SEAW ORDS TheMarineOption Program Newsletter
November 2021
Volume XXXVI, Number 10
Aloha, and welcome to the November issue of Seawords! Happy Thanksgiving! This month, we're grateful to live in such a beautiful state surrounded by such incredibly biodiverse reef ecosystems, and that we get to share our love of the oceans with all of you! Get into the Thanksgiving mood by reading all about the Hawaiian turkeyfish on page 8, and think about ways to give back to the sea on page 12. Admire gorgeous artwork on page 20, and learn about rewilding initiatives on page 14. W hat would you like to see more of in Seawords?Send in your thoughts, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @mopseawords!
Zada Boyce-Quentin, SeawordsEditor, & Matilda Phillips, Associate Editor
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Contents 2: LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 4: PREHISTORIC CARBON CYCLES 6: CALIFORNIA OIL SPILL 8: CREATURE OF THE MONTH 12: W ORLD KINDNESS DAY 14: REW ILDING THE SEAS 20: OCEAN ART 22: MOP CALENDAR
Photo Credits Fr ont Page: Hawaiian turkeyfish. By: Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator. Tabl e of Contents: Reef. By: F. Delventhal, Flickr. Back Cover : W hale tail. By: Jim Kravitz, Flickr.
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Rocky beachfront. Photo by: Ricardo Feinstein, Flickr.
Pr ehistor ic Car bon Cycl es By: Al exandr ya Robinson, UHM MOP Student
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High school science classes often call the prehistoric oceans a ?primordial soup?due to the high volume of dissolved matter in the water. This matter, rich with nutrients, is given credit to jump-starting the procession of the evolutionary chain from which all organisms arise. One such nutrient is dissolved organic carbon, which is integral for the foundation of food webs in the ocean both today and in ancient waters. Earth?s carbon cycle plays a role in not only just nutrient availability, but atmospheric conditions too as free carbon dioxide helps drive the Earth?s climate. The previously accepted idea was that carbon-rich prehistoric ocean waters allowed for a free exchange of carbon between the ocean and the atmosphere which could have caused some of the largest changes in climate due to the concentration fluctuations. Researchers from the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Tech, Alternative Earths Team at NASA Interdisciplinary Consortia for Astrobiology Research, and the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Yale University have recently published an article in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showing that this widely accepted origin of life could be false. Utilizing modeling systems to understand the flow of carbon in various conditions ranging from carbon-rich water to low concentrations allowed these teams to replicate ancient ocean conditions. New modeling suggests that the Earth?s oceans were much like the oceans of today, with nutrient scarcity that forced organisms to actively seek out food ? definitely not the consistency of soup.Organic carbon content would have been low and constant rather than fluctuating as previously accepted, and this would not account for major environmental variability. A co-author of the paper, Dr. Lidya G. Tarhan, concluded with this, ?We need to entirely reconsider previous models for what factors drove the emergence of multicellular life, the ecology of Earth?s earliest animals, and the causes of major perturbations to Earth?s carbon cycle.?
Waves. Photo by: Liam Ross, Flickr.
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California Oil Spill: Source & Recovery By: Brenna Loving, UH W indward CC MOP Student Relief efforts continue after an estimated 126,000 gallons of crude oil spilled off the coast of Huntington Beach, California in early October. Covering over 13 square miles, the spill endangered the wildlife of the California coast with 10 of 35 recovered wild birds found dead. W hile barriers have been put in place to contain the spill, volunteers and scientists have worked to mitigate the oil's damage to the coast and its animal inhabitants. Thankfully, scientists have determined that there is no immediate threat to humans in the area at this time given the current acceptable air quality status. Locals have been instructed to be on the lookout for tar balls, as well as to not approach a stranded oil animal, but to call the Oiled W ildlife Care Network. The cause of this oil spill is still being disputed, but the primary belief is that damage to this pipeline could have been done up to a year ago. Though it is rare, the prime suspect for the preliminary damage is an anchor drop from a large vessel that dragged the pipe along, damaging, and cracking the outer layers of the pipeline. Investigators discovered growth along the primary crack in the pipeline, supporting the theory that damage to the pipeline could have been incurred long before the spill began. Perhaps there were several other concurrent events that damaged the pipeline to the point of rupturing into a spill. Investigators are now looking into this past year's maritime logs of vessels that crossed over the area to determine the culprit and any other leading potential causes of the oil spill. To prevent future spills and to protect the marine environment of the area, investigators and scientists are working to identify leading causes and methods for prevention of oil spills along the California coast. 6 | Seawords
Oil spill. Photo by: FHG Photo, Flickr.
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Turkeyfish. Photo by: Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator.
Cr eatur e of the Month: Haw aiian Tur k eyfish By: Chl oe Mol ou, UHH SeawordsLiaison NOVEMBER 2021
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With spines that are said to resemble turkey plumage, NohuPinao, the Hawaiian turkeyfish (Pteroissphex), is a beautifully dangerous fish endemic to Hawai?i. Turkeyfish is another name given to the more popularly known lionfish. Depending on where you are from, you may also know them by one of their many other common names, including fireworks fish, zebrafish, butterfly cod and red firefish, just to name a few. With close relatives found in other parts of the Indo-Pacific region, NohuPinao is one of six members of the scorpionfish family endemic to Hawai?i, along with about 19 other species found in Hawaiian waters. NohuPinaocan grow to be about 8 inches long, which is just 4 inches shy of its South Pacific relative. Its body is a rusty pink color with many vertical white stripes running the entire length of its body. They are easily identifiable thanks to their numerous dorsal spines that sway with the current and can grow to be the length of their bodies. These are solitary fish that can be found from 9 to 400 feet. They normally spend their days in caves and under ledges, sometimes upside down, but can be spotted by the occasional lucky diver. If they are approached and do not feel threatened, they will remain seemingly unbothered and almost motionless. Turkeyfish. Photo by: Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator.
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Turkeyfish. Photo by: Stephanie Batzer, Flickr.
However, they are venomous and when confronted with a threat, they will direct their many dorsal spines forward to intimidate their opponent by looking larger. Their stings can cause severe pain and inflammation in humans, so be cautious and do not try to touch them. Turkeyfish are nocturnal ambush predators that scour the reefs at night for juvenile fishes and crustaceans. They use their wing-like fins to fan sediments from the seafloor, uncovering sleeping prey which are consumed in a single gulp. Nohu Pinaodo not have very many natural predators, thanks mainly to their venomous spines. Unfortunately, these beautiful animals are highly sought after in the commercial aquarium trade with research in Hawai?i suggesting populations are in decline due to their popularity. It is incredibly important for us to protect endemic species like Nohu Pinao, whose small populations could be decimated by the commercial aquarium demand.
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W or l d Kin
November 13, 2021 is W orld Kindness Da one's society, and the world. This month, le be kind to the ocean! Small changes in our l difference in protectin
1. Conserve water By reducing water use, we can limit the amount of wastewater and runoff which winds up in the ocean.
2. Shop responsibly Buy less plastic when possible- in addition to using a reusable bottle and shopping bag, seek out products with little to no plastic wrapping.
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Ocean waves. Photo by: Chris Luczkow, Flickr.
ndness Day
ay- a day to celebrate kindness to one's self, et's consider different ways in which we can lifestyles add up and can make a meaningful ng marine ecosystems.
3. Leave no trace Be careful to avoid leaving trash out or in a place where it can blow out of the trash can. If you see trash on the ground, dispose of it.
4. Get involved Contact businesses and your local representatives to demand that they prioritize marine ecosystem protection, and vote for change.
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Beach. Photo by: Ishtaure Dawn, Flickr.
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Rew il ding the Seas By: Lucian Anderson, UHM MOP Student NOVEMBER 2021
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Rewilding is a term used to describe the reintroduction of a vanished species back into the local ecosystem. The goal for a reintroduction of a species is to restore the ecosystem and environment of an area like a national park, wildlife refuge, or a marine ecosystem. An article by Helen Scales writes that the most famous example of this is the reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park in 1995. Fishing methods and resource extraction have disturbed seabeds, releasing carbon stored in the sediment and removing plant life that can store carbon. Bottom trawling fishing also disturbs the seafloor in the same manner, with the additional threat of endangered species like sea turtles becoming bycatch. Restoring an ecosystem by reintroducing a species can have significant benefits such as mitigating climate change and climate change related disasters in some areas (BBC Newsround, 2021). One area in which rewilding could greatly benefit the marine ecosystem is the United Kingdom. The Marine Conservation Society and Rewilding Britain report that the UK coastal waters, which have salt marshes and kelp forests, can store up to 205 million tons of carbon. This is 50 million tons more than all the carbon stored in the forests in the UK. Salt marshes are some of the United Kingdom's most effective carbon storage tools. The salt marshes are believed to store 43,000 tons of carbon annually which is 2 to 4 times higher than tropical forests.
Stiffkey salt marsh. Photo by: Colin Haycock, Flickr.
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Giant clam, Fiji. Photo by: Doug Beckers, Flickr.
Around 427,000 km2 of the United Kingdom's coastline are salt marshes. This number is decreasing by 100 hectares a year due to changing environmental conditions and anthropogenic factors,and this problem is expected to only become worse. Resource extraction and bottom trawling are banned in surprisingly few of the UK?s waters. The Marine Conservation Society acknowledges that 20%of UK waters are protected; however, they claim there is little enforcement. If trends continue, the Marine Conservation Society suggests that the sea shelf could release 13 million tons of stored carbon over the course of a decade. Their study shows that it is important to protect the salt marshes but also rewild them in areas they were once prevalent. Further protection and rewilding could allow the United Kingdom to meet its goal of reducing its emissions pledged in 2015 at the Paris Climate Accords. Rewilding in the ocean is not as common as on land, but one of the largest current marine rewilding efforts is happening in the waters surrounding the islands of Fiji in the South Pacific. Giant clams were a delicacy in Fiji; as a result, they were overfished to near local extinction in the 1980s. Australian clams were brought over to start a breeding program. The clams are kept in cages until they are big enough to not be eaten by local predators. The presence of giant clams is a sign of a healthy reef in Fiji. W hile Fiji is a successful case of rewilding in the marine environment, it is a rare occurrence. Several species that are used for rewilding are known to breed in captivity. Many aquatic animals are known to not reproduce in the care of humans. In 2017, attempts to bring a Vaquita dolphin, a species with a few individuals left, from the Gulf of California went wrong. Two were caught but one panicked and had to be released. NOVEMBER 2021
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Ocean. Photo by: Amy the Nurse, Flickr.
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The other died from a heart attack. Other animals that have not reproduced in captivity include narwhals, great white sharks, and hammerhead sharks. Scales writes that in November of 2021, the first attempt at rewilding a reef in Raja Ampat located in West Papua will begin with captive bred sharks. The proposed species to be rewilded is the zebra shark, also known as the leopard shark. This species has been overfished in the past due to the demand for shark fin soup. The leopard shark is one of the few species of sharks that can breed in captivity and lay egg cases which are easier to transport. Some of the areas where leopard sharks were once fished are now marine protected areas where fishing is off limits. The government of West Papua hopes the sharks can be a"poster child"for sustainable tourism. Rewilding may not be necessary in many cases, as the ocean has the ability to rewild itself if left undisturbed. Marine areas should experience an increase in marine populations when threats like fishing and resource extraction are mitigated. Fishermen will fish at the border of a marine protected area since that is where the larger fish are. However, the marine protected area will provide a refuge for overfished species, allowing the populations within the borders to grow. Schools of fish within the marine protected areas are up to 7 times greater than those not in a protected area. Rewilding is noble in that it can bring an ecosystem back to some form of normalcy and return major players in the overall health of an environment. Rewilding environments can allow carbon sequestering on a large scale, and it can prevent an animal from going extinct entirely. However, not every marine species has been known to reproduce in captivity. If it isn't too late for some species, all they may need is a marine protected area established where they can flourish. Rewilding should be considered in a case by case scenario for certain species and ecosystems. Zebra shark. Photo by: Sigmund, Flickr.
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Ocean Art: Mer
Artwork by: Alyssa Pere
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ermaid Portraits
ez, UHM MOP Student
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Vol u m e XXXVI, Nu m ber 10 Editor : Zada Boyce-Qu en tin Dr. Cyn th ia H u n ter (em in en ce gr ise) Jeffr ey Ku wabar a (em in en ce gr ise) W r itin g Team : Br en n a Lovin g, Ch l oe M ol ou , Caitl in Tsu ch iya, Al exan dr ya Robin son , H al ey Ch asin , an d Geor gia Joh n son -Kin g Seawor ds- M ar in e Option Pr ogr am Un iver sity of H awai ?i , Col l ege of Natu r al Scien ces 2450 Cam pu s Road, Dean H al l 105A H on ol u l u , H I 96822-2219 Tel eph on e: (808) 956-8433 Em ail : <seawor ds@ h awaii.edu > W ebsite: <h ttp:/ / www.h awaii.edu / m op> Seawor ds is th e m on th l y n ewsl etter n ewsl etter of th e M ar in e Option Pr ogr am at th e Un iver sity of H awai?i. Opin ion s expr essed h er ein ar e n ot n ecessar il y th ose of th e M ar in e Option Pr ogr am or of th e Un iver sity of H awai?i. Su ggestion s an d su bm ission s ar e wel com e. Su bm ission s m ay in cl u de ar ticl es, ph otogr aph y,ar t wor k , or an yth in g th at m ay be of in ter est to th e m ar in e com m u n ity in H awai ?i. an d ar ou n d th e wor l d. All photos ar e taken by M OP unless other wise cr edited.