January 2017 Seawords

Seaw rds The Marine Option Program Newsletter

January 2017

and watching documentaries 8 “reading about ... people who explore the ocean’s depths ... is one thing, but being able to meet them and ask them questions about their experiences was something totally different’”

WINTER MIGRATION SEASON LEARNING ABOUT THE DEEP SEA WITH HURL IN LOVING MEMORY: CAREY MORISHIGE MARTINEZ

January 2017

Volume XXXI, Number 1

Articles Page 3: Letter from the Editor Page 4: MOP Graduation Page 6: Winter Migration Season Page 8: Dive Safety: Breaking the Habit Page 10: Learning about the Deep Sea with HURL Page 11: In Loving Memory: Carey Morishige Martinez Page 12: Marine Mammal of the Month: Orca Page 14: Ocean Art: Sarah Franklin’s “Squishy” Page 16: Ocean Updates Page 19: Critter of the Month Page 20: Generation Blue Page 22: Hanauma Bay: Calender of Events Page 23: Flashback Page 24: MOP calendar of events

About the Photography -Cover: Kimberly James, UHM MOP Alumna and Photography Contestant -Table of Contents: Camra Hopper, Editor -November calendar of events: Kimberly James, UHM MOP Alumna and Photography Contestant -Back cover : Logan Magad-Weiss, UHM MOP Alumnus -All uncredited photos by: MOP -Disclaimer: any photo taken from flickr.com is used under the Creative Commons License and is credited appropriately with links to the user’s flickr account.

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Letter from the Editor

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loha!

Seawords would like to welcome you to the New Year!

In this issue, be sure to check out what New Year diving resolutions you can accomplish with Tyler Phelps’ (UHH MOP Student) diving habits to strive for in 2017. Also be sure to find out more about the Marine Mammal of the Month for January, the Orca, check out the facts from Jeremy Gasta, ACS Student. Sarah Franklin, UHM MOP Student, also painted “Squishy,” a colorful octopus for Ocean Art. I would aslo like to introduce a new crew member we brought aboard our ship, Alicia Gregor, UHM MOP Student. She provides insight to global issues in Ocean Updates, but look forward to her next article, which brings light to the facts about shark finning in February’s issue.

As the new waves and tides roll in, don’t forget, “a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor,” as Franklin D. Roosevelt said. Go on an adventure, but don’t forget to tell Seawords all about it!

Thanks for reading,

Camra Hopper, Seawords Editor Seawords Volume XXXI, Number 1, January 2017 Editor: Camra Hopper Associate Editor: Jessica Lotts Dr. Cynthia Hunter (éminence grise) Jeffrey Kuwabara (éminence grise) Seawords- Marine Option Program University of Hawai‘i, College of Natural Sciences 2450 Campus Road, Dean Hall 105A Honolulu, HI 96822-2219 Telephone: (808) 956-8433 Email: <seawords@hawaii.edu> Website: <http://www.hawaii.edu/mop>

Seawords is the monthly newsletter of the Marine Option Program at the University of Hawai‘i. Opinions expressed herein are not necessariliy those of the Marine Option Program or of the University of Hawai‘i.

Suggestions and submissions are welcome. Submissions may include articles, photography, art work, or anything that may be of interest to the marine community in Hawai‘i and around the world.

All photos are taken by MOP unless otherwise credited.

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Manoa MOP Gradua Fall 2016

MOP Graduation Ceremony. Pictured from left to right: Cassidy Lum (UHM MOP Alumna), Ryan Tabata (UHM MOP Rebecca Weible (UHM MOP Graduate), Erica Donlon (UHM MOP Graduate), Lindsey Bull (UHM MOP Student), Alexa Jeff Kuwabara (UHM MOP Coordinator).

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he MOP Alumni ‘ohana gained six new members this semester, two from UH Mānoa and four from UH Hilo. The two graduates from UHM were Erica Donlon, who received a certificate in “Coal Reef Surveying,” and Rebecca Weible, who received her certificate in “Scientific Diving.”

Jeff Kuwabara began the welcoming speech congratulating the graduates on their well-earned success and thanking the friends and family who have supported their students throughout their college career.

Ray Boland, National Marine Fishery Service, presenting the keynote address “Don’t Panic” to the MOP ‘Ohana. Photo by Alexa Gonzalez, UHM MOP Student Coordinator.

The keynote address, “Don’t Panic,” was presented by Ray Boland, National Marine Fishery Service. Ray graduated from MOP in 1995, but has been working in the remote northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) and other remote locations since pioneering studies on marine debris removal in the 1990’s. He was also involved in studies focusing on the forage base of the endangered Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) and scientific management as NOAA’s Unit Dive Supervisor.

Boland’s keynote addressed gave four major points: don’t panic, don’t quit, use opportunity, and evolve.

“I’m asking you not to quit and don’t give up on opportuni-

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ation

Graduates

University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Erica Donlon - Certificate Title: Coral Reef Surveying

Project Title: Marine benthic surveys using coral point count with excel (CPCe) on the island of Hawai’i

Rebecca Weible - Certificate Title: Scientific Diving Project Title: UH Manoa Diving Safety Office: The Development of a UH Scientific Dive Master Program

University of Hawai‘i at Hilo

Pauleen Fredrick - Certificate Title: Marine Algal Research Project Title: Systematics of the Trentepohliales (Ulvophyceae, Chlorophyts) on the Windward Coast of O’ahu

Kamaki Maluo - Huber - Certificate Title: Ocean Resource

Management Project Title: Gaining Experience in Ocean Resource Management and Education through the Moon Phase Project

P Alumnus), Tate Wester (UHM MOP Alumnus), Gonzalez (UHM MOP Student Coordinator), and

Jazmine Panelo - Certificate Title: Marine Grant Writing Project Title: Preparation of a Marine Grant Proposal for the UH Hilo Marine Option Program

ties,” Boland said. “But don’t block yourself off from opportunities. If you can find a job within marine sciences, check it out. Maybe Kelsey Reimer - Certificate Title: Marine Chemical Pollution you were a climatologist and the only jobs Project Title: The neutralization of the effects of select persistent available are something different. Check it organic pollutants (POPs) Dieldrin and Endrin using FeS2 (Ferout, you may end up liking it.” ric Sulfide) in Hawai‘i After the keynote address, MOP certificates were presented to the students and they were that’s going to Jarvis (island in the South Pacific) and all asked to explain their plans for the future. The first these other places, so if that works out. If that works out, graduate was Donlon. that would be amazing. I’m applying to grad school here “I finished my degree in May, but I needed three more for Zoology and Marine Biology.” credits for my MOP certificate, so I decided to delay “I just really want to thank all of you guys for being here graduation and went to Brazil to find a MOP project,” tonight,” Weible continued with tears starting to form, Donlon said. “I did an internship using ArcGIS, which “I don’t really remember how I found out about MOP, is a mapping program. Now I plan to do my masters in but I did and I got to do so much. I’m really grateful New Zealand at the University of Otago.” because my four and a half years here would have been After Donlon, Weible was awarded her certificate. so different if I didn’t do MOP.” “I have been working at the Point Lab at HIMB for the past four months and have been asked to stay on for another three months after I graduate,” Weible said. “Then it’s looking like I’m going to be go on a NOAA cruise

To Rebecca, Erica and all the rest of the graduates – MOP would like to wish you success and happiness as you move forward. Good luck! We’re going to miss you. n JANUARY 2017 |5

Drone footage of a mother, calf and male humpback whale by Alysia Curdts and Trent Fischer, Seawords Photography Submission.

Winter Migration Season— The Humpbacks are Here!

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t’s that time of year again when humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) or koholā, visit Hawaiian waters. Whale season began in November and stretches until May, with peak season between January and March. Mothers and their nursing calves typically arrive first, with juveniles and newly weaned yearlings coming next. Third to the scene are adult males followed by the eligible adult females. The adult males double the females in number. The last to migrate are the pregnant females, which spend as much time as they can feeding on krill and small schooling fish like herring in Alaska before the 3,000 mile journey to Hawai‘i.

Of the 21,000 North Pacific humpback whale population it is estimated that 10,000 of these whales head to Hawaiian waters while the others swim to the southern islands of Japan or even further south to Mexico (NOAA 2014). Humpback whales do not feed after the migration to warmer waters; their focus is on mating, calving and nursing their young.

In 1992, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (HIHWNS) was established when Congress agreed that designating Hawaiian waters as critical habitat was important for the endangered species. This Main Hawaiian Island sanctuary covers ~1,218 square nautical miles (1,402 square mi) of coastal and offshore waters up to depths of 100 fathoms (600 ft).

This area encompasses all of Maui, Lanai, Moloka‘i, and parts of O‘ahu, Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i Island. It is managed by a partnership between the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuary and the State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). In September of 2016, the humpback whale population was divided into 14 Distinct Population Segments (DPS)--of those divisions four DPS remained on the endangered species list. One was classified as threatened and the other nine were delisted. The DPS that migrates to Hawai‘i was one of the nine removed from the endangered species list. The Hawai‘i DSP is still protected by the International Whaling Commission moratorium and by whale approach regulations by the HIHWNS and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) that apply in all wa-

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ters within 200 nautical miles (230 mi) of the islands of Hawai‘i. While Endangered Species Act (ESA) section 10 (a) (1)(A) research permits are no longer required for research on humpback whales in Hawaiian waters, a MMPA scientific research permit is still required. This season will be the first time humpbacks have seen Hawaiian waters not as an endangered species since their initial listing in 1970.

Hawaii’s waters are thought to be a chosen migration destination for their warm temperatures, good visibility, depth variety, and minimal natural predators. While the humpbacks live their seasonal Hawaiian lives, they are also targets of tourism and research. The State of Hawai‘i receives approximately $20 million of its annual revenue from the whale watching industry (2013), the majority of which is made during the prime of the season.

Whether by tourists or scientists, humpback whales will be observed at the surface throughout the entire season. Humpbacks have several classified surface behaviors that are observed: blows, spy hops/head rises, tail slaps, pec slaps, head lunges, peduncle slaps, fluke up dives and breaches. For researchers who are identifying whales in research catalogs, the fluke up dives are the most important. Like fingerprints are unique to humans, the shape and color pattern (ventral side) of humpbacks’ flukes function the same way for identification. The Pacific Whale Foundation (PWF) is just one example of a research institution that photographs the ventral fluke for their Hawaiian Humpback Whale Catalog. By creating an ongoing catalog of individuals, new individuals are added and repeat sightings can lead to insights into population sizes, migration patterns, sexual maturity, and behavioral patterns. PWF also has a project called “Match My Whale” on matchmywhale. org which uses citizen science efforts to assist scientists in matching identification photos to reduce matching time and give community members direct involvement with their catalogs. More information about this project can be found at www.pacificwhale.org/content/match-

my-whale-humpback-whale-fluke-identification-proj- said, “The whale’s absence could just mean they’re ect. spending more time feeding in the northern waters, that’s possibly because of El Niño disruptions. Or it may In addition to fluke ID’s some researchers take hydrobe because their population has gone up. With more phone recordings of males singing songs. A recording animals, they’re competing against each other for that of a humpback within the HIHWNMS sanctuary can food resource, and it takes an energy reserve to make be heard at hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/explore/ that long migration over 2,000 miles.” With El Niño sounds/whale_song.mp3 (NOAA Fisheries Permit behind us as well as the days of the Hawaiian DPS en#782-1719). Alison Stimpert, UH grad and vertebrate dangered species listing, this humpback whale season is ecologist from Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, long awaited. E komo mai (welcome) koholā. n California, said, “We still don’t know exactly the function of humpback song—whether it is directed at females or other males—and no one has definitively assigned any particular sound production to females yet.” For those studying bioacoustics in relation to mating, another sampling period has arrived.

It is unknown when the koholā made their first appearance in Hawai‘i. A limited history exists in the written and oral history in the form of petroglyphs, legends, legendary place names, and artifacts. Many wonder why there isn’t more information about their seasonal presence. Theories suggest that the humpbacks were not in Hawai‘i beyond the 200 year record or that Hawaiians viewed the koholā to be so sacred they kept it a secret, the knowledge reserved for a limited few (NOAA 2014). Regardless of the answer the humpback whale migration is not just a seasonal trip; for some it is a homecoming. Since some whales are calved here they are technically kama’aina (native born). Humpback whales are also ‘aumakua (family guardians) to many Hawaiians.

While it is wonderful to have these “gentle giants” here, their time in Hawai‘i is not without risk. Humpbacks can be subject to entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes, habitat impacts, boat harassment and low-flying aircraft. National Marine Sanctuaries and NOAA’s HIHWNS website urges ocean etiquette with our seasonal visitors, instructing people to keep their distance, avoid chasing or harassing, and to speak up in situations to assist others in becoming responsible and respectful wildlife watchers and tour operators.

Last year there were concerns when humpbacks arrived late in the season and in lower numbers than usual. Ed Lyman, HIHWNS’s Large Whale Entanglement Response Coordinator from Maui

Behaviors to look for provided by NOAA JANUARY 2017 |7

DIVE SAFETY Tyler Phelps, UHH MOP Student

Breaking the Habit

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Bad Habits to Break and Good Habits to Adopt for Safer Diving in 2017

ersonally I think New Year’s resolutions are overrated. Why should you let a number on a calendar be the deciding factor in improving your life? But I digress. It’s a new year and a convenient opportunity to reflect back on 2016. Since it’s not my place to give you life advice, let’s just focus on diving.

Diving with un-serviced equipment is like driving with the “check engine light on.” Something bad is bound to happen and you just don’t know when it will be. Sure you could probably squeak out some more dives, but is the risk really worth the benefit?

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Consult your owner’s manual and have your regulator serviced appropriately. If your regulator does not In honor of the new digit on our calendars, I’ve selected require annual service, consider putting some of that seven habits to focus on. Some of them are bad habits, Christmas money towards an annual inspection. It’s some of them are good habits. Now is the time to be cheap, fast and gives honest with yourself and think constructively. I chal- you peace of mind lenge you to avoid these bad habits and adopt the good that your regulator is ones to have safer, more enjoyable dives for 2017. good to use.

abit #1 – Skipping Buddy Checks (BAD)

abit

#3

– Kneeling on If you take nothing else away from this article, the Bottom (BAD) please do your buddy checks! I have read an overwhelming number of fatality reports that would never It’s not your fault. It’s have happened if a buddy check was done. the Law of Primacy: Ponder this before the next time you “splash.” You are what is done first is remembered. about to enter a hostile world, one that humans are best not adapted to at all. Do you think astronauts leave the Most likely, your inspace station without checking their LSS (life support structor taught you system)? How would you feel if a pilot didn’t check the how to do the fun- UH Hilo Scientific Divers in Training pr damental skills while plane before taking off? buoyant. Photo by Tyler Phelps, U kneeling on the botNo matter how urgent the dive, take a minute to do a tom. Subconsciously this has created a bad habit of ashead-to-toe buddy check. Visually confirm all of your sociating being on the bottom with comfort. buddy’s equipment and your own to make sure it is functioning properly. Do not get distracted--direct your I have seen divers literally swim down an extra 10 ft to entire attention to the buddy check. It just might save kneel on the bottom in order to clear their mask! If you fall victim to this, discipline yourself to become comyou, or your buddy’s, life. fortable doing basic skills while neutrally buoyant (see abit #2 – Have Your Equipment Serviced Habit # 4). For science divers doing skills comfortably (GOOD) mid-water, often with one hand, is paramount. Having

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two free hands is a luxury in occupational diving!

following a beeping watch, this effectively is a “trust me” dive. Every team member should be able to do evabit #4 – Practicing Skills (GOOD) ery part of the dive and make decisions. You shouldn’t Open water divers, when was the last time you blindly follow one person or one piece of equipment to practiced an air share? Rescue divers, when was the last make it happen! time you practiced doing in-water rescue breaths or abit #6 – Logging Your Dives (GOOD) surfacing an unresponsive diver? As mentioned before in my previous articles, the best divers don’t just do the Some of my friends have thousands of dives and skills, they make them look easy! have been all over the world. If you were to ask them, Practicing skills can be just as easy too. Personally when- “what’s your biggest regret in diving?” All of them ever I go diving, I do what’s called an “S-drill” before I would unanimously say, “Not logging my dives.” Your descend. An S-drill, or Safety-drill, is running through dive log is an invaluable source of information because the muscle memory of doing an air share. If you dive every dive is a learning experience. You should be rewith a 32” alternate air source, this means pulling it free, cording every dive and what you learned from that dive.

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simulating giving it to your buddy, and reattaching it.

This confirms that your air source is donate-able in an emergency and you are comfortable locating it quickly.

If you were trained differently, this might mean donating your primary regulator and using your other hand to secure your alternate to your mouth.

Practicing skills during recreational dives can be fun, and can build good muscle memory. Rescue divers can also get a kick out of drilling each other with the various skills. Remember to do skills neutrally buoyant with a buddy! For other suggestions on how to practice, feel free to contact me (phelpst@hawaii.edu) or your campus’s Diving Safety Office (uhdsp@hawaii.edu).

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Personally, I have switched over to the digital world. I have all of my 800+ dives on a single (backed-up) Excel sheet. As a marine scientist, and mild statistics nerd, I can also run stats on my dive log. For example, it’s fun to say that I’ve consumed 1,116,050 PSI (over 372 AL80 tanks), with over 26 days spent underwater. If you are starting out your dive career, you might want to consider doing the same.

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abit #7 – Running Out of Gas (BAD)

Running out of gas is an indicator of poor dive planning and equipment awareness. Nobody wants to dive with a buddy who runs out of gas! Some dive operations will even refuse to let customers do repetitive dives if they run out of gas.

In your pre-dive planning (which everyone should be

abit #5 – “Trust Me” Dives doing), establish a conservative turn pressure and turn (BAD)

A “trust me” dive is defined as putting your entire trust into a sole person or piece of equipment.

Here’s an example: you and your buddy rent a couple of cylinders.

Your tank is only half full and your buddy has a full tank. When ractice skills while neutrally discussing turn pressures, the UHH MOP Student. tank pressure at which the diver should turn the dive and begin swimming towards his exit point, you decide on using their gas for emergencies. Another example could be relying on your buddy for their experience as they take you much deeper than you’ve ever gone before. All of these are bad ideas!

time. That is, at what time into your dive will you turn the dive to head back towards the exit? Or, at what pressure will you hit to turn to have enough gas to head back for you and your buddy? For more information on gas planning, please refer to my “Rock Bottom” article in the May 2016 issue (https://issuu.com/seawords/docs/ may_online).

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abit #8 – Continue Your Education (GOOD) *Bonus*

If it’s been awhile since you’ve taken another class, consider continuing your education in 2017. Nitrox or Advanced Scuba Diver are great options for new divers looking to advance their education. For more advanced divers, considering taking the Rescue Diver, Master Scuba Diver, or a professional level class. The best divBut another example of a “trust me” dive can be to ers are always learning! n blindly follow your dive computer. If you are inexperienced with dive tables and put your entire trust into JANUARY 2017 |9

Learning about the Deep Sea with HURL

By Camra Hopper, Editor Photos by: Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator

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n Dec. 5, UH Mānoa MOP took a step into Pisces IV, a deep diving manned submersible, to learn more about discoveries and how to conduct science 20,000 feet below

The USS Antares was coming in to Pearl Harbor, towing a barge, but there were five 350 foot fleet class Japanese navy submarines carrying five midget submarines, with two man crews, following behind the Antares. Once the the surface.

Antares learned they were being followed she signaled the Ward, which had standing orders to attack and sink HURL (Hawai‘i Undersea Research Laboratory) has any submarine that wasn’t on the surface being escorted made several historical discoveries with Pisces IV and in. Captain Outerbridge sent the Ward towards the AnPisces V, one of them being the retrieval of a historic tares and the little submarines. The Ward fired at one of bell from World War II and a Japanese submarine I-400 the submarines at close range, leading to the first shot of that was sunk in 1946 during one of their test dives. the Pacific War during World War II. One of their other discoveries includes finding the “We took Will Lehner, Ward veteran, down to the wreck wreckage of the first casualty and shot fired in World site in Pisces IV and it was a real honor to take him War II, at Pearl Harbor, that had been lost until Pisces down to look at that midget sub,” Kerby said. “He said IV and Pisces V found it in 2002. that he was standing on the rail and saw that periscope “On December the 7th it was Ward’s [the destroyer] turn and look right him before that shot. Right after, the day to patrol the defensive sea area,” said Terry Kerby, Captain said, ‘This is probably going to be the shortest HURL Operations Direct and Chief Submarine Pilot. command in naval history.’”

“They had a brand new captain, Lieutenant William Currently the HURL submarines are in the process of Outerbridge. The Ward was his first command in the being recertified so they can make a Northwestern HaNavy and December the 7th was his first day on the job waiian Islands submarine trip next year. This requires in his command.” the subs to be fully deconstructed, put back together and tested. The Pisces IV was recently recertified so UHM MOP Students were able to go inside under the guidance of Maximilian Cremer, Deputy Operations Director and Submersible Pilot.

“My favorite part of the tour by far was meeting Max Cremer and Terry Kerby - reading and watching documentaries about the kind of people that explore the ocean’s depths and man the submersibles that go down is one thing, but being able to meet them and ask them questions about their experiences was something totally different.” said Haley Cremer (no relation to Max Cremer), UHM MOP Student. n

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In Loving Memory:

Carey Lee Morishige Martinez

Morishige when she first joined MOP.

Photo from Carey Morishige’s Facebook.

By: Camra Hopper, Editor

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arey Morishige Martinez, joined the UHM MOP ‘ohana in 1998 and graduated in 2002 with a certificate in Marine Mammal Conservation Education. Just two years later, she received a Master of Science in Animal Sciences from UHM. After graduation she continued to stay in touch with MOP as coordinator of the Blue Water Campaign for the Sierra Club and supporter of the 2005 Marine Option Program ‘Ohana Celebration, where over 200 MOP alumni, supporters, friends and family enjoyed the event.

“Mahalo for all your support, encouragement and friendly words throughout my graduate school ‘career’.

I can finally see the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ and it is SO good!” Morishige said in an e-mail announcing her thesis defense in 2004.

Morishige served as Executive Director of the U.S. All Islands Coral Reef Committee Secretariat as well as the Pacific Islands Regional Coordinator and Outreach Coordinator for the NOAA Marine Debris Program and the Marine Debris Outreach Coordinator for the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program.

Carey passed away on Nov. 5, 2016. She is survived by her husband Jonathan Martinez and their new-born daughter, Mika.

The Marine Option Program would like to send its sincere condolences to the Morishige and Martinez Family.

June 2002 MOP Graduation. Photo by Seawords.

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By Jeremy Gasta, American Cetacean Society Student

Orca Marine Mammal of the Month: Orca

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f prompted to imagine the top predator of all of the world’s oceans, many people would likely picture a great white shark, or perhaps a giant squid.

Some may have a sperm whale come to mind, the deep-diving marine mammal that holds the title of the largest apex predator alive on the planet. While the answer does lie within the cetacean clade, it may come as a surprise to many, for the title of the ocean’s top predator is the orca, or aptly-named “killer whale.”

Species: Orca or Killer Whale Scientific Name: Orcinus orca Range: Worldwide, but most abundant in coastal or cooler waters Diet: Virtually anything in the ocean, but tends to prefer fish and marine mammals Size: About 20-30 feet

attack on a human.

Male orcas generally reach lengths of 23-26 feet (the record being 32 feet long) and females usually 16-23 feet (with a record of 28 feet). Females tend to have longer than males, living 50-80 years in the wild compared to 30-60 years for males. The oldest known orca is believed to be 103 years old. Orcas are extremely social and tend to live in tight-knit family groups called pods. They have a matriarchal social structure, meaning that groups are It can be hard to imagine orcas as savage alpha preda- female-led, with the oldest, most experienced female tors in today’s cultural climate, in which these whales, (or matriarch) in charge. Most members of a pod are actually the largest members of the dolphin family, are the matriarch’s direct descendants. often seen as friendly and fun-loving aquarium deniFor a long time, all orcas were thought to belong to a sinzens (though this view has begun to shift in recent gle species that shared much of the same behavior and years, largely due to the documentary Blackfish, which diet. However, as more research has been done, it has has caused people to more intensely consider the health been discovered that there are multiple different groups of orcas in captivity). While these animals are extraordiof orcas across the world, called “ecotypes,” which difnarily intelligent, curious, social, and playful, they also fer in lifestyle and even physical appearances. Many of happen to be the most formidable beast in the ocean. these ecotypes tend to stay separate from others, causKiller whales are known as apex predators because no ing distinct genetic differences between groups. This other creatures (save humans) can view them as a food has caused many a scientist to wonder if orcas worldsource. Instead, orcas can eat virtually any other animal wide should be classed into different races, subspecies, in the ocean ranging from fishes, pinnipeds (seals and or even completely different species. This ambiguity has sea lions), dolphins, sharks, turtles, and have even been made it difficult for researchers to estimate if orcas are known to attack great whales up to and including the endangered or not, as they may be dealing with multiple massive blue (Balaenoptera musculus). Oddly, despite different species or only a single one. the fact that we could easily wind up as a killer whale’s The three most well-understood orca types have been breakfast, there’s not been a single recorded wild orca

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Breaching orca. Photo by: Taylor Shedd, UHM MOP Alumnus. classified as residents, transients, and offshore orcas.

Residents are the best understood variety, as they tend to stay put in a single home range for most of their lives, allowing for easier, continuous observations of individuals. Common in the Northeast Pacific, residents largely eat fishes (especially salmon) and have extremely tight family bonds. Transients are also found on coastal areas, but instead of living in a single home range will roam the entire North American coast. These whales hunt marine mammals, including seals and sea lions but occasionally even other cetaceans. Transients have a looser social structure than residents, and while they also live in small family groups, it is not unknown for an occasional whale to split off and live on its own.

Transients have much less complexity in their calls and communications than residents. Though the range of these two orca variants overlap, they largely ignore each other, and a recent genetic analysis revealed that there hasn’t been interbreeding between the two groups for over 10,000 years. The difference in their lifestyle and diet is so extreme that residents are often seen swimming peacefully alongside mammals that transients would normally consider prey.

in the mid-seventies and some have been spotted with more than 200 whales.

While these three ecotypes are the best known, there are various other groups worldwide, all of which have different diets, lifestyles, and even dialects to communicate with one another. The existence of these differing dialects and hunting techniques have caused orcas to be recognized as one of the few non-human animals with distinct cultures.

If having unique cultures and languages isn’t enough to show off the orca’s ingenuity, then their unique hunting techniques surely take the cake. Killer whales have been shown to use great planning and understanding of their world while hunting prey. Off of the Farallon Islands, orcas have been seen killing a great white shark by flipping it onto its back to induce a hypnotic state called tonic immobility, allowing them to kill and eat it without a struggle. Other times, orcas have suffocated sharks by holding them still in the water, as sharks need to swim in order to breathe. Pods in South America have learned to beach themselves to grab sea lions on the shore – a risky move – and train younger whales to use this method. In Antarctica, groups of whales will Very little is known about the third, mysterious, offshore strategically swim around ice floes with seals resting on orcas, largely thanks to their only being discovered in them in order to create a wave to wash the prey off and 1988. Unlike the other two ecotypes, offshore orcas live into their waiting jaws. Orcas will readily attempt to kill in the deeper waters of the open ocean, and are known great whales and are such a threat to their calves that to prey on schooling fishes, though may also regularly it’s proposed great whales migrate to the tropics to give eat sharks, mammals, or larger prey. These orcas tend birth just to escape the onslaught. Killers they may be, to congregate in massive groups, the smallest of which but the orca is one of the most intelligent creatures in consists of twenty individuals, though most pods range our entire ocean. n JANUARY 2017 |13

ocean art

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Squishy Artist: Sarah Franklin, UHM MOP Student This piece is called “Squishy”, named after Dory’s little jellyfish in Finding Nemo. I had been watching a video of a submersible in the deep sea. During this expedition the scientist come across a white octopus like creature. They didn’t know what it is. It was a hilarious video, because the creature looked like a cartoon so, they thought it was a kid’s toy. I did my best to recreate in this piece by adding colorful suckers for interest.

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cean updates

By Alicia Gregor, UHM MOP Student

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

Increased Toxic Algal Blooms off of the West gae blooms could be correlated with increasing ocean Coast of the United States may be due to Increas- temperatures. While studying the record-breaking algae bloom of 2015, scientist Ryan McCabe, a researcher ing Ocean Temperatures Algae blooms are expected to occur in nature, however, Harmful Algal Blooms or HABs, are a different story. In May of 2015, one of the worst HABs that the West Coast had ever seen was in full swing and its effects were detrimental to marine life, fisheries and human health. As 2015 came to an end and 2016 began, scientists still could not figure out the cause of these algal blooms that seem to occur with increasing severity. However, in October 2016, scientists discovered that these intense al-

at the University of Washington’s College of the Environment, stated that the results of his research show increased algae populations due to abnormal ocean temperature spikes. Moreover, because of global climate change and rising ocean temperatures, many more of these harmful algal blooms are to be expected in the coming years.

Why Seabirds Ingest High Levels of Plastic

Plastic’s presence in the world’s oceans is perhaps one of the most known issues in marine conservation. Almost all the world knows the harm plastic in the ocean can cause; not only is the substance not biodegradable, it secretes viscous chemicals that are harmful to all ocean life. Unfortunately, ocean organisms are not the only life forms to come into contact with plastics. Seabirds such as albatross, Phoebastria immutabilis, are often found with bellies full of plastic.

However, only recently was it discovered that seabirds’ consumption of plastic may be more than just a “Nā Kioea” from the 2014 Annual Photo Contest, mistake. According to The New York

by Koa Matsuoka, UHM MOP Alumnus.

Times, after its predator consumes

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phytoplankton, a chemical called dimethyl sulfide is released signaling to seabirds that it is time to eat. Unfortunately, this same chemical is released by plastic. Because these birds have developed such a strong sense of smell, they likely dive into the water expecting to receive a mouthful of krill, but instead get a stomach full of poisonous plastic.

Along with releasing dimethyl sulfide, plastic debris also secretes harmful toxins such as Bisphenol A (BPA) – a powerful endocrine disruptor. The effects of plastic’s chemicals on birds are devastating, most often resulting in illness and discomfort. With the increasing level of plastic being released into the ocean, many seabirds are at high risk. Plastic wreaks havoc on the ocean’s ecosystems and now, it has the ability to trick birds into eating it.

shark had two of most internal organs. After the animal was examined, scientists began to speculate about the cause of the mutation. As more and more two headed sharks have been sighted around the world, an increasing need to discover potential causes of the mutation has arisen. According to National Geographic, some scientists believe that the cause of two-headed sharks could be as simple as a genetic disorder while others claim that these mutations are due to pollution, or even over-fishing, which may cause inbreeding and therefore genetic deviations.

The true cause of two-headed sharks is not yet known, simply because there are only a few recorded sightings in history. As time moves forward and more of these mutations are observed, scientists will be able to discover more about the causes of these incredible creatures.

Antarctica will soon boast the world’s largest marine park: predicted to be the size of Germany France and Spain

On Oct. 28th, 2016, Russia finally agreed to a 35-year contract where 598,000 square miles of Antarctica will be protected, creating the largest marine sanctuary in history. Thanks to the 24 countries that make up the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Two headed shark embryo found in Spain Living Resources, on Dec. 1, 2017, an area as large as In 2016, Spanish researchers were studying sharks’ pos- Germany, France and Spain combined will be protectsible benefit on human health when they found something completely unexpected: a two-headed catshark Scyliorhinidae embryo. What’s even more interesting about this occurrence is that it is first recorded case in history of an oviparous two-headed shark. Scientists who found the organism took it out of the egg to examine it and found that it indeed had everything a normal shark has: two eyes, a brain, a mouth, and gills on each side. Interestingly, however, upon further examination it was discovered that the Catshark embryos at Sea Life in Berlin. Photo by jr2142, Flickr.

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ed in Antarctica. The creation of the marine park will prohibit any fishing, whaling, and mineral exploration, which some believe are the reasons that Russia held out on signing the agreement for so long. Nevertheless, the sanctuary is a revelation in the world of conservation and will be protecting one of the most untouched environments on the planet. Endangered species of penguins, whales, fishes, krill, seals and seabirds will also have the chance to flourish in the new sanctuary. According to National Geographic, the reserve will also serve as an indicator of the true severity of climate change. As overfishing, deep-sea mining, and other harmful acts will be prohibited under this agreement, global climate change will be the only factor influencing the natural environment and scientists will be able to clearly view its effects on the sanctuary. The settlement will hopefully prove to be one of the most important in conservation history, ensuring a healthy future for the environment that will allow further research to be conducted on the effects of global climate change. This is certainly cause for celebration.

Damselfish may be able to survive in warmer temperatures than previously thought.

As ocean temperature continues to rise, all of its organisms must begin to adapt to the undesirable conditions, but each adapt in different ways. New research by Jennifer Donelson, a researcher at ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, and colleagues shows that reef-dwelling fish may be able to survive in temperatures up to 39 degrees Fahrenheit higher than their natural environments. However, these fish consistently choose to migrate rather than adapt. According to Science Daily, the blue-green damselfish, Chromis viridis, was able to survive under countless temperature shifts, but was not able to thrive.

Damselfish had trouble with their health, as well as with growing and reproducing in warmer than average temperatures. Moreover, while the news that these fish are somewhat durable temperature-wise is fairly encouraging, a collective effort still must be made to keep damselfish out of threatening situations in which they are not be able to flourish. n

Cocoa damselfish, Stegastes variabilis, is one of the most common reef fish found along the Gulf Coast of South Texas. Photo by Seth Patterson, Flickr.

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critter of the month Giant Trevally (Carnax ignobilis)

Distribution: across the indo-pacific.

Size: up to 170cm long and up to 80kg in weight.

Diet: crustaceans and smaller fish.

Coloration: light grey/silver, but large males may take on a darker color.

Habitat: pelagic, over sand and rock, but still associated with reefs.

IUCN Red List Status: not evaluated.

By Mason Mellot, UHM MOP Student Photo by: Tate Wester, UHM MOP Alumnus

C

arnax ignobilis, commonly known as the giant trevally, or ulua aukea in Hawaiian, is a large fish common both in Hawaiian waters and throughout the Indian and Pacific oceans. These fish are found at depths up to 188 m and prefer the temperatures of tropical waters which range from 26C to 29C. The giant trevally is considered a top predator and has been described as a highly aggressive hunter. A hybrid species between the giant trevally and the bluefin trevally (Caranx melampygus) can be found in Hawai‘i. Giant trevallies are highly sought after by sport fisherman and the general public for food. It is estimated that these fish bring over ten million dollars into the economy in Hawai‘i alone. Due to the high commercial demand, it would make sense that giant trevallies would be assessed for conservation purposes, however the species has not yet received an IUCN red list status. Despite the lack of endangerment classification, the population of giant trevallies in Hawai’i has declined in the past few decades. Much information is needed to assess management strategies for the giant trevally population as we move into the future. Because the giant trevally is so widespread, widely consumed, and economically important, it should be of very high priority in terms of management and conservation. n JANUARY 2017 |19

BLUE

Actions for the Ocean

GENERATION

By: Jessica Lotts, Associate Editor

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staggering 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris are in our oceans, according to National Geographic 2015. Broken down, that number accumulates to 269,000 tons of plastic on the ocean’s surface, and approximately 4 billion microfibers per square kilometer on the deep sea floor. Plastic debris can have deadly consequences for animals such as seabirds, sea turtles, seals and countless other marine animals who might mistake plastic pieces for a tasty snack. Millions of pounds of plastics are added to the sea each year, but there are countless ways for all of us to help. Beach clean ups are a great way to remove plastic from shores and shallow waters, but what do you do with all the trash you’ve picked up? Below are some creative ways you can turn that extremely harmful sea plastic into something beautiful.

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Background photo by Loaf, Fickr

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.

Turn it into a plastic mosaic. Plastic comes in every shape, color, and size imaginable, so the possibilities of things to create is infinite.

Take those pieces and turn them into an art piece for your home, or give your creation as a gift. To get some creative ideas and learn more about turning plastic to art, check out Washed Ashore .

Photo by Colleen Proppe, Fickr.

Recycle bottles/cans/containers into gardens.

Using glass bottles, cans, and other various plastic structures can create a beautiful herb or flower garden. For step by step guides on turning rubbish into recycled gardens, check out The Micro Gardener.

Photo by Sarowen, Fickr.

Turn it into jewelry. Find your favorite pieces and string them into a stylish bracelet or necklace. For these steps and several other ways to reuse your collected plastic, take a look on the Bored Panda Website.

Photo by John Vonderlin, Fickr.

*Safety Disclaimer: Always use gloves when picking up litter and never pick up syringes, sharp or dangerous objects, or any medical or hazardous waste. Make sure to thoroughly clean and disinfect any object you decide to keep before bringing it into your home and using for other purposes. Get creative, stay safe.

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FLASHBACK: 2006

Earthquake!

This flashback goes to November 2006, when Seawords covered a 6.7 earthquake that hit the Big Island on October 15, 2006. The epicenter of the quake was located 13 miles southwest of Puako and 18 miles deep. The main earthquake was followed by a secondary earthquake of 6.1 seven minutes later with multiple aftershocks.

The earthquake caused hotels and hospitals on Big Island to be evacuated due to ceilings collapsing, structures fracturing and electrical failures. It also caused for an electrical blackout on O‘ahu, Maui and Moloka‘i, which led to massive interruptions to air travel and commercial operations throughout all of the islands.

Fortunately, no one was hurt in this earthquake, but over $200 million worth of damage occurred. The quake shook up residents and tourists by showing the lack of preparation and public information available for tsunami warnings.

Dr. Walter Dudley, Chair of the Pacific Tsunami Museum Scientific Advisory Council and Professor of Marine Geology and Oceanography at UH Hilo, stated that building a device that predicts tsunami is difficult to do and cannot be used to prepare the islands against incoming tsunamis. He emphasized the importance of tsunami education, awareness, and preparedness for tourists, residence, and hotels alike.

Although this happened over ten years ago, this Flashback is an important reminder for us all to be prepared for any environmental event that could occur. Being proactive about emergency situations is imperative for staying safe during uncertain times. For more information on how to prepare for an emergency situation, visit the Pacific Tsunami Museum website and the NOAA website. (http://www. tsunami.org/index/index.html or http://www.noaa.gov/ )

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January

Photo credit: Kimberly James, UHM MOP Alumna and Photography Contestant

Sun.

Mon.

- Feb. 1: QUEST Limu Class - Feb. 5: Tour of METC -Feb. 6: QUEST ID Exam -Feb. 10: QUEST App Due

-Feb . 18: Maritime Archeology Sym -Feb . 20: President’s Day -Feb. 25: Humpback Whale Count

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Next month: February

New Year’s Day! Sunday’s at the Bay: Hanauma Bay 3 - 4 pm

First day of Instruction

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

MLK Day, No School QUEST Fish ID Classes Dean Hall 104 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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New Student Camera Car Dean Hall 10 5:00 p.m. - 6:

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QUEST Fish Dean Hall 104 6:00 p.m. - 9:0

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QUEST Inve Dean Hall 10 6:00 p.m. - 9:0

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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!