trail. One of the first indigenous plants Dr. Merlin pointed out was the Pa‘u o Hi‘iaka (Jacquemontia sandwicensis) or the “skirt of Hi‘iaka.” This plant is light green with violet and white flowers and was beautifully draped over the rocks like a blanket or a “skirt.” According to Dr. Merlin, Hi‘iaka is the younger sister of the fire god Pele. Hi‘iaka was laying on the beach and fell asleep while Pele was surfing. To protect Hi‘iaka from getting burnt from the sun, the plant grew over her and looked like a skirt, becoming known as the “skirt of Hi‘iaka.” Another interesting find by Dr. Merlin was the shrubby version of sandalwood (Santalum ellipticum). It was thought to be extinct until this version was discovered! Dr. Mer-

lin informed us that the plant is hemiparasitic, meaning that S. ellipticum derives some of its nutrients from a host and photosynthesis. The endemic ‘Ohai (Sesbania tomentosa) is a shrubby plant that reflects sun and is unique to the Hawaiian Islands. It is endangered but the shrubby, green plant thrives in Ka‘ena Point Natural Area Reserve.

The trail was a bit muddy but that didn’t stop MOPers from utilizing every photo op during the hike. The view of the sweeping ocean and breaching humpbacks made the perfect backdrop for any photo. And of course, we all had to stop to get a photo of the monk seal laying on the rocks just below the trail. So, you guessed it, it took us quite some time to actually make it to Ka‘ena Point. But if you have hiked the trail MOP Students and Dr. Mark Merlin smile for a photo. Photo by: Jeff before, then you understand why! Once we fiKuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator. nally arrived at Ka‘ena Point Natural Reserve, we entered through a gate in the predator excluit all off, the adult albatrosses showed off their moves sion fence designed to protect the ground-nesting sea- when they performed their mating dance in front of all birds. We were very fortunate to be able to see Albatross of us. We couldn’t have asked for more, but there was chicks before they fledged. These light brown, extreme- still one more surprise waiting for us at the end of trail ly fluffy young birds were getting ready to begin flying on our way back - spinner dolphins! A group of us took soon! MOPers watched as they mimicked the act of fly- a few minutes to watch as they leaped and spun in the ing while they walked around. As the group dispersed, distance. The hike to Ka‘ena Point was more than we students found another monk seal that was comfort- had hope for and the day ended with a quick dip in the ably sleeping on the sand. When everyone looked to ocean to clean off our shoes and a van ride back to camthe ocean, there were more humpbacks to be seen, pus full of sleepy students. n breaching over and over again! What a show! To top

A Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) lays in the sand at Ka‘ena Point Natural Reserve Area. Photo by: Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator. SUMMER 2018 |5

MOP Graduation: Spring 2018

By: Jenny Johnson, Editor

MOP graduates and staff. Photo by: Emily Gootgeld, UHM MOP Student Coordinator.

n May 3rd, 2018 UH MOP held its 92nd graduation ceremony at UH Mānoa with Leeward and Kapiolani community college students and staff joining UHM MOP students and staff. UH Hilo held its graduation at their own campus. MOP graduates were beaming with excitement as everyone settled into their seats in room 104 of Dean Hall. A plethora of mouth watering food brought in by MOP students and staff lined the tables. A few of us quickly stuffed our faces with chips and guacamole before the ceremony began and others sat patiently at the round tables. Students and staff from UH Mānoa, Leeward and Kapiolani Community College all sat together and waited to celebrate the 92nd graduating class. Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator, began the celebration with opening remarks. He spoke about some of the remarkable skill projects MOP students had done and how hard they had all worked to get to this point. After Jeff ’s warm opening remarks, he introduced keynote speaker Keo Lopes, Logistical Field Technician of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and UHM MOP Alumnus. Lopes’ speech “You Have All the Advantages” was an inspirational tale of how MOP has helped him, and how it will continue to help every MOP student and graduate. Students were presented their MOP certificates by their own coordinators that could be there. Each coordinator spoke highly of the graduating student and shared their many accomplishments with everyone at the graduation. Alexa Gonzalez, UHM MOP Student Coordinator, got an extra special introduction before she was presented her MOP certificate. Jeff Kuwabara brought a tear to my eye with his heartfelt remarks about everything Alexa has done for UHM MOP and how much we will all miss her. Dr. Cindy Hunter, MOP Director, ended the ceremony with closing remarks and wise words for the graduates. After all of the hard-working MOP graduates had received their certificates, it was time to celebrate - potluck style! Everyone enjoyed each other’s company and celebrated all of the MOP graduates. n

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Graduates: University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Carly Corbisiero - Certificate Title: Marine Film Production Project Title: Educating Through Entertainment Shelby Dolim - Certificate Title: Marine Education Project Title: Waikīkī Aquarium Summer by the Sea Program: Educating youth and ensuring ocean safety Alexa Gonzalez - Certificate Title: Marine Mammal Response Project Title: NOAA Fisheries Marine Mammal Response Network Internship

McKenna Lewis - Certificate title: Coral Research Project Title: A survey of coral nursery techniques and applications in Hawai‘i

Leeward Community College Melissa Gajardo - Certificate Title: Intertidal Monitoring Project Title: Limu identification and intertidal surveys of opihi and ha‘uke‘uke

Kapiolani Community College Bethany Raypold - Certificate Title: Marine Education Project Title: Assessing the value of informal ocean education while interning at Waikīkī Dive Center on O‘ahu, Hawai‘i Tina Huynh-Nguyen - Certificate Title: Coral research Project Title: A sub-lethal study of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide on Porites planulae settlement

University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Michelle Nason - Certificate Title: Coral Nursery Development Project Title: Rebuilding Hawai‘i’s reefs one frag at a time

Andrea Ehlers - Certificate Title: Marine Aquarium Development Project Title: The renovation of the Marine Science Building Aquarium for the display of captive bred fish and coral Rosie Lee - Certificate Title: Coral Reef Monitoring Project Title: Beneath the waves with the Sea Surveying, Training, and Response Squad James Gomez DeMolina - Certificate Title: Boating Safety Project Title: Hosting the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Motorboat Operator Certification Course Alex Lau - Certificate Title: Public Aquarium Operations Project title: Internship at the Waikīkī Aquarium: Logistics and Operations Julia Stewart - Certificate Title: Anthozoan Cell Biology Project Title: Coral Immunity: Characterization and phylogenetic analysis of toll-like receptor genes in Montipora capitata, the brown rice coral Wheatley Crawley - Certificate Title: Marine Education Project Title: Conservation and outreach efforts at Wai‘ōpae Kristy Acia - Certificate Title: Marine Education Project title: Marine science education with the Volcano School of Arts and Sciences third grade class Anna Mikkelsen - Certificate Title: Estuarine Benthic Ecology Project Title: The diversity behind the glass curtain: What grows in Hilo Bay, HI, when diatoms are inhibited?

SUMMER 2018 |7

DIVE SAFETY

“You’re Goin Where A Diver’s U Travel

By: Tyler Phelps, U

“Learn to scuba dive! See the aquatic world and experience exotic cultures!” This may sound like the cheesy advertisements that many of us see at dive shops but for virtually all of us, that’s why we signed up for our first Open Water class! Traveling for a dive trip can be exciting, but also intimidating! For those of us fortunate enough to have the ability to travel, we want to maximize our trip while taking adequate steps to ensure our safety and preparedness. At the time of writing this article, I have been privileged to dive in over a dozen different countries for both scientific and recreational purposes. In fact, I’m writing this article on a long international flight for my next expedition! Whether you’re traveling for research or pleasure, I hope my experiences can offer general guidelines and tips that will prepare you to dive anywhere!

ent agencies or resorts that offer “all-inclusive” packages that take care of all the logistics for you. These are very convenient for you but there’s a trade-off. Usually there’s a surcharge for the agents that organize your logistics, but these groups can also get your group discounts that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to get.

Tyler’s Tip: If you plan on traveling with a group, most

resorts give a heavily discounted or even free space to the event organizer if you have a certain amount of people in your party. If you are willing to be the shepherd instead of a sheep, this a great way to get a free trip! I have many friends that make a living doing this.

When traveling to a foreign country, check with the US Department of Immigration and Homeland Security (or your home country) for pertinent information such as recommended immunizations. Through other Before You Pack Your Dive Gear… web searching you can learn about weather, water temThe first step of your dive trip is to research where you perature, voltage (to determine if you need to bring a are going since this will influence all other logistics. In converter), currency exchange rates and what other rethe interest of brevity, I’m not going to teach you how to sources will be available. be a travel agent. There are plenty of other resources out Tyler’s Tip: Check out travel.state.gov for the US Dethere that can help you decide which destination to go partment of State Bureau of Consular Affairs. They have to and when is the best time to visit. travel advisories posted for all countries with potenWho are you going with? Will you be traveling and div- tial areas to avoid, hazards you should be aware of and ing by yourself? Will you be traveling with another per- contact information for the US embassy. By enrolling son who will be your dive buddy? Will you be traveling in their free STEP program, you will be notified of any with a group? There is an overwhelming amount of sup- updates and will allow the State Department to contact port for dive travel. For example if you decide you want you in the event of an emergency. to go to the Philippines, you can find hundreds of differ8| Seawords

ng to Dive, e?!” Ultimate Guide

Suba divers. Photo by: Adam Gerritsma, Flickr.

UHH MOP Alumnus

It’s helpful to know who is coming with you and what resources will be available so you can pack accordingly. If you are going to a popular dive destination, if anything were to happen to your equipment then most likely you will be able to rent/buy what you need. If you are traveling to a very remote place that doesn’t have dive shops, you will want to have redundancy and a more comprehensive save-a-dive kit.

a strict schedule on a scientific diving project). Simple bottom timers that only track depth and time are much more affordable than dive computers. So long as you track your dive profile (depth, time, surface interval), you can fall back on dive tables if your computer dies. This is much more agreeable to me than not being able to dive for 24 hours if your computer dies, as per protocol.

Whether or not you bring a save-a-dive kit and how well you stock it is going to depend on your bag weight allowance, your comfort with equipment repair and what will be available to you. If you are diving within a group, you can coordinate who brings what to save on weight. There are some regulator field repairs that if misdiagnosed and mistreated can lead to catastrophic failure. You should not attempt repairs you are not qualified to conduct. Whenever possible, it is best to substitute a failed piece of equipment with a functioning one. However, consider the consequences of doing so--such as not sharing dive computers if someone’s dive computer dies.

How much equipment or spare equipment you bring can also be influenced by the quality of what will be available. I have been to several countries that had a fleet of rental equipment that was poorly maintained. Call me a snob if you will, but on a second visit I brought my own back up regulator. I wasn’t particularly excited to breathe through a shop regulator with the effort of sucking a golf ball through a garden hose. If your gear has been recently serviced then hopefully it has a lower probability of things going wrong and needing replacement.

Tyler’s Tip: Spare dive computer batteries can be valu-

able to bring with you. However, that doesn’t necessarily solve the immediate problem if one were to die on you. I would not recommend changing a battery until you are back in a dry stable environment. Personally, I dive with two dive computers when I need the redundancy or cannot afford to miss a dive (like if I’m paying hard earned money for fun dives on vacation or if we have

Tyler’s Tip: Notice how I said “recently” serviced and

not “freshly” or “newly” serviced. While your certified technician will hopefully do thorough testing, a regulator is most prone to needing adjustment right after service. High pressure seats and sealing surfaces have not yet developed the necessary memory right after service. Long story short--before a big trip get your equipment inspected or serviced but be sure you get a chance to dive with it before you leave! Allow enough time to bring your gear back into your technician for readjustSUMMER 2018 |9

ment (often under warranty).

Traveling with Dive Equipment

Questions to Ask the Dive Operation

Before I begin, let me preface this section by saying that these have been my individual experiences and what Whether you’re traveling across an ocean or a few hours has worked for me. Ultimately you are the one that is away to a new dive shop, here are some helpful quesresponsible for your arrangements and how you decide tions you can ask. to travel with your equipment. 1) What will the water temperature be? Packing for a dive trip is a game of shifting gear so that 2) What do you recommend wearing for exposure pro- everything is under the weight limits. Invest in a luggage scale so you do not have to do this dance publicly tection? at the airport with their scales. (even if you’re diving in 84F tropical water, it may be necessary to wear a skin suit to protect yourself from Tyler’s Tip: I travel with my dive computer, camera, stinging hydroids) regulator and more fragile items in my carry-on bag. I 3) What will our dives be like? Will they be drift dives? try to get as much weight as possible in my carry-on so What kind of currents? Should we prepare for large I have more allowance in my checked bag. Check with your airline but most have a 25 pound weight limit for swells? carry-on bags. On this trip I am currently on, my carry4) If diving from shore, what foot protection do you rec- on was 45 pounds because I had a lot of equipment to ommend? Do you allow gloves? bring. In my experience, airlines have rarely asked me to weigh my carry-on. But it has happened before! As 5) What time is check in each day? you approach an airline attendant and you are visibly 6) Will there be water and food provided or do we need struggling to handle your bags or you’re showing a lot to bring our own? of effort to move it, they will probably ask to weigh your bag. If you’re going to follow this strategy do so at your 7) What is your cancellation policy? own risk and of course you shouldn’t risk injuring your8) What items do we need to bring with us? self if you must manage putting a heavy bag into the overhead compartment. 9) What kind of rental equipment do you have? If you pack your regulator or gear with ample cushion, you can also ask the attendant if you could gate-check (if it pertains to you, you can clarify if they have hard or your bag to free up overhead room. *Knocks on wood* soft weights, weight belts, and what type of valve if you I have yet to have an attendant refuse a courtesy gate use a DIN regulator) check to me, especially if it looks like a full flight. 10) Will weights and cylinders be provided?

Some of these will be overkill if you are diving in a similar area as to what you are accustomed to. I’d rather ask too many questions than not enough. Many of these questions can also be answered while you are researching your destination. Whether you’re a human “where’s Waldo” or you rarely travel, I highly recommend investing in dive accident insurance. Most health insurance providers do not cover hyperbaric treatment and policies can get even more finicky when you’re getting international treatment. The Divers Alert Network (DAN) offers very affordable diving insurance and as a non-profit organization, and your money will go towards their excellent diving physiology research. They also offer incredible travel and equipment insurance that will refund your trip if it has to be canceled or if anything happens to your gear. 10| Seawords

I pack my mask, fins, BCD, wetsuit and other gear in my checked bag as weight allows. Your fin pockets offer enough room to store your dive booties to save space or protect your mask, so you don’t need to bring a mask case. Wetsuits can also make great cushioning for more fragile items.

Tyler’s Tip: If you dive with a backplate and harness

system, you can strip the system into individual components by removing the wing nuts for easier travel. I remove the back plate, allowing me to pack it in my carry-on bag to save weight. If you do this, remember to remove your knife or cutting device from your harness and stash it in your checked bag. If you don’t, it will likely be confiscated by airport security. When you check your bags online or at the airport, your

airline may have “scuba gear” as an option for special luggage. In my years of traveling, I personally have never declared my luggage as scuba gear and have never had to pay the additional fees. If an airline attendant asks me what is in my bag, I’ve said, “sporting equipment” and “scuba equipment” before and have not been up charged. Always be honest with TSA agents or immigration officers. Never falsify your declaration or be dishonest on your visa!

What to bring on a dive trip When deciding what to bring on your dive trip ask yourself, “what can go wrong? What is the likelihood of that failure happening? How serious would this failure be? If that does happen, what would I need to do to resolve it?” Hopefully your gear is recently serviced before your trip or project which already reduces your vulnerability. Let’s practice with some likely dive-enders.

Fin Strap Breaks

Low-Moderate

Moderate

Mask Lens/Strap Breaks

Low

Moderate

Hole in the BCD

Low

Wetsuit Tears

Low

Failure Point

Dive Computer Dies

Failure Probability

Moderate

Severity

High

Remedy Bring spare batteries or spare computer, rent another

Rent another pair of fins, bring replacement fin strap Buy or rent a new mask, bring a spare mask Bring AquaSeal or adhesive to repair, rent a different BCD Deal with it, patch, or rent a different wetsuit from the shop

Now let’s look at some items you should bring on a dive trip. Some of these may not apply depending on your experience level or the resources that will be available to you. 1) Diving certification card

Regulator Mouthpiece Moderate Tears

Low

Bring spare mouthpiece and zipties or buy a new one from the shop

2) DAN diving insurance card 3) Log book 4) Mask 5) Snorkel (as need) 6) Regulator 7) Buoyancy Compensator Device (BCD)

Regulator Free-Flowing

Low-Moderate

High

Rent another regulator from the shop or make adjustments if trained to do so

8) Fins 9) Dive booties (as need) 10) Exposure suit (dive skin, rash guard, wetsuit or drysuit with spare seals) 11) Dive bag 12) Dry bag 13) Defog (baby shampoo or commercial) 14) Hat, reef safe sunscreen, sunglasses SUMMER 2018 |11

2) Travel apps can be a lifesaver – There are dozens of software and applications you can download that are 16) Dive lights (as need) designed to make traveling easier. The one I use all the 17) Spool/reef with surface marker buoy (SMB) (if div- time is called “Trip It.” It’s a free app that syncs to my ing from boat, in current or on drift dives) email. Every time I book something and get a confirmation email, Trip It automatically updates my itinerary. 18) Save-a-dive kit items and spares It’s a convenient place to see my flight times, gates asSince save-a-dive kits are so variable based on the ex- signments, baggage carousels, confirmation codes and perience of the diver, we are not going to discuss them will notify me if something changes or if I am missing in much detail here. My travel kit changes each trip de- transportation or accommodations. pending on what I will be able to get in-country and how much my bags weigh. If you are hard pressed for 3) Noise canceling headphones all the way – I can’t weight, bringing a bunch of metal wrenches will push tell you how many screaming babies I have been able you over. For this reason, multi-tools can be valuable to tune out with my headphones. They definitely have been worth it! weight and space savers. To spark some ideas of your own, here are my “lucky 4) Sign up for TSA Pre-Check – At the time I signed up for Pre-Check, it was about $150 for five years. The seven” save-a-dive kit items when traveling. online application was straight-forward, and the in1) Spare mask person interview was stress less. If you travel at large airports, it’s worth getting. 2) Zip ties 15) Motion sickness medicine

5) Travel light but be prepared – On my big dive trips I only bring a small bag of clothes. A couple shirts, 4) Guitar pick (lightweight, compact and cheap o-ring some board shorts with pockets, things that can be easremoval tool) ily washed and quickly dry. Some places charge per item for laundry which can get expensive. For those places I 5) Small tube of silicone lubricant bring a small bag of laundry detergent and can double 6) Spare batteries with necessary screwdriver or remov- my SMB finger spool for a makeshift clothesline. If you al tool think you’re going to buy clothes while you are there, bring less. But even if you’re suspecting hot and sunny 7) Spare mouthpiece weather, it’s not a bad idea to bring a lightweight jacket. Tyler’s Tip: Make a checklist! Don’t be “that guy” (or Closing Thoughts girl) that forgets something! 3) Multi-tool (leatherman or compact dive tool)

General Travel Tips With every passport stamp comes lessons learned or efficiencies gained to travel smarter next time. Now that we have talked about traveling specifically for diving, here are some tips that I have learned in my pursuit to max out my passport.

“Failing to plan is planning to fail.” Do your homework on where you are going to determine what you need to bring. Developing a whole itinerary can be fun, but it’s also a lot of work. Going with a travel organization or group can save a lot of headaches! Critically ask yourself what could go wrong on your dive, so you can anticipate remedy solutions. When packing your dive bag make a checklist and cushion your expensive/fragile equipment. Sometimes airline attendants will have “fragile” stickers you can place on your luggage.

1) Make a checklist – Seriously, do it. Don’t check anything off until you visually confirmed everything is placed inside your bag. Have a separate pre-departure checklist as well that includes the paramount items such Don’t forget to enjoy the adventure and as always, dive as your passport, boarding pass and confirm you loaded safely! n all your bags inside the vehicle and take them all out when you arrive to the airport. This might seem trivial with only one bag but trust me this will save you if you travel with a lot of luggage!

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critter of the Summer By: Alina Abramovich, UHH MOP Student

Short-Arm Sand Octopus (Amphioctopus arenicola)

Distribution: Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands Size: Arm length of about 6 inches Diet: Feeds mostly on crustaceans, small fish, bivalves and polychaete worms. Coloration: Granular skin texture of a sandy color, with white bumps. Habitat: Resides within the sandy bottom of the ocean, close to the reef. Depth: Occurs on shallow reefs and at all sport-diving depths IUCN Red List Status: Unlisted - lacking data

ittle is known about these endemic, Hawaiian cephalopods as they are generally spotted at depths of over 20 feet, with many residing in 5060 feet of depth. However, it has been observed that the short-arm sand octopuses prefer to spend most of their time buried in the sandy bottom of the ocean, close to deep reefs wherein they hunt for their food. The species is capable of being pelagic if the need arises, but due to its incredible camouflage capabilities prefers the safe anonymity of their sandy abodes. The coloration of the short-arm sand octopus varies, as does the coloration of most octopuses due to the chromatophores (special pigment cells) that they possess. Although the species is sandy-colored with white bumps in their resting state, they have been documented turning a deep shade of purple, as well as displaying vibrant blue and rainbow coloration around their tentacles and eyes.

As its name suggests, the short-arm sand octopus does indeed possess short tentacles, which it uses to propel itself on the substrate or within the water column. The size, as well as unique sucker count on these tentacles helps distinguish this species from other “sandy octopuses” around the world. This short-armed cephalopod is primarily carnivorous and feeds on crustaceans, benthic worms, small fish and molluscs such as ‘opihi. The octopus has also been recorded using the latter’s shell as a type of shield to disguise and protect itself against predators (or curious divers).n

Short-arm sand octopus (Amphioctopus arenicola). Photo by: dmcleish, google images. SUMMER 2018 |13

ocean art

The Magic Island By: Melchor Sipeli‘i, HCC Student

Melchor’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. 14| Seawords

A magic island forged by hands of men, and a barrier surrounding the premises of the island. The island is abundant with life. The color of blue glooms as men enters the water, and their presence disturbs the peace. The blood and bone of each stroke awakens Poseidon’s children underneath the sea. A little boy plays in the salt water; he emerges from the water’s surface after he urinated near the fishes.

The sea creatures pray for food because their bellies are filled with discarded wastes.

As men enjoys the salt water at Magic Island, the sea creatures suffer. n

Magic Island Sunset. Photo by: Edmund Garman, Flickr. SUMMER 2018 |15

JULY 2018

NOAA Marine Turtle Biology and Assessment Program

•

5 July

Every arrow in the quiver: using a suite • of traditional and innovative tools to unravel the mystery of endangered hawksbill marine turtles in Hawaiʻi • Alex Gaos • JIMAR, PSD, PIFSC, NMFS, NOAA

12 July

How many males are enough? Feminization of green sea turtle foraging aggregations in the Pacific • Camryn Allen • JIMAR, PSD, PIFSC, NMFS, NOAA

Can’t make it to Hanauma Bay?

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

16| Seawords

•

19 July

Using LED lights to illuminate gillnets reduces the bycatch of sea turtles and other marine species • John Wang • JIMAR, PSD, PIFSC, NMFS, NOAA

26 July

East Island exiled: life of a field biologist in the French Frigate Shoals – Northwestern Hawaiian Islands • Alexandra Reininger • JIMAR, PSD, PIFSC, NMFS, NOAA

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT HANAUMA BAY SEMINARS: Science Talks or Educational Films Thursday evenings 6:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. at Hanauma Bay

Admission is free - Parking free after 4 P.M.

Kilauea is Still Erupting By: Kayla White, UHM MOP Student and former Seawords Editor

any people in Hawai‘i and all over the continued to cover the Royal Gardens, pushing out the planet have watched as one of the most last people living there. active volcanoes in the world erupts on the Big Island. On May 3, Kilauea violently erupted, creating a magnitude 6.9 earthquake. Lava spewed out of the volcano Kilauea is a shield type volcano on the southeastern side and into the Puna residential district which resulted in of the Big Island. Rising 4,190 feet above sea level, this mandatory evacuations of the Leilani Estates and Lanimassive structure makes up about 14%of the landmass puna Gardens subdivisions. Over 600 homes have been on the island. The summit contains a lava lake called covered in lava to date and unfortunately, scientists say Halema‘uma‘u, which in Hawaiian culture is home to that there is no way of knowing when the eruption will the volcano goddess, Pele. end. An eruption cycle began on January 3, 1983, and Fissures continue to open up, giving lava access to arKilauea has been steadily erupting since then. With eas where the volcano doesn’t reach. Because of this, the more than 60 eruptions in this cycle, this is not the destruction spreads even faster. Since there is no way first time Kilauea’s lava has damaged populated areas. of knowing when the eruption will slow down, United In 1983, the Royal Gardens subdivision was abandoned States Geological Survey (USGS) asks people to stay upand 16 homes were destroyed. In 1986, lava flows cut dated with the news and where the lava is spreading to through Kalapana as the lava headed to sea, destroying know what areas might be affected on the Big Island. many homes along with it. In March of 1990, Kilauea We send our sympathy to the families who have lost entered its most destructive time in history. During this their homes or been evacuated.n year, more than 100 homes and other buildings were buried under 80 feet of lava. Most recently in 2012, lava

Lava flow from Kilauea eruption. Photo by: Z2amiller, Flickr. SUMMER JUNE 2018 |17

Small but mighty threats: Microplastics By: Kelsey Loenhorst, UHM MOP Student

hey make up 80 percent of the pollution in our oceans, they are responsible for harming almost all marine animals, they are extremely small (less than five millimeters in length) and yet they are one of the largest threats to marine life. Microplastics are defined as extremely small pieces of plastic debris in the environment resulting from the disposal and breakdown of consumer products and industrial waste. Basically, our common household plastic products are “thrown away,” make their way to our oceans and break down into smaller and smaller pieces to eventually become microplastics. Microplastics are an immediate threat to marine life yet the amount of them entering our oceans is growing substantially.

Microplastic. Photo by: Florida Sea Grant, Flickr.

a sesame seed, so why are they of such concern? Marine animals mistake the small plastics for food, which cause irritation or damage to the digestive system. If plastics are kept in the gut instead of passing through, the animal could feel full (of plastic not food) and this could lead to malnutrition or starvation. This process reduces growth and reproductive output and often leads to death of the species ingesting the plastic. In addition to physical effects, microplastics also have chemical impacts on marine life. Plastics that float on the ocean’s surface absorb dangerous pollutants such as PCBs, DDT and PAH. These chemicals are highly toxic and have a wide range of enduring effects, including endocrine disruption and cancer-causing mutations. The concentration of PCBs in plastics floating in It is almost impossible to avoid plastic products in tothe ocean has been documented as 100,000 to 1 million day’s world. Ditching plastic water bottles, plastic bags times that of surrounding waters. When animals eat and plastic packaging are among the easier items to these plastic pieces, the toxins are absorbed into their substitute. However, other common plastic products are body and passed up the food chain. overlooked. These include polyester found in clothing, detergent bottles, plumbing pipes, drinking straws, fish- There is still a considerable amount of research to be ing gear, toothbrushes, cigarette lighters and take-out done in this field of study but the fact remains that micontainers. These plastics make their way to our oceans croplastics are a growing problem due to mankind’s from different outlets including urban runoff, agricul- blind reliance on everyday plastic products. Plastic is tural runoff, waste management, ocean dumping and incredibly convenient, but it’s equally wasteful. Is it resome shipping and fishing industries. It is these larger ally worth the convenience that harms almost all levels plastics that are broken down into microplastics. of marine life? n The human eye can barely see these floating plastics in our oceans, considering they are about the size of

18| Seawords

July Surf Report By: Alina Abramovich, UHH MOP Student

ona and Honolulu folks rejoiced as June brought some much needed south swell action to their shores, while North Shore and Kohala surfers took their turns in the seasonal surfer migration. Unfortunately, according to Surfline and NOAA forecasts, it seems that July is looking to slow down somewhat on the swell activity. Considering that this was a La Niña winter, the waters around the south of Australia have been experiencing higher than normal pressures, which resulted in the excellent waves that we all experienced last month. However, the high pressure system seems to be moving further east as we head into July - a morose observation considering that storms formed further east tend to bypass Hawai‘i, resulting in fewer significant swells on the south-facing shores. As always, however, there are some optimistic slivers of hope amongst the forecasts of flat days. Some small pockets of low pressure systems to the SE and NE of New Zealand are said to look promising, and, if all else fails, we can always count on the tradewind-generated, localized swells to provide some excellent surf for those who know where to find it. On the topic of tradewinds, they are the forecasted dominant winds for July - which bodes well for glassy east-coast conditions, as well as vog-free days over in Hilo. Kona side, unfortunately, is going to keep experiencing a lot of voggy surf sessions if this wind prediction holds. Whichever coast, or island, you find yourself on during this mellow July, stay safe, stay stoked and enjoy those beautiful July paddle-outs!n

Surfer. Photo by: Ivan Talboys, Flickr.

SUMMER 2018 |19

Shipwreck of the Summer: RMS Carpathia By: Kayla Palmer, UHM MOP Student

rom the rescue of Titanic survivors to serving during World War I, the history of the RMS Carpathia is a great example of bravery and heroism. Carpathia set sea in 1902, serving as a transatlantic service for Hungarian immigrants traveling to the United States and Canada. In 1905 Carpathia began operating as a cruise ship leading to its remodeling to accommodate first and second class passengers. At noon on April 15, 1912, Carpathia received a distress signal from the Titanic after it hit an iceberg. Just 58 miles away, Captain Arthur Henry Rostron ordered Carpathia to travel at its top speed of 17 knots despite the threat of icebergs in nearby waters. While arriving at the location of the Titanic, the crew prepared hot drinks and soup for the survivors and doctors prepared to treat the wounded. Even though the Titanic sank an hour before Carpathia’s arrival, the ship was still able to

rescue 705 Titanic survivors in lifeboats. Carpathia then returned to New York and on April 18, Captain Rostron received a U.S. Congressional Gold Medal and the crew was awarded with bronze medals. After the heroism displayed by Carpathia’s crew and captain, the ship began service as transportation for Canadian and American troops arriving in Europe during World War I. In the year 1918 Carpathia was torpedoed three times by a German U-55 boat leaving five crew members dead and the remaining crew and passengers rescued by HMS Snowdrop. In 2000 Carpathia was discovered at a depth of 500 feet off the coast of Ireland. Premier Exhibitions is now the owner of the Carpathia wreck as well as the Titanic and plans to recover the ship’s artifacts to display their story. n

Officers and Crew of SS Carpathia. Photo by: Slagheap (Official Cunard Line Photo), Flickr. 20| Seawords

How does bleached coral affect marine life? By: Kayla White, UHM MOP Student and Former Seawords Editor Clownfish (Amphiprion percula). Photo by: Lix, Flickr.

oral reefs all over the world are losing their colors with some turning white, affecting not only the coral, but the organisms that rely on it in their ecosystem.

Corals and anemones have a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae that live in their tissues called zooxanthellae. The algae photosynthesize, providing the coral or anemone with nutrients and giving them their golden-brown colors. The coral or anemone hosts may also have additional pigments making them appear purple, blue, green, red, or yellow.

are confused by this phenomenon because although the white anemone is deprived of its algae, it is still alive and could recover some day. The clownfish do not eat or have any relationship to the algae in the anemone so there is no reason the fish should be suffering.

To learn more about why this is happening, Dr. Tommy Norin and a team from the University of Glasgow in Scotland, suggest that living in such a stressful environment could partly explain these clownfish struggles. Sixteen fish were collected from a healthy coral reef in French Polynesia and taken back to a lab. Half were placed in tanks with healthy anemones and half were Changes in color can be caused by many external factors placed in tanks with anemones that had been bleached like ocean temperature, runoff and pollution, overexpoin warm water. After two weeks, the researchers measure to light and extremely low tides. When exposed to sured the metabolic rate at which they were consuming these harsh conditions, the algae in the tissue become oxygen when they were in their most sedentary times, stressed and begin to flee. When the algae start to leave which showed how much energy was exerted by the fish the tissue, the coral’s or anemone’s color lightens. When to basically do nothing. the tissue becomes white, giving it a bleached appearance, all of the algae has fled, leaving the coral and The researchers found that the clownfish in stressed anemone vulnerable with no source of food. They are and bleached communities exerted more energy just more susceptible to disease and toxins at this point and to stay alive than the fish in healthy communities. They the organisms that rely on the coral or anemone strug- found that fish with increased metabolic rates have a gle to survive, too. harder time performing normal and important tasks like swimming. If these conditions continue to increase Many fish and marine organisms rely on places like around the world, fish populations will decline and coranemone for a home, reproduction site or food source. al reefs will have a harder time recovering from bleachThanks to “Finding Nemo,” many of us know that clowning events. As Dr. Norin says, “At some point, we will fish (Amphiprioninae) live in anemones. These fish have need to open our eyes and see that we really need to do a symbiotic relationship with the stinging anemones something.”n and are not harmed by them. When anemones become bleached, they shrink, which leaves fish looking for another home, reducing the population. Many scientists SUMMER 2018 |21

UH Mānoa Updates By: Kayla Palmer, UHM MOP Student

UH Mānoa campus. Photo by: Kanaka Rastamon, Flickr.

UH Foundation Funded for Hawaiian Monk Seal and director of the Biological Electron Microscope Facility, donated $45,000 to the UH Foundations monk Research According to National Geographic, the endangered Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) has a population of only 1,100 and is rapidly declining at four percent each year. Dr. Marilyn Dunlap, associate director of the Pacific Biosciences Research Center (PBRC)

O‘ahu. Photo by: Rene Rivers, Flickr. 22| Seawords

seal research in honor of her late husband DB Dunlap, who worked endlessly to protect Hawaiian monk seals. After first seeing a Hawaiian monk seal on Sandy Beach in 2001, DB Dunlap began observing monk seal behavior on Rabbit Island and O‘ahu’s coastlines and began responding all over the island to monk seal beaching and sightings. DB’s contribution in the research of monk seal behavior is now the core reference for Hawaiian monk seal ethology. Dr.Dunlap’s donation will support Hawaiian Monk Seal research Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “I want to support efforts to protect and preserve the species, and to honor DB and support the university. I’m hopeful the gift will allow JIMAR and NOAA to do the work not supported by federal funding, and to continue to

educate people about the seals and their value to the en- oceanography graduate student and Grieg Steward have vironment,” said Marilyn Dunlap. studied a recent virus named TetV-1 which appeared to have picked up new genes from its infected algae that inNew Marine Algae Virus Discovered in O‘ahu volve fermentation. Fermentation is known as a process Waters where microorganisms can get energy from sugars in From the waters of O‘ahu , a large virus that infects phy- the absence of oxygen. Schvarcz suspects that the TetVtoplankton has been discovered by researchers from 1 virus will use its fermentation genes to survive in low C-MORE and University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa‘s School oxygen conditions even while shutting down the host of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. Scientists cell systems. Steward and Schvarcz state that they will have found that this virus contains the biggest genome continue to test the TetV-1 virus to determine if their ever sequenced. Each day marine animals rely on phy- theory is accurate and continue to understand how the toplankton as a food source but when a phytoplankton virus manipulates its hosts. becomes infected with a virus it disintegrates and beLow-Lying Atoll Islands may Become Uninhabitcomes decomposed by bacteria, leaving less food for able by Mid-Century marine animals. Even though phytoplankton in O‘ahu’s water are getting infected by this virus, Grieg Steward A new study done by researchers from U.S. Geologia professor at UH Mānoa and co-author on the study, cal Survey (USGS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric believes that viruses help maintain balance in a marine Administration (NOAA) and UH‘s International Pacific ecosystem. Research Center (IPRC) have predicted that low-lying atoll islands may become uninhabitable by 2030-2060 “Viruses spread more efficiently through highly condue to contaminated freshwater resources caused by sea centrated populations, so if one type of phytoplankton level rise and wave-driven flooding. If waves continugrows faster than the others and starts to dominate, it ously ride higher than average sea level, researchers escan get knocked down to lower levels by a viral infectimate that frequent flooding will damage coastal infration, giving the other species a chance to thrive,” said structure and contaminate fresh groundwater over time Steward. with high salinity levels. USGS geologist, Curt Storlazzi, Over the past 15 years researchers have noticed an in- says that their research shows that it is necessary to find crease in the size of viruses and some have even reached out which islands are most vulnerable and begin disthe size of bacteria. Christopher Schvarcz, UH Mānoa covering possible political or engineering solutions. n

Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi). Photo by: Anthony Quintano, Flickr. SUMMER 2018 |23

By: Jeremy Gasta, UHM MOP Student

Steller’s Sea Cow Marine Mammal of the Summer:

Steller’s Sea Cow

Species: Steller’s Sea Cow Scientific Name: Hydrodamalis gigas Range: Bering Sea, in Arctic Circle Diet: Kelp and seagrass Size: Thirty feet or longer

umans have become accustomed to a world where many of our largest creatures have gone extinct. The true giants of Animalia are megafauna such as elephants or rhinoceros in Africa, or the immense cetaceans in the sea. Yet few today realize that humans use to live in a world of giants. Enormous wombats, kangaroos, monitor lizards, and carnivorous marsupials were roaming Australia when the first humans stepped foot on the ancient continent. Elephants, giant beavers, and car-sized armadillos were hunted to extinction in North America by primitive Homo sapiens. Giant ground sloths were ambling around Cuba 6,000 years ago, mammoths lived in Siberia 4,000 years ago, and the moa (Dinornis novaezealandiae, the largest bird to have existed) took its last breath in New Zealand in the last millennium. Slowly but surely, much of the Holocene’s megafauna died out, due to either changing climates or human hunting. However, one species of these massive beasts managed to survive much longer than its associates, in small, hidden populations, into modern history, a living relic - though this creature too was fated to eventually fall into extinction. The human discovery of the Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) also marked its end.

from its contemporary relatives in two ways: first, unlike the other two tropical sirens, Steller’s sea cows were a cold water species that lived far north in the Bering Sea of the Arctic Circle. And second, these creatures were enormous - reaching over thirty feet long. This made them the largest animal of the modern age apart from the great whales. These two traits were likely related - their large size was probably an adaptation to the colder climate, as larger bodies help in keeping their owners warm and insulated. These creatures were also described by their discoverer, biologist and namesake Georg Steller, as having dark skin, with much rougher texture than their contemporaries. This too was likely an adaptation to their lifestyle. Steller described the creatures as remaining permanently in the shallows near river mouths, where they would feed on seagrass and kelp that grew there. Their rough skin protected them from injuries they might otherwise sustain by rubbing against rocks and the seafloor in the shallows. The cows were also described as having longer and more “hooklike” flippers, which they would use to “walk” across the seafloor while eating in a unique manner which we do not see in their relatives today. While their large size might have seemed intimidating, these creatures were reportedly as gentle as modern manatees, as boats or First found and described in 1741, and then fully exwading hunters could move through entire herds withtinct less than thirty years later by 1768, Steller’s sea out eliciting a reaction. They were also reportedly mocow was a member of the order Sirenia, and was related nogamous and had intense pair bonds - other sea cows to modern day dugongs and manatees (Dugong dugon, would rush to aid one that was injured, and the mate of and genus Trichechus, respectively). However, it differed

24| Seawords

beasts since prehistoric times. And as their ship only docked on the island due to an emergency, these large sea cows could have possibly remained hidden and unknown for many years to come. Unfortunately, the scientific discovery of these leviathans was to be the beginning of the end. The crew - sick and weary after bouts of scurvy found that the placid animals were easy to kill and could feed an entire ship of men for a month. Despite how long a single cow could last in Skeleton of Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas). Photo by: Maggie, Flickr. terms of provisions, many of the sea cows’ hunters to come in the following decades were known to be exa slaughtered siren would hang around the site of the tremely wasteful - this was a time before the phenomact for days. enon of extinction was fully recognized and the ocean Fossil evidence implies that Steller’s sea cows may have was thought to be a bountiful sink of endless resources. once had a wider range, all the way down to Japan or the Less than thirty years later, Steller’s sea cow was extinct. California coast, but it’s likely that warming temperaTwo main causes are currently believed to have led to tures after the last ice age forced them to take shelter this. First, despite being initially plentiful, these sirens farther up north. Though this may have seemed disashad an extremely low reproductive rate, meaning that trous, it appears that their severely reduced range and they were killed off faster than they could reproduce. numbers might have been why they were able to exist Second was an indirect result of the widespread huntfor so much longer than many other megafauna after the ing of sea otters (Enhydra lutris) at the time. Today, sea end of the last ice age. Populations found refuge around otters are known to preserve kelp forests and seagrass extremely isolated polar islands, such as Bering Island beds, due to preying upon the sea urchins that would (where they were eventually discovered). While these otherwise devour them. As sea otter numbers fell, the areas were the perfect oases for giant algae-munching urchin population exploded and decimated the habisirens, the freezing and isolated islands were extremely tats that Steller’s sea cows depended on for food. Thus, hostile to human life, allowing the sea cow population to this double hit against their population - unsustainable live in peace for thousands of years. When Georg Stellhunting and loss of food - likely explains why the numer’s ship first took land upon Bering Island, they very bers dropped so quickly. well could have been the first humans to see these sea Despite the morbid tale, some good may have actually come out of it. The rapid decrease of Steller’s sea cows essentially allowed scientists to see an extinction in real-time, and as such recognize extinction as a real threat and phenomenon. Prior to this, extinction was not believed to be possible, and even the dodo (Raphus cucullatus) was regarded as still alive or completely fictitious to begin with. The loss of the Steller’s sea cow, the last of the great prehistoric megafauna, helped us to realize the importance of conservation and sustainability. Many efforts to protect endangered species and the Earth today may owe their existence to this gentle giant’s loss.n Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) in the Natural History Museum in London. Photo by: Udo Schroter, Flickr.

SUMMER 2018 |25

cean updates

By: Kelsey Loenhorst, 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. Microplastics: a growing threat to sea turtles croplastics on sea turtle incubation. nesting Plastic has a tendency to retain large amounts of heat Every piece of plastic ever created still exists today, and will continue to exist for the next 500 years. Plastic is durable, cheap and convenient. Therefore, it’s almost impossible to avoid. Plastic is becoming litter, being broken down into tiny pieces called microplastics and ending up in our oceans. This global issue is trashing our beaches and is impacting all levels of marine life.

in response to comparably moderate increases in temperature. If enough plastic is present in a sandy environment, the area could experience measurable temperature increases.

A new study from Florida State University researchers shows that increasing microplastic accumulation along the Gulf ’s beaches could alter the composition of shoreline sand and jeopardize the turtles’ sensitive incubation environments. This study was carried out by a student researcher, Valencia Beckwith, who surveyed the Northern Gulf of Mexico Loggerhead Recovery Unit’s 10 most important loggerhead turtle nesting sites in Florida. As many could have guessed, her research showed that turtle nesting areas are experiencing increasing levels of microplastics in the sand dunes where sea turtles prefer to lay their eggs. The most surprising discovery from the study was the potential effects of mi-

The study’s coauthor Mariana Fuentes, assistant professor of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science (EOAS) explains, “sea turtles have temperature dependent sex determination, which means their sex is determined by the sand temperature,” Fuentes said. “Changes in incubation temperatures might modify the sex ratios produced on these nesting beaches, but at this stage we don’t know how much microplastic is needed to see those changes.”

This relationship between sea turtle incubation and sand temperature is a major concern because if temperatures are fluctuating it can determine the fate of these turtles.

Beckwith and Fuentes plan to continue their research and investigate just how much microplastics are altering the temperature and affecting the life of sea turtles. It’s an interesting chain of events to consider that a single use plastic you may use on a daily basis may end up on a beach and altering the sex of a sea turtle. This study is a good reminder that we need to be aware of our pollution and how we can stop it. Plastic may be convenient but it’s a huge pollutant in our oceans and is continually damaging marine life. In subsequent research, Beckwith and Fuentes plan to expand upon these findings and investigate the specific ways that microplastic might alter the temperature profile of the sediment on important nesting beaches.

Reef fish may be adjusting to warming oceans Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). Photo by: Jeroen Looye, Flickr. 26| Seawords

With climate change continually warming our oceans, the decline of fish is of serious concern. However, a new

study has shown that baby reef fish may be inheriting stronger genes from mom and dad that help them adjust to the warming temperature of our oceans. Researchers from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies (Coral CoE) and the King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) have proved that when parents are exposed to an increase in water temperatures, their offspring improved their performance by altering their epigenome. Epigenetic change refers to chemical modifications in the DNA that signals genes to be switched on or off. A range of factors, including disease, famine, or in the case of this research, heat stress, can stimulate these subtle changes.

Reef fish in Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Photo by: James Watt, NOAA.

Therefore, the parents that experienced high stress lev- development director for US-based charity Global Fishels with warming temperature had offspring that were ing Watch and supported by actor Leonardo DiCaprio. able to cope with the same stress. “It is really surprising to look at the map and see how Researchers investigated spiny Chromis damselfish, a much fishing there is,” said Kroodsma. Given the vicommon Indo-Pacific reef fish, for two generations un- sual aid to show just how much industrial fishing is exder three different water temperatures, up to 3 degrees panding really raises concerns on how sustainable this Celsius warmer than current-day ocean temperatures. amount of fishing is and how industrial fishing is imSenior author Prof Philip Munday of Coral CoE at pacting the health of our oceans. James Cook University explained that, “the next generation appeared to be advantaged by parental exposure to elevated temperatures. The offspring’s altered gene expression, also referred to as ‘acclimation,’ allowed them to maximize oxygen consumption and energy use.”

Bottom trawling has been of growing concern for years due to its detrimental impacts on marine life and habitats. This method of fishing is where a large net with heavy weights is dragged across the seafloor, scooping up everything in its path – from the targeted fish to inIt’s incredible to think that these reef fish are able to ad- cidentally caught, centuries-old corals. This extremely just to such rapidly changing conditions to better their destructive method is growing due to an increase in livelihood. However, this should not be viewed as a pos- seafood demand. sible solution to warming ocean. Coral reefs will still be With commercial fishing now covering more area than damaged by warming temperatures and without their agriculture, this method is raising some eyebrows to the home in the reefs, this development within their genet- damage it will cause to our ocean’s marine life and habiics will be overlooked. tats in such a large volume. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says one-third of commercial The “human-face” of industrial fishing fish stocks are being caught at unsustainable levels. New research reveals that industrial vessels are now However it’s not all doom and gloom--the clear impact fishing more than half of our world’s oceans. This data shown by the map has provided hope to slow down this was collected and placed onto a map from more than expanding industry. Hopefully this research can shed 70,000 vessels; the map revealed that commercial fishsome light to the issue of the growing demand of seaing is now covering more area than agriculture. Elvira food and bring about more areas of conservation. n Poloczanska of the research group referred to this map as the “human-face” of industrial fishing. The research was led by David Kroodsma, research and

SUMMER 2018 |27

Actions for the Ocean

GENERATION

BLUE By: Kayla Palmer, UHM MOP Student

y making simple eco-friendly changes to our lifestyle, we can all make the ocean a healthier place to live for marine animals. n

Use Natural Laundry Detergent Non-biodegradable laundry detergent poses a major threat to marine life by leaving behind chemicals like phosphorus along with toxic heavy metals such as arsenic and cadmium. Phosphorus released from detergent is the main cause of eutrophication in surface waters. As phosphorus stimulates the growth of phytoplankton, marine life may die due to lack of light. By purchasing laundry detergent with natural ingredients we can help limit the amount of eutrophication in ocean waters.

Clownfish (Amphiprion percula). Photo by: Ridho Nur Imansyah, Flickr. 28|â&#x20AC;&#x192;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.

2: 3:

Become an Ocean Friendly Pet Owner IIf you own a pet here are some ways that you can take care of your companion in an ocean-friendly way. Next time you go shopping for pet accessories or toys, buy recycled or natural materials such as recycled rubber toys, pet beds with organic cotton or collars made out of hemp. Using biodegradable cat litter for your cat is more ecofriendly as it does not contain harmful chemicals that harm marine life. Use organic shampoos and cleaners while cleaning after your pets to limit the amount of chemicals entering the ocean.

Say “No” to Styrofoam Containers Styrofoam is a polystyrene material that is non-decomposable in the marine environment. Since polystyrene is lightweight and easily floats, many pieces of styrofoam are brought into the ocean by storm drains or blown away by the wind. In the ocean, styrofoam can cause illness or death as it often gets mistaken for food by marine birds, fish and many other animals. Request reusable or compostable containers for left-overs or take-out food, or take your own containers.

Choose Low Carbon Transportation According to Native Energy, “Over the past 250 years, ocean acidity has increased by 30 percent as oceans absorbed around 530 billion tons of carbon dioxide. (That’s the equivalent of 500 years of CO2 emissions produced in the U.S. at current levels.).” As carbon emissions enter the ocean they combine with seawater to form carbonic acid, leading to an increase in ocean acidification. In order to reduce your carbon footprint, try relying on other modes of transportation such as carpooling, buses or bikes to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere and ocean.

SUMMER 2018 |29

AUGUST 2018

Mālama Maunalua 2 August 16 August

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The facts behind the April storm and floods in East Honolulu and their historical context • Matt Foster • NOAA National Weather Service • Brian Loving • US Geological Survey

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Perceptions and lessons of resilience from Maunalua Bay • Matthew Gonser • Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency • City and County of Honolulu

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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT HANAUMA BAY SEMINARS:

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9 August

Science Talks or Educational Films

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

Effects of fishing and protection on Hawaii’s nearshore marine ecosystems • Alan Friedlander • National Geographic Pristine Seas • Fisheries Ecology Research Laboratory

23 August

How activities are impacting Bay health and what can be done to reverse it • Doug Haper • Mālama Maunalua

30 August

Climate change impacts and how Hawai'i is Responding • Chip Fletcher • School of Earth and Ocean Science and Technology • University of Hawaiʻi

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

30| Seawords

FLASHBACK: 1988

By: Jenny Johnson, Seawords Editor

his month’s flashback dates back to March 29, 1988 when Maui MOPers found two fascinating pieces of history while scuba diving in Hana Bay and off of Lahaina. The first find in Hana Bay was a bottle that was likely dropped from a German warship during World War I. The second discovery was from the war of 1812 and was a piece of metal from a sabre.

cally significant finds. These discoveries came at the perfect time because Dr. Fredrickson had just begun an archaeological survey of Maui coastal waters. This was a very momentous project as it would be the first ever of its kind in Hawai‘i. A group of fortunate students were able to assist Dr. Fredrickson with this project, which began by the students helping him with beginning steps like studying historical records of ships. The historical records of the ships allowed Dr. Fredrickson and stuMaui MOPers were very lucky to have Dr. Walt Freddents to identify where they should begin their underrickson as their Coordinator, as he is an underwater water archaeological surveys. archaeologist and helped identify both of their historiAs Dr. Fredrickson and students prepared for their surveys, Dr. Fredrickson wanted to help the student who found the German beer bottle and figure out how it got into the coastal waters of Maui and where exactly it came from in Germany. The beer bottle had “Kiel” and “HFL” written on it. Luckily, Dr. Fredrickson had a friend from Germany that studied at Kiel University. Head of the Department of Oceanography at UH Mānoa, Lorenz Magaard was happy to help Dr. Fredrickson with the discovery. Magaard then asked scholars at his alma mater for some of their expertise. With these expertise and the help of the workers at Holsten Brewery in Germany, it was found that the bottle came from a 1900’s brewery in Germany named Hans Friedrich Luthje, which sold its beer to the German navy during World War I (Lomont, 1988). The bottle was in Maui coastal waters because there was a prisoner of war camp in Hana Bay during World War I. The prisoner of war camp was located in Hana bay because it was a convenient place to keep offenders from German colonies in the South Pacific. Brett Lomont, author of the 1988 article explains, “According to a book about the history of Germans in Hawai‘i, some of the prisoners were put to work in Hana sugar cane mills and fields.” n SUMMER 2018 |31

Big Island Surf By: Alina Abramovich, UHH MOP Student

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n light of the recent volcanic activity on the Big Island, let us take a moment to think about all of the people being directly and indirectly affected by the volcanism and seismic events. One (albeit fairly minor) consequence of Madame Peleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fury has been the virtual loss of access to some beloved surf spots near and around the eruptions. Surf spots and beach access points on the Big Island are not to be taken for granted - many spots already require an off-road truck, and the loss of certain spots is definitely an additional blow to the community. There are definitely some spots with easier access (and better air quality) still available, especially further north of the volcanic activity. As we are now indisputably within the summer months, the NPAC storm swells will, with all probability, cese their feigning revivals and go dormant until the fall. As always, stay safe, have fun and spread aloha - both in and out of the water. Now is a time when the surf community, and the island community at large could use a dose of kindness, Pono and aloha.

Summit area of Kilauea. Photo by: Dan Dzurisin, Flickr.

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July Photo credit: Floyd Manzano, Flickr.

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Next month: August August 20: First Day of Instruction August 22: New Student Orientation & Camera Care Workshop August 23: QUEST & MAST Information Meetings

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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

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