October 2014 Seawords by Marine Option Program

Seaw rds The Marine Option Program Newsletter

October 2014

A DAY IN THE LIFE DR. KAKKALA GOPALAKRISHNAN (1942-2014) URCHIN EXCURSION

Fish recruitment 2014: A banner year for coral reef fish recruitment

October 2014

Volume XXVIII, Number 6

Featured articles Page 6: A day in the life Page 8: Dr. Kakkala Gopalakrishnan (1942-2014) Page 12: Fish recruitment 2014 Page 28: Wana sea something cool?: Urchin excursion

Contents Page 4: Letter from the Editor Page 8: Ocean Updates: -Dr. Kakkala Gopalakrishnan -Dandruff of the sea Page 16: Generation Blue Page 18: O‘ahu dive sites Page 20: Ocean Art: Zachary Gorski Page 32: Critter of the Month: Blue black urchin Page 34: Questions about QUEST: Kanoe Steward & Rebecca Weible Page 36: Hanauma Bay Calendar of Events Flashback Page 37: March MOP Calendar of Events

About the Photography -Cover photo: These goatfish and pennant butterfly fish are not normally seen in such large numbers at Puakō. You can read about the recruiting event that brought them here on page 10. Photo by Jeff Kuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator -Table of Contents photos: Also shot by Jeff Kuwabara, these photos are part of a collection entitled “Sandbox Surprise” that was featured in the May 2013 issue. -All uncredited photos by: MOP 2|

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Interactive table of contents:

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Seawords Volume XXVIII, Number 6, October 2014 Editor: Kathryn Lam Assistant Editor: Brijonnay Madrigal Dr. Cynthia Hunter (éminence grise) Seawords- Marine Option Program University of Hawai‘i, College of Natural Sciences 2450 Campus Road, Dean Hall 105A Honolulu, HI 96822-2219 Telephone: (808) 956-8433 Email: <seawords@hawaii.edu> Website: <http://www.hawaii.edu/mop> Seawords is the monthly newsletter of the Marine Option Program at the University of Hawai‘i. Opinions expressed herein are not necessariliy those of the Marine Option Program or of the University of Hawai‘i. Suggestions and submissions are welcome. Submissions may include articles, photography, art work, or anything that may be of interest to the marine community in Hawai‘i and around the world. All photos are taken by MOP unless otherwise credited.

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Letter from the Editor Photo credit: Rebecca Ziegler, UHH MOP Student

ver the summer, our Assistant Editor Brijonnay Madrigal participated in a dolphin research internship at Dolphins Plus, in the Florida Keys. For more about this story, please turn to page 6. Also look online to find a story on the recent fish recruitment that has been blooming around the Hawaiian Islands. The first two interviews with QUEST student leaders are also featured so be sure to check that out! In the next issue you can look forward to two more QUEST student leader interviews in addition to a list of classes you can register for in the spring that can count towards earning your MOP certificate.

Thank you for reading!

--Kathryn Lam, Seawords Editor

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MOP Summers

A day in the life By Brijonnay Madrigal, Assistant Editor This summer, I traveled across the country to Key, Largo Florida, where I worked as a dolphin research intern for three months at Dolphins Plus.

estled within the Florida Keys is Dolphins Plus, an organization that since its opening in 1980 and has been creating meaningful dolphin encounter experiences for people in addition to research and acquiring knowledge about dolphins. Dolphins Plus sits alongside a canal that connects to the ocean that allowed the seawater to flow through. This creates two natural ocean water lagoons with lobsters, crabs, and fish in it, creating an enriching environment for the eleven Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Here, the public can interact with the dolphins in both structured programs (hands on with trainers) and natural swims (a “no touch” swim that simulates a natural dolphin swimming experience). The Dolphins Plus staff consists of trainers, graduate students, intern coordinators and both animal care and research interns from all across the world.

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My days started early in the morning, as I needed to film the dolphins while the facility was at its quietest and dolphin whistles could be easily heard (both above and below water). I would lower a waterproof camera mounted to a pole in the lagoons and film for 15-30 minutes, to record vocalizations that were happening amongst the dolphins. We were required to know each dolphin by name and be able to identify individuals by physical characteristics. After filming, I would download the video file with audio into RAVEN, a sound analysis software created by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and look at the spectrogram1 of each file to find dolphin whistles. Whistles that had visual confirmation (a.k.a. I saw/heard which dolphin vocalized and was able to identify which one produced sound) were cut, pasted onto a word document and filed in a vocal catalogue. I spent hours closely analyzing each whistle logged for every dolphin to quantify the types of whistles they vocalized. Each dolphin had unique whistle patterns that they produced (signature whistle) and the shape of the whistles looked different for each dolphin. 1

Visual representation of sound including the spectrum of frequencies.

STUDENT PERSPECTIVE In addition to acoustic research, I was also involved with psychological studies. I worked closely with graduate students at Dolphins Plus and the trainers to carry out the cognition projects they were working on with the dolphins. We focused on two: Lexigrams and Match-to-Sample (MTS). Lexigrams are used to test a dolphin’s ability to associate symbols with a learned, trained behavior. We had sets of 10 white boards each with a different symbol in black. The trainers would have the dolphin “at attention” and then the board would be flipped, with the symbol facing the dolphin. The dolphins were beginning the learning process so the trainers would help the dolphins by giving hands signals for each behavior. But the timing of when the hand signal was given (before board was flipped, after board was flipped, etc.) was variable. As an intern, I would record the results. If the dolphins were correct, meaning they either followed directions and performed the correct behavior as the trainers hand signal or did the behavior on their own correctly, they were reinforced with fish or excitement from the trainers. My favorite dolphin, Grace, had learned three of the ten boards by the end of my internship. The goal is for the dolphins to be able to look at the symbol on the Lexigram board and perform the correct behavior associated with the symbol on their own, without any hand signal assistance from the trainers. MTS is a choice test where a dolphin has to match the desired shape to one of two choices of shapes given. The three shapes and colors used are as follows; circle, triangle and square in black, white and grey. Two boards are held up, one above the other, for the dolphin to see. On the smaller, top board a shape in a given color is placed. On the bottom board, two different shapes are given as choices with one corresponding with the shape of the above board. The dolphin then has to swim up to the boards and place his/her rostrum2 on the shape that he/she believes is the match. There were ten trials in a row and I would record the results after each one. Bella was one of the best dolphins at this test, she would even tilted her head as if

she was thinking intently about her choice. In addition to research, there were other aspects that we were able to be involved in while interning at Dolphins Plus. I participated in outreach and learned a forty minute briefing that I gave to the public on the Dolphins Plus facility, dolphin anatomy and what they needed to know for their specific program. I was excited to participate in Kids Camp, where we worked with six to ten year-olds teaching them about marine science! On the medical side of things, I was exposed to the veterinary care of dolphins such as blood sampling and ultrasounds. We even got to experience the programs and interact with the dolphins in water. The natural swim truly was a highlight of my time there. Swimming with dolphins right next to me was unlike anything I had ever experienced and looking into their eyes-- I knew I could stay in that moment forever and be happy. I used to think that I would only ever do wild cetacean research. But I realized this summer that although there can sometimes be backlash against managed care facilities they allow us to gain so much knowledge about these animals that we would never be able to gain from wild studies. I have always been told that working as a dolphin researcher is nearly impossible but at nineteen I have I had reached the place where I have always wanted to be-- this summer solidified two things for me: I will be a cetologist someday and following your passion is definitely worth it. ------------------------I would like to thank the Dolphins Plus staff, fellow interns and of course the dolphins for a life changing summer.

Refers to the beak or snout of an a dolphin. It is NOT the nose, dolphins do not have noses nor an olfactory sense, which means they cannot smell. OCTOBER 2014

OCEAN UPDATES Obituary: Dr. Kakkala “Gopal” Gopalakrishnan www.hawaii.edu

March 7, 1942 - August 11, 2014

his summer, the Marine Option Program lost a great friend.

Born in India on March 7, 1942, Dr. Kakkala “Gopal” Gopalakrishnan received his Ph.D. from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Gopalakrishnan was a professor of Oceanography and Marine Biology at Honolulu Community College where he also served as the campus coordinator for the Marine Option Program for almost 40 years. He was a beloved professor by not only his peers but also his students. In 2003, Gopalakrishnan was awarded the University of Hawai‘i Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching. Gopalakrishnan passed away August 11,2014. 

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Dandruff of the Sea: From the bottom of the ocean to the top of your head By Brijonnay Madrigal, Assistant Editor

esearchers and pathologists alike are marveling at a recent discovery made by University of Hawai‘i researchers.

Recent findings have led researchers to believe that Malassezia evolved to inhabit mammalian skin, causing an affliction thus commonly known as dandruff. For many years people have shared the common assumption that Malassezia is solely associated with mammalian skin. However, Dr. Anthony Amend, a scientist and assistant professor at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, discovered that species within the genus Malassezia (associated with the human form of dandruff ), have a far greater geographical distribution than previously thought. “For me the more astounding surprise was not that we find all this novel diversity in the ocean,” said Amend. “But the fact that these really common species of Malassezia that we find on our skin, and that we find on our dogs’ skin, our horses’ skin, are also the exact same species is found in these deep sea thermal vents and in the frozen soils of Antarctica… it’s all the same species!” Amend was amazed that this Malassezia species, which he described as simple organism with tiny genomes, (Kuwabara/UHM MOP)

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could pull off this kind of evolutionary diversification. “This is a really good example of something that has made this transition back and forth to and from land. A lot of times you think about whales right, that are evolved from terrestrial animals and that then evolved back into the ocean, these are like the “Fungal Whales” they haven’t only done it once, they have done it many times and that’s remarkable.” The finding of the human form of dandruff strain, Malassezia restricta, was discovered in the marine environment through coral analysis. “When I did my first marine study of my own of corals we found this explosive radiation of Malassezia, a ton of them, really high numbers of them, high diversity of them and you could no longer write it off as a fluke. It was pretty evident that these things are real big players in marine environments. So it wasn’t until we took these corals back to the lab and stuck them in a DNA sequencer that we started to realize really what we were dealing with.” Dr. Amend attributed the difficulty of detection of Malassezia to their physical appearance stating, “They are practically invisible, they don’t form mushrooms underwater like they do on land. Every once in a while you will find a pathogen that causes some sort of rash on a fish but those are pretty rare.”

Dr. Amend’s interest in fungus stemmed at an early age in middle school with a desire to study mushrooms. “I went to a summer camp and I had these camp counselors that had this field guide to mushrooms,” said Amend. “Just following them around, looking for mushrooms started to get me really fascinated Madrigal/Seawords because the mushrooms were so amazing, in so many shapes Assistant professor, Dr. and colors and sizes and I was Anthony Amend, discovered that species within the really blown away.” genus Malassezia have a far

His work in the fungal field, greater geographical however, did not cease there. distribution than previously He ended up working for the thought. Nature Conservancy where they learned he had a broader interest in fungi. The Nature Conservancy wanted to do projects with mushrooms which led to his becoming a mushroom and fungal scientist. Dr. Amend relayed that very few people are interested in these organisms but the possibility of discovery is endless. He recognized the importance of joining both marine and terrestrial

The man behind the mushroom

The fungus coined “dandruff of the sea” has a wide geographical spread from the Hawaiian tropical coral reefs (such as this one) to the a

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components to his research. “I don’t know very much about marine systems. The opportunity for discoveries in marine systems is totally unlimited. Being in Hawaii, how could you not be interested in marine systems? What an incredible place to study! There are so many great opportunities here that I think I would be crazy to not start looking at the ocean,” said Amend. “For one of my post docs I was studying fungi indoors. There is a big initiative to study the microbiology of the built in environment. The average human spends 90% of his/her day inside so although people are fascinated by natural systems, maybe these built environments are more applicable to use and our everyday lives. What we found in these indoor environments was this really high prevalence of this Malassezia fungi. Because they live on our skin, they are our roommates whether or not you invited them or whether or not they pay rent they are around us all the time.”

with sequence of this genome because it is closely associated with humans. “One of the first groups to study this organism and its genome was Proctor and Gamble to make a better Head and Shoulders shampoo. They actually sequenced the first genome. They are very interested and they have great scientists that are spending a lot of money to try and figure this out,” said Amend who, along with his colleagues, is still seeking a way to culture this fungi as well. Everyone is “dying to get this organism in culture,” but although many have tried, no one has been successful thus far. There is much uncertainty, but Amend has one message that he wants to relay to readers; “If anybody can do this, fame and fortune awaits because it’s what everybody wants.” So any future advice from Dr. Amend for aspiring mycologists? “I think the next step is really to start just exploring the ocean and finding not where else we find this fungus, but all other fungi that are out there.” 

Fame and fortune awaits Dr. Amend says that there are many things we can do

rctic soils at the pole. (Wester/UHM MOP)

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Fish recruitme By Kathryn Lam, Editor

“Give us a grant to study it and we’ll tell you in a few years.” -Jeffrey Kuwabara, UHM MOP Coordinator

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A school of goatfish (Parupeneus pleurostigma) at Puakō on the Big pictured. (Kuwabara/UHM MOP).

ith global warming and the carbon footprint to think about, it’s not often that coral reefs make the news with good, uplifting stories.

“When I jumped in the water at Puakō – right away, I noticed the big school of little papio, followed by the other species in deeper waters,” said Jeffrey Kuwabara, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Marine Option Program Coordinator. “It’s not unusual to see schools of Heniochus diphreutes (pennant butterflyfish), but I’ve never seen papio (bluefin 12|

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trevallies, or Caranx melampygus) or Chaetodon kleinii (blacklip butterflyfish) in such large numbers.” Kuwabara has been diving in the Hawaiian Islands since 1991 and the stories circulating about the unusual recruitment events this summer caught his attention. “I first heard of the big recruitment of juvenile fishes around the middle of summer this year. MOP student Karen Bryant talked about a large number of juvenile flying gurnards (Dactyloptena orientalis) at Kahe Point and I also

heard etodon aroun “This at Pua of juv fish , a pleuro schoo juveni shorel a cora on.”

The la

ent 2014:

A banner year for coral reef fish recruitment

Island which are not normally seen in such large numbers here. Along with the goatfish, pennant butterflyfish (H. diphreutes), are

d of the blacklip butterflyfish (Chan kleinii) settling in big numbers nd the islands,” said Kuwabara. past weekend I did several dives akō on the Big Island and saw lots venile C. kleinii, pennant butterflyand sidespot goatfish (Parupeneus ostigma) in deeper waters and a ol of about 100 (or more) 4”-6” ile bluefin trevallies right along the line. It made me wonder if there is al reef “fox and hare” thing going

arge number of recruits (juvenile

fishes who make their way to the reef after pelagic spawning) are not the only thing unusual about this summer’s recruitment. According to Tony Nahacky, an aquarium fisherman on the Big Island of Hawai‘i, some juvenile fish are also arriving earlier than expected and in different areas. While Nahacky normally sees pyramid butterflyfish (Hemitaurichthys polylepis) arriving in September or October, this summer he observed them in large numbers towards the end of June. He also observed pennant butterflyfish, which generally recruit on O‘ahu, in groups of up to 70.

“I’m happy to see all these species [return],” said Kuwabara. “But my happiness is tempered with the expectation of a big crash. Historically, Hawai‘i has seen great recruiting years for individual species (Priacanthus spp., Pervagor spilosoma, etc.), only to see a large die-off because there were not enough food resources for them all to survive to adulthood. Some of these die-offs are attached to Hawaiian folklore, foreshadowing the

From Dec. 19, 1986 Seawords

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death of a leader. On the other hand, I hadn’t seen bigfin squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) until about 14 or 15 years ago, and then one year they were everywhere. They are still fairly abundant, there was no big die-off. We’ll just have to wait to see.” What this recruitment exactly means for the ocean remains to be seen, but this bloom can mean good things for the public’s view on the ocean. “We don’t have a crystal ball, but hopefully the public is excited to hear about this unusual recruitment event and know that there’s still hope for the future as well as continued need for conserving marine resources,” said Dr. Cynthia Hunter, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa associate professor and Marine Option Program Director. “I think it renews our conviction that the ocean is resilient!” Hunter, a specialist in coral reef ecology, has been diving in the Hawaiian Islands for just over 30 years. She believes the summer’s recruitment is due to “a confluence of factors; successful spawnings, currents and tides aligned,” and has an Juvenile blacklip butterflyfish, Chaetodon kleinii, swim around a coral reef. Blacklip optimistic view on how it will affect the butterflyfish were among some of the species that experienced the “mass event,” as Pauline Fiene puts it. (John Coney/UHHPhysics and Astronomy) public’s outlook on conservation and the ocean. “Social media connects people better than ever to share this kind of news, and citizen science can help managers understand long-term variations in our coastal marine ecosystems,” said Hunter. “Pauline Fiene’s Facebook photographs from Maui of literally millions of juvenile fish are thrilling to see!” Kuwabara doesn’t believe the public is paying much attention but, like Hunter, views it as a research opportunity. “I’m not sure the public is really paying attention. For those who are, I’m sure that the aquarium trade will have evidence that their fishery is sustainable, and conservationists may attribute management measures to the successful recruitment of so many reef fishes,” said Kuwabara. “Many of the scientists will say that it’s too early to tell why this happened and what impacts it will have to the future of Hawai‘i coral reef ecosystems – give us a grant to study it and we’ll tell you in a few years.”

A big school of juvenile bluefin jacks (C. melampygus) were spotted along the shoreline of Puakō at around 6’, which is very unusual. (Jeff Kuwabara/UHM MOP)

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It seems that further research in order to keep the public properly informed is the order of the day. Photographer and owner of marinelifephotography.com, Keoki Stender, echoes Kuwabara’s statement of the need to research the topic.

“We have much to learn, however we should resist the temptation to attribute extraordinary events to climate change. In today’s connected digital world information spreads rapidly so these events may have been taking place historically but means of proving it was not readily available,” said Stender who has been diving in the Hawaiian Islands since 1980 and specializes in reef fish and invertebrate identification. “I think the recent publicity is mostly positive. As long as credible explanation for such events is provided at the time of release to prevent the spread of misinformation (think Fukushima radiation), bringing the ocean’s health into the public’s consciousness is a good thing. We need more public support to fund research.” Events in which different species experience a large recruitment are not new to the Hawaiian waters, however. According to Pauline Fiene, a full-time dive guide with over 8,900 Hawai‘i dives under her belt, the species Pervagor spilosoma alone experienced similar recruitment numbers in 1944, 1975 and from 1982-1987 while large settlements of other fish and invertebrate species have occurred over the years.

“Historically, Hawai‘i has seen great recruiting years for individual species ... only to see a large die-off because there were not enough food resources for them all to survive to adulthood. Some of these die-offs are attached to Hawaiian folklore, foreshadowing the death of a leader. On the other hand, I hadn’t seen bigfin squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) until about 14 or 15 years ago, and then one year they were everywhere. They are still fairly abundant, there was no big die-off. We’ll just have to wait to see.” “I’m not sure it means anything for the ocean. These mass events have happened in the past with other species and they were temporary. The fish/invertebrate numbers returned to ‘normal’ over time,” said Fiene. “I was very disappointed that the first article published on this remarkable settlement of numerous species of fish which was published by Coral magazine politicized this natural event as being a controversy between environmentalists vs. aquarium collectors. So, the few people in the public who have heard about this might have heard about it from this negative angle and have “taken a side” on what, in my opinion, should have been presented as a wonderful, rare, natural phenomenon.” Further research on topics such as this is vital to being able to spread public awareness about this “wonderful, rare, natural phenomenon,” as Fiene puts it. However, in order to do this, every drop of water is needed in the metaphorical bucket that is the effort towards furthering ocean research and conservation. “Regardless of whether someone believes it or not, the bottom line is we need to live responsibly and reduce our impact upon the planet as individuals,” said Stender. “It begins with us.” 

Schools of juvenile blacklip butterflyfish, Chaetodon kleinii, swarmed Hawaiian reefs as part of the unusually large fish recruitment this past summer. (Pauline Fiene/Mike Severns Diving)

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BLUE

Actions for the Ocean

GENERATION

Start your own beach clean-up! By Brijonnay Madrigal, Assistant Editor

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

Here in Hawai‘i we are surrounded by beautiful beaches and we want to keep it that way! Starting a beach clean-up in your community is a good way to make new friends while keeping the ‘aina clean. Here are eight easy steps to get started with organizing a beach clean-up for your community. What you will need:  Plastic trash bags  Latex Gloves  Trash grabbers (optional) Prior to the Event: 1. Pick a time, place and date for the cleanup. Two hours is a good length of time and it is a good idea to place the clean-up in the morning before the day heats up! Make sure to do your research and try to find a beach in your local area that is known for being polluted and littered with garbage and marine debris. 2. Post flyers, utilize social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and e-mail to reach out to people and let them know about your cleanup. Remind everyone to bring plenty of water, sunscreen and snacks since they will be out in the sun for a few hours. 3. Coordinate with City or State officials if holding event in a beach park. This may require a permit. Day of Event: 4. Meet your group at the designated spot and determine a time and location to meet after the clean-up. Divide into teams and disperse in opposite directions along the beach to get the most out of

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• •

International Coastal Cleanup data sheets Committed group of people!

your clean-up. 5. Have fun! Be careful not to touch any garbage you collect and wear gloves to avoid any hazards. WARNING: Do not pick up any needles, broken glass, or other hazardous material you may find. If you do find such materials notify the Lifeguard on duty. 6. Record what you find using International Coastal Cleanup data sheets (these can be found at http:// www.oceanconservancy.org) After the Event: 7. Dispose of filled trash bags in dumpsters and recycling bins nearby. 8. Mail or e-mail your data sheets to the address/ email below and contribute to educating the public about ocean pollution. Ocean Conservancy Attn: International Coastal Cleanup 1300 19th Street, NW,8th Floor Washington, DC 20036 cleanup@oceanconservancy.org www.oceanconservancy.org

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O’ahu dive sites

Text and photos by Jessica Lotts, UHM MOP Student Background photo by MOP

Location: Angler’s Reef Depth: 30-40ft Accessibility: Boat

Bottom Composition: Sand/Reef Company: Reef Pirates Diving

Overview: Angler’s Reef is a shallower reef dive that’s great for less experienced divers, or even those just looking for a more relaxed dive. Angler’s Reef typically has little to no current, providing an enjoyable cruise along the reef edges. There, divers can see big scale soldier fish, pyramid butterflyfish, and pennant butterflyfish. Fantail filefish can be seen hovering around the coral edges and are very friendly for divers to interact with. If you kneel perfectly still on the floor, the fantails become comfortable with your presence and will swim right up to your mask and hide beneath you. Green sea turtles are often commonly seen throughout the area, passing through and looking for a place to rest. Devil scorpionfish are abundant on the sandy floor and against the edges of the reefs. Though they are hard to spot at first, devil scorpionfish’s fins have a brilliantly vivid red and orange color that you can see when they move from spot to spot. Leaf scorpionfish are also frequently seen tucked underneath the reef ledges, along with various species of eel and the occasional pufferfish. Angler’s reef provides a variety of fish species enjoyable to newly certified divers as well as those more advanced who just want to kick back and enjoy the scenery.

Location: Koko Craters Depth: 30 - 40ft Accessibility: Boat Bottom Composition: Sand/Reef Company: Reef Pirates Diving Overview:

Koko Craters is a shallow reef dive off t by boat and is one of the best sites to se swimming and napping throughout th for photo-shoots. The turtles tend to sl an up close experience if you lay on the with numerous turtles, Koko Craters is marine life. If you look through the ree octopi can be spotted. Young schools o along with plenty of black triggerfish.

Another interesting feature Kok statues placed along the crater edges. Th garden gnome to a giant sized Buddha to know the story of how they got ther on the boat admitted he had no idea of ances. However, one story was offered someone stole the garden gnome from placed it on the reef for him to find. Aft joke and kept adding other statues to th not be certain, the statues do provide f 18|

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the south side of O‘ahu. It is accessible ee green sea turtles. Many are seen he site making it a great opportunity leep under the crater ledges, allowing e sandy bottom and watch. Along s also home to various other forms of efs cracks and crevices, many eels and of Moorish idol can be seen swimming

Location: Landing Craft (LST) Depth: 80-90ft Accessibility: Boat

Bottom Composition: Wreck Company: Reef Pirates Diving

Overview: The Landing Craft (LST for short) is a deeper dive featuring an overturned sunken ship. The bottom of the craft, which faces the surface, provides a lush coral growth where an abundance of different fish species can be seen. Species range from milletseed butterflyfish to the Hawaiian dascyllus. Schools of bluestripe snapper can be seen swimming alongside the wreck along with plenty of convict tangs. The top of the craft is at the deepest point of 90ft. Underneath the vessel you can witness whitetip reef sharks lounging in the dark space below. Due to the poor lighting underneath the boat, good pictures of the sharks are typically hard to achieve and non-advanced dives are usually not advised to swim underneath the craft due to the sharp metal edges that pose a hazard for diving. Just outside the bottom railing of the craft, you can typically see a Commerson’s frogfish hiding against the rail waiting for its next meal. On the top and sides of the wreck are an abundance of scrambled egg nudibranchs. Many pieces of steel are scattered across the bottom providing an excellent hiding place for many eels like the yellowmargin moray and a few snowflake morays. Another common fish found is the Pacific trumpetfish, which can be seen cruising alongside the ship at various depths. The Landing Craft overall is a great place for more advanced divers to see a wide array of different corals and fishes.

ko Craters has to offer is the peculiar These statues vary in size from a petite a. Interestingly enough, no one seems e. Even the dive site photographer f the story behind the statues appearby the boat’s dive master. He claimed m a competing dive store owner, and fter which, everyone joined in on the he collection. Though the story may or an interesting dive. OCTOBER 2014

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ART by Zachary Gorski

What started your interest in the ocean and in photography? My interest in the ocean started when I was very little. I grew up in Santa Cruz on the North Side of the Monterey Bay. After my first time at Monterey Bay Aquarium I was hooked. My interest in Marine Biology was furthered when I took an advanced biology course in High School and our student teacher was a Marine Ecology Major at UC Santa Cruz. When we would start talking I would lose track of time and more often than not be late to my next class. My interest in photography started as a freshman in college. I got a GoPro for

Christmas and started taking it everywhere I went, putting it to good use underwater and on all kinds of fun adventures my friends and I would take around the island. Soon enough I started learning a thing or two about photography from friends and my godparents, who are professional photographers. To gain more experience I joined UH Hilo Lava Shoot who allowed me to use a semi professional camera to shoot school events. I then found out my GoPro was extremely limited in its capabilities. I invested in a DSLR this summer and couldn’t be happier. Are you getting a MOP certificate? If so, what is it? Yes, I received my MOP certificate this last spring (2014). For my project I was a volunteer intern for the NOAA Sanctuary Integrated Monitoring Network (SIMoN). I did growth rate study of Undaria pinnatifidia, a brown algae, invasive to the California coast and especially the Monterey Harbor, where the study took place. Zachary Gorski is a double major in Marine Science and Psychology. He would like to pursue a career in marine mammal behavior but as of now is still unsure where his experience will take him. He recieved his MOP certificate in the spring of 2014.

Top right- Taken on July 26th 2014, with a Nikon D7100, the lens used was 18 - 200 mm F 3.5 - 5.6. The Maroon Bells wilderness just outside of Aspen Colorado is very well preserved. Facing down the valley the pristine lake reflected just about everything. Bottom right- Taken on July 26th 2014, with a Nikon D7100, the lens used was 18 - 200 mm F 3.5 - 5.6. Facing the Maroon Bells from the other side of the lake there was a wooden dam and few clouds draping the mountains in shadow. 20|

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Taken on July 31st 2014, with a Nikon D7100, the lens used was 18 - 200 mm F 3.5 - 5.6. It was a very sunny day for hiking to the top of a hill just outside of the Big Sur State Park. Looking down we were able to see under the fog bank as well as above it. (Gorski/UHH MOP) 22|

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Taken on September 1st 2014, with a Nikon D7100, the lens used was 18 - 200 mm F 3.5 - 5.6. Â The sun was setting into a fog bank off the coast about half way between Pololu Valley and Waimea. As the sun set deeper into the fog it slowly became a darker red amongst a background of orange. (Gorski/UHH MOP) 24|

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Taken on September 1st 2014, with a Nikon D7100, the lens used was 18 - 200 mm F 3.5 - 5.6.The sun was setting over an open field about half way between Pololu Valley and Waimea. The sunset reflected light directly off the field and lit the flowers on the far side of the frame. (Gorski/UHH MOP) 26|

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

reediving with my camera at Shark’s Cove I was amazed to see the beautiful array of speciation when it came to sea urchins here on the North Shore of O‘ahu

There are over 200 species of these spiny, globular animals, belonging to the phylum Echinodermata, and roaming every ocean on planet Earth. Urchins consume a diet of both plant matter and other aquatic creatures like mussels, sponges, and the remains of already dead fish. With an upside down digestive tract, their mouth is located on the base of their skeleton, and possesses five distinct plates (referred to as Aristotle’s Lantern) that act as teeth, while their anal region is on top. As with other echinoderms, sea urchins do not have a heart and instead rely on a water-vascular system which is like a circulatory system and is comprised of water-filled channels that run through their body. 

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All photos: Shackne/UHM MOP

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Critter of the Month: 32|

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Photo credit: UHM MOP

Blue black urchin Hawaiian Name: Wana Scientific Name: Echinothrix diadema They have a distribution throughout Hawaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;i and the Indo Pacific. This species resides in shallow, coastal waters in high wave action environment. They are an extremely durable species that can withstand constant wave exposure. Blue black urchins are venomous with short blue and black spines protecting venomous secondary spines. Juvenile urchins have yellow rings around their secondary spines.

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

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

More examples of coral bleaching:

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

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

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Questions about

QUEST

Kanoe Steward

Q: Why did you come back to QUEST?

Q: Why would you encourage someone else to come back to QUEST?

A: The people, to dive twice a day every day, to learn how to do surveys again- the ones I wasn’t using after QUEST last year, for the networking, the connection. To learn how to be a leader.

A: Because of all the reasons you should come to QUEST but more. You learn a whole new set of skills being a team leader. Being in 264 you just focus on team techniques, pumping out a paper and presenting. But as a team leader you don’t have to focus on that, you’re guiding them along the way. 

Q: What part of being a team leader do you like best?

Kuwabara/UHM MOP

Kanoe Steward, UH Hilo

A: Teaching them how to be a more competent diver at the beginning and now seeing them execute it. Q: What kind of advice would you give to future QUESTers? A: Be passionate about diving. Don’t come just to come. Come because you want to be a better diver because you want to use all these techniques for internships or jobs or for research. Be open-minded. QUEST puts people on teams so learn how to collaborate not to compete with each other-- when you’re in the workforce or an internship you’ll most likely be working in a team not just by yourself.

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Rebecca Weible Q: Why did you come back to QUEST? A: I had a really good time my first year. I learned so much. Even though it was stressful I don’t remember feeling stressed out, just working hard and enjoying it. When I got the scholarship I was super excited but also nervous because I had never been a leader before. Q: What part of being a team leader do you like best? A: I love watching my team improve their diving. I love watching them work together. After day one and only twelve dives they’re already masters at data collection. It’s just really rewarding and watching their personalities come out- when they first come they’re really shy but then they open up in the groups and they can all be themselves. It’s really neat.

learning experience. It’s a good kind of stress, it’s a good kind of exhaustion. Come with an open mind, be ready to help out and look for things you can do. Get to know everybody. Q: Why would you encourage someone else to come back to QUEST? A: You can learn so much. You don’t just learn about how to be a leader. You learn about yourself, you learn about not only how other people think but also why they think the way they do. You learn how to stress manage and compose yourself as a leader. It’s just really rewarding to see, again, your teammates blossom. 

Q: What kind of advice would you give to future QUESTers? A: Come here with a positive attitude and be mentally prepared because there’s a lot going on but it’s also a good

Kuwabara/UHM MOP

Rebecca Weible, UH Mānoa

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

October Events COSEE Island Earth “The Ocean – The Great Connector”

OCTOBER 5, 2013 “Minerals, fisheries and food webs: the many connections between Hawai‘i and the Deep Sea” Dr. Jeff Drazen, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Center for Ocean Science and Education Excellence OCTOBER 12, 2013 “Oceans and human health: exploring our microbial connections to the sea” Dr. Grieg Steward, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Center for Ocean Science and Education Excellence OCTOBER 19, 2013 Ruth Gates Lab: Graduate students “Reef ciraks and the threat of global climate change” Chris Wall, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Ph.D. Candidate “Get WIRED up: connecting community and researchers through watershed and marine science” Rebecca Prescott, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Ph.D. Candidate

OCTOBER 26, 2013 Erik Franklin Lab: “Admiring the Seascape: A Regional-Scale Perspective of Hawaiian Coral Reef Community Dynamics Using Satellites, Statistics, and Supercomputers” Dr. Erik C. Franklin, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Center for Ocean Science and Education Excellence “A Barcoding Approach to Diet Studies of Fishes: The Case of Wahoo” Zack Oyafuso, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa “Becoming a Coral Jedi: How Marine Ecology can Change the Lives of At-risk and Developmentally Challenged Youth.” Maia Kapur, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa For more information or questions please contact: Hanauma Bay Education Program 100 Hanauma Bay Rd. Honolulu, HI 96825 Phone: (808) 397-5840 Email: hanauma@hawaii.edu http://hbep.seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/

FLASHBACK: 1987 MOP students on a tour of “hightech aquafarms” have a taste of limu at the Hawai‘i Marine Enterprise farm. This month, MOP students will be given the opportunity to go on a similar excursion so take advantage of it! 36|

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October

MOP & Community Events

Sun.

Mon.

Tues.

Coming up next month: Hawai‘i Aquaculture Multi-feature Tour Dean Hall 104 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Wed.

Thurs. Fri.

Sat.

QUEST ID Exam Dean Hall 104 6 - 9 pm

7 Honolulu Fish Auction Commercial Fishing Village, Pier 38 5:307:45 am

12 Kayak to Goat Island, Laie La‘ie 9 am - 4 pm

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University of Hawai`i at Mﾄ］oa Seawords, Marine Option Program College of Natural Sciences 2450 Campus Road, Dean Hall 105A Honolulu, HI 96822-2219 Address Service Requested

Thank you for reading!