May 2023 Seawords

SEAWORDS

VolumeXXXVIII, Number 5

Aloha and Welcometo theMay issueof Seawords!

This month, weareexcited to present our coverageof the skill projects presented at the40th annual MOP symposium! MOP students werebusy this year getting involved in their communities and making positiveimpacts in theworld of marine science; enjoy their projects on page4. Congratulations to all the MOP graduates!

In this issuewealso delveinto octopus intelligence(page 12), shipwreck reefs (page16), and harmful algal blooms (page 24). For newer MOP students and thosewho haveyet to begin their skill project, Sequoia Rueger provides someinsights from her own MOP project on page28! Finally, wewelcomeour newest writer, Soleil van Hausch, who covered May's Creature of theMonth on page20.

What would you liketo seemoreof in Seawords?Send in your thoughts, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @mopseawords!

AbbieJeremiah, SeawordsEditor & Sofía Flores Pina, AssociateEditor

Contents

2: Letter From theEditor

4: 40th Annual MOP Symposium

12: Octopus Intelligence

16: Shipwreck Reefs

20: Creatureof theMonth: Hawaiian Spiny Lobster

24: Changing [Color] Tides

28: My MOP Project: Sequoia Rueger

30: MOP Calendar

Photo Credits

Front Page: Lobster at French FrigateShoals; Panulirusmarginatus. Photo by: Andrew Gray/NOAA; Flickr.

Table of Contents: Sunriseon thecoral reef, Shark Island lagoon. Photo by: Lindsey Kramer/USFWS; Flickr.

Back Cover: PMNM Hawaiian Monk Seal. Photo by: Paulo Maurin/NOAA; Flickr.

The40th Annual MOP Student Symposium:

40 Down, Many moreto come

By: AbbieJeremiah, Seawords Editor &

Associate Editor

Hosted at the beautiful Leeward Community Collegeintheahupua?aof WaiawaonO?ahu,14Marine Option Programstudentspresentedat the40th Annual Student Symposium on Saturday,April 15,2023. MOP studentsfrom acrosstheUniversity of Hawai?i system gatheredandpresentedtheir skillsprojectsbeforetheir peers?live?for thefirst timeinthreeyears.

The keynote address was given by Athline Clark, the recently retired National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Superintendent for Papah?naumoku?kea Marine National Monument (PMNM). Clark shared her experiences with the MOP program and how they impacted thetrajectory of her career. Shealso talked about her extensivework at the PMNM and across Hawai?i, especially with marine debrisand conservation management. Shehighlighted theecological and cultural importanceof theregion as well assomeof thechallengesthat arisewith so many agenciesin collaboration. Sheconcluded by expressing her hopefor theupcominggeneration tocomeupwith newmanagement strategiesbychallengingWestern

concepts of conservation with the indigenous Hawaiian perspective.

After the exhibition of unique and fascinating research projects and internships, a panel of judges gatheredtodecidewhich MOPerswouldbepresentedwith awards including Best Research Paper, Best Internship Paper,Best Poster,theJohn P. Craven Award for themost inspired and inspirational presentation by a MOP?Child of the Sea,? the PACON award for the best paper integrating marinescienceand technology with a Pacific focus, the Sherwood Maynard Award for the student exhibitingthegreatest exampleof ocean stewardship,and theAnnaToy NgMemorial MOPScholarship for aMOP student exhibitingexcellencein marinescholarship,ocean stewardship,andcontributionstoMOP.

In addition to highlightingtheexcellenceof each student and their dedication to improving their communities and environments, the MOP symposium providedinspiration totheaudience,leavingthem feeling energizedandoptimisticabout thefuture.Congratulations toall thestudentswhopresentedtheir skill projects!

Pearl and HermesReef Aerial.

Photo by: NOAA, Flickr.

Sof ía Flores Pina,

HE P?KO?A KANI ??INA- John P. Craven Award

HayleyLuke,LeewardCommunityCollege-Internship

During her internship at the Core Resilience Lab on Moku o Lo?e as an education assistant, Haley exploredwaystofacilitatethelab?sgrowth,incorporate Hawaiian knowledgeand traditional practicesintoher research, and the best way to communicate her research to different audiences. Her duties included assisting with classroom and community outreach as well asconducting cultural and historical research to contribute to the lab's curriculum. Through a partnership between the lab and the Kahala Hotel Resort,Haley had theopportunity tobecomeinvolved in variouscommunity outreach activitiesincluding a livetouch tank,aweekly ocean-themed keiki art class, and a monthly Sunset Seminar program which showcaseslocal researchersandorganizations.

A Hawaiian studies major, Haley was able to synthesize her research and began working on a cultural andhistorical coral referenceguidefor thelab touseasaresource.Shealsochangedclassroom lesson planstobecomemoreplace-basedandengagestudents by telling the histories and stories of their ahupua?a. Inspired by her experience, Haley declared a second major in Marine Biology and accepted a research assistant position with theCoreResilienceLab. Sheis currently working on developing an experiment that integrates her historical and cultural research with scientific research and hopesto continueresearch for her referenceguide.

HIXON LAB INTERNSHIP

KylieBebe,UniversityofHawai?iatM?noa?Internship

For her MOPskill project, KylieBebeassisted mentor Dani Escontrela with field research of coral reefs,corallivores,andthecushion seastar.Bebebegan by highlighting the importance of corals and coral reefs as areas that host and sustain great biological diversity.Bebethen explainedthewaysin whichcorals are indirectly and directly stressed. Indirect stressors reduce coral growth and reproduction while direct stressorscause coral mortality by bleaching eventsas well as predation by cushion stars. Cushion sea stars, whichareabundant aroundO?ahu,weregatheredanda seriesof trialswereconductedtodeterminewhat corals theyprefer.In order tosubsidizefeeding,thestarswere held in what Bebe described as a starvation chamber for oneweek. After 151 trials, it wasdetermined that cushion starspreferred thePocillopora. Bebespeculates this is because of Pocillopora?s knoblike projections which allowsfor larger surfaceareatoconsumefor the cushion stars.Her teamalsoworkedtocreateareliable technique to identify individual cushion sea stars which is important for population dynamic studies. UsingI3sspot software, photosweretaken of cushion starson thereef,off thereef,and oncereturned tothe reef.Anyidentifyingmarkssuchasscars,contours,and pigmentation were outlined with points. Three methodswereused: athirty-point method,forty-point method, and fifty point method. At 31.4 percent accuracy,theforty-point methodwasmost successful at identifying individuals. This is the first time I3 spot softwarewasusedonechinoderms.

From these experiences, Bebe learned how to ask scientific questions, execute hypotheses with underwater fieldresearch,andbecameconfident in her abilitytoconduct fieldresearchonher own.

LiveMarineInvertabrate Touch Tank. Photo: coralresiliencelab.com

Cushion Sea Star. Photo by:ChrisWilson, Flickr.

WAIK?K?BEACH CLEANUP INTERNSHIP

MollyDeppmeier,UniversityofHawai?iatM?noa? Internship

As an intern for the Waik?k? Aquarium, MollyDeppmeier educatedthepublicontheimpacts of marine debris. The public were given the opportunity to engage in monthly beach clean-ups hosted by the Waik?k?Aquarium. Each participant wasassigned abucket, tongs,and apair of glovesto then remove any pollution in the area. Once the participants returned, the waste they had collected wasthen sortedtobeproperlydisposedof.Whilethe participantswereoften surprised by theamount of trash collected, many left with a feeling of fulfillment of having left an immediate positive impact on theenvironment. Deppmeier highlighted the importance of properly disposing waste to minimize the further breakdown of plastics and inorganic materials in coastal areas. Deppmeier concluded with gratitude for her mentors, the cleanupparticipants,andencouragedthemembersof thesymposiumtoparticipateincleanupefforts.

PARLEY FOR THE OCEANSINTERNSHIP

MaianaVillegas,UniversityofHawai?iatM?noaInternship

Maiana Villegas completed her MOP skill project throughaninternshipat Parleyfor theOceans? ParleyAir Station.Parleyfor theOceansisanonprofit organization that works to combat marine plastic pollution through international collaboration. The Parley Air Station serves as an upcycling workshop and collaborativehub for thecommunity to educate them on marine plastic pollution. Maiana presented the detrimental impacts of plastic pollution and introduced Parley?sapproach to the issue, theParley Air Strategy, which stands for Avoid, Intercept, and Redesign. Thestrategy advocatesfor avoiding plastic whenever possible, intercepting plastic from entering the ocean, and redesigning plastic waste into somethinguseful.

Duringher internship,Maianaalsoworked to raise awareness about marine plastic pollution by partnering with local nonprofits, hosting beach cleanups, and organizing educational activities for youths.Maianashared howParley partnered with the Twinfin Hotel and local artist Dane Nishikawa to create an eight-foot wave made of upcycled plastic sheets, water bottle caps, and marine plastics. The hotel pledged to stop using single-use plastics and displayedthewavenear their lobbyasasymbol of the change they hope to make in Waik?k?. Maiana concluded by expressing her gratitude for the opportunity toparticipatein theinternship,goingon to announceshehasaccepted a position at Parley as theAir StationCoordinator.

Waik?k?. Photo by:Joris Vissor, Unsplash.

PlasticPollution. Photo by: Naja Bertolt Jensen, Unsplash.

WHICH FISH LIVE WHERE?EFFECTSOF EXTREME TIDAL EVENTSASFUTURE SEA LEVEL RISE SCENARIOSON HE?EIA FISH COMMUNITIESFOR AHUPUA?A RESTORATION- AnnaToy Ng Memorial Scholarship

SavannahCrosby,UniversityofHawai?iatM?noaInternship

Savannah Crosby shared her experience as a Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center summer undergraduate research fellow in which she worked at the He?eia National Estuary Research Reserve (NERR), collecting data to examine how fish biodiversity changeswith climatechange. Her project usedtheextremetidal eventsknown asKingtidesasa proxy for future sea level rise. Savannah analyzed samples of environmental DNA (eDNA) and water quality toassessthetemporal andvisual variability of fish communitiesduringtheseevents. Whilethedata collected are still in the process of being analyzed, Savannah presented preliminary findings from data she collected from the Kamehameha Bridge site duringtheKingtideevent inJune2022.

Aside from her main research activities, she assisted with He?eia NERR?s biannual fish data collection, helpingto identify fish speciesand collect voucher specimens for an eDNA genetic database. Additionally, she had the opportunity to work with other organizationsdedicated to ahupua?arestoration and conservation including Paepae o He?eia and K?ko?o ??iwi. Through her work at theHe?eia NERR, Savannah gained insight into the ecological health and functioning of the He?eia watershed which will help prepare the ahupua?a for future impacts of climatechange.

KETONE-ESTER PROVIDESINSIGHT INTO THE MOLECULAR LINK BETWEEN KETOSISAND THE ASOCIAL CONDITION IN THE MEXICAN CAVEFISH

JiaCashon,Universityof Hawai?i at M?noa?Research

Jia Cashon, through her work with the Yoshizawa Lab, conducted research on the genetic basis for asocialness in the cave morphs of Astyanax mexicanus.Thestudyfoundthat thereisalink between themetabolic degradation found in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the reduced social behavior observed in thecavefish.Thesimilaritiesbetween the genetic basis for ASD and cavefish led Jia and the Yoshizawa Lab to hypothesize that flipping the glucosepathwaytoaketonepathwaycan inducesocial behavior inthefish.

The team conducted an experiment using a ketone ester to test thetheory. After running dosage experimentsto determinethebest resultsin termsof social behavior, theteam then conducted atreatment usingtheoptimal dosageof ketoneester diet to treat both surface fish and cave fish twice a day for one month. Theresultsshowed that therewasan increase in socialness and body weight, indicating a link between ketone ester and social behavior. Jia concludedby discussingthepotential for thisresearch tobeeventually transferred tohumanstohelp people withASD.

K?ne?oheBay. Photo by: EricTessmer, Flickr.

Cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus. Photo by: Daniel Castranova/NICHD, Flickr.

THE BIRDSOF SUMIDA WATERCRESSFARM

AlyxeCadavona,Kapi?olaniCommunityCollege?Research

Alyxe Cadavona completed her research skill project at SumidaWatercressFarm.Alyxedocumented the avian species that used the farm as a refuge and resource. Her materials included binoculars, a waterproof notebook, a bird watching guide as a reference,and her keen eye. Theareawasdivided into varioussectors, Alyxerotated through thesectionsin intervalsof ten minutes, observing and recording the birds that arrived. While observing bird arrivals, she came across an issue when identifying the ducks of Sumida Farms as the distinctive, identifying traits of theKoloaMaoli, endemicto Hawai?i, and theMallard duck were both present in singular ducks. This is becausein thelatenineteenth century, Mallard ducks wereintroducedtoHawai?i todecorateponds.Later,in the 1950?s and 60?s, Mallards were brought to the islands for sport. As a result, many of the ducks observed at the farm were hybrids. In addition to logging the species that landed in the farm, Alyxe documented which depths certain birds favored to roamandwheretheychosetoraisetheir young.

CHANNEL ISLANDSMARINE AND WILDLIFE INSTITUTE

AubreeFritch,UniversityofHawai?iatM?noa?Internship

Aubree Fritch shared her experience rehabilitating and providing careto pinnipedson the Southern California Coast as an intern at Channel Islands Marine Institute, or CIMWI. Pinnipeds are large, carnivorous semi-aquatic, mostly marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and walruses. Aubree?s duties involved cleaning enclosures, feeding, and providing general care to the pinnipeds. The patientstreated in theCIMWI facility werebrought in for a number of reasons including malnourishment, entanglement, and deviation from habitat. Upon arrival,thepatient'sconditionandvitalswereloggedto useasareferenceandtrackprogress.

Another aspect of Fritch?sdutieswastoeducate beachgoersandensuretheir safetywhen respondingto acall about apinniped in need of help. To ensurethe safety of the pinnipeds and the beach goers, barriers were set in place to maintain distance as pinnipeds often becomeaggressivewhen stressed.Onceat CIMWI facilities, pinnipeds were assigned numbers and provided with care with the goal of release. Patients were assigned numbers rather than names to avoid conditioning patientsto humans. If a patient became conditionedtohumans,theywouldbetransferredtoan organization such as a zoo for continued care and research. In the event of a patient passing in CIMWI care,anecroscopywasperformedtodeterminecauseof death. Once patientsreceived adequatecare and were deemedfit for release,theyweretaggedwithacomplete account of care provided, inspected, and their vitals were logged. Finally, rehabilitated pinnipeds were released. It?simportant to notethat duringrelease, an aggressive pinniped is a good sign as an aggressive pinniped isaconfident pinniped. Themoreaggressive thepinniped,themorethey want to return to habitat, andthebetter thechanceof survival.

Koloa maoli. Photo by: GaryKramer/USFWS, Flickr.

Pinniped. Photo by: Kace Rodriguez, Unsplash.

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI?I AT HILO SEAWORDS LIASON- Best Internship Paper

ChloeMolou,UniversityofHawai?iatHilo?Internship

ChloeMolou shared her experiencedeveloping andcarryingout her positionastheUHHiloliaisonfor Seawords. Chloe noticed the lack of representation of indigenous communities and traditional ecological knowledge in science communication which inspired her work to increase indigenous representation and communication skills in STEM. Her objectives as liaison included promoting Seawordson the UH Hilo campus, writing monthly assigned articles for the magazine,creatingan original miniserieshighlighting young indigenous marine scientists at UH Hilo, increasing UH Hilo MOP representation in the magazine and creating a monthly calendar for each issueby collectingactivity dateshosted by each of the MOPcampuses.Chloehasbeensuccessful in writing24 articles during her two years of working in this position.

Chloe's time as UHH Seawords Liaison has increased writing opportunities for UH Hilo MOP students as well as indigenous STEM students. Her miniseries especially, provided a platform for indigenousmarinescientiststosharetheir storieswith abroader audience,highlightingtheir contributionsto science. While graduating this May, Chloe hopes someone else will take up the vital position and continuetheworkshestarted.

DEVELOPINGTHEODOLITE WORKSHOPSFOR MOP AND SECONDARY STUDENTS- PACON Award

MadisenCoelho,UniversityofHawai?iatHilo?Internship

For her MOP Skill Project, Madisen Coelho developed workshops on theodolite use for MOP and secondarystudentstotrack themovement patternsand habitat useof whalesand dolphins. Her project aimed to create a resource that would be accessible to undergraduatestudentswhowish toresearch cetaceans without engagingin thetraditional methodsof tagging and vessel surveys which are invasive and expensive. Madisen explained that using a theodolite is a great alternativeapproach to cetacean research. Theodolites can beusedfromahilltoptotriangulatewhereawhale is out at sea. It displays a vertical and a horizontal angle, enabling students and researchers to track the movementsof cetaceansfrom land. Madisen created a theodolite manual, training resources, as well as interactive workshops for students at different grade levels. The result of Madisen?s project is a valuable resource that can teach students how to research cetaceansinanon-invasiveandcost-effectiveway.

Breachinghumpbackwhale. Photo by:Steven Westphal, Flickr.

HAWAI?I ISLAND FISHINGLINE RECYCLING& PUBLICEDUCATION PROGRAM- Sherwood

Maynard Award; AnnaToy Ng Memorial Scholarship

SydneyLewis,UniversityofHawai?iatHilo?Internship

For thepast threeyears, Sydney Lewisworked to establish and expand the fishing line recycling programonHawai?i Island.Sydney'sinspirationfor the project camefromaturtletaggingevent whereshesaw the harm caused to a sea turtle by fishing line entanglement.Shethen decidedtofocuson prevention rather than intervention by becominginvolved in the fishinglinerecyclingprogram.

Thefishinglinerecyclingprogram wasstarted in 2019 by Maui Ocean Center and aformer UH Hilo student, Alyssa Martin, who put up threefishing line recycling bins. Sydney?s first objective for expanding theprogramwastomaintainthesebinsandexpandthe program's reach by putting up more bins on Hawai?i Island.Excitingly,shewasabletosecureauthorization from the Department of Parks and Recreation on Hawai?i Island to install fishinglinerecyclingbinson any existingcounty pole. Therecyclingbinsaremade of PVCpipeswith acurveat thetoptoprevent fishing linesfromflyingout.Theyareput upwithziptiesand havestickersand signageto educatepeopleabout the resource and how to useit. Sydney?ssecond objective was establishing a citizen science program to help maintain therecyclingbins. Sheworked with students across the island, educating them about the resource and getting them involved. Sydney's work with the fishing linerecycling program isa significant step in protectingHawai?i'smarineenvironment and isset to continuetogrowandexpanditsreach.

COLLABORATINGWITH WAIK?LOA ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL TO BRINGMARINE SCIENCE EXPERIENCESTO STUDENTS

MirandaMaassen,UniversityofHawai?iatHilo?Internship

Duringher internshipat Waik?loaElementary and Middle School, Miranda Maassen aimed to strengthen the marine science learning aspect of the primary and secondary school curriculum. Maassen explained that marine science education is often overlooked, much to the detriment of students. Maassen assertsthat theintegration of marinescience education intogradeschool aswell asastrongmarine sciencefoundation will result in scientifically literate citizensof thefuture. Her methodsfor implementing love for marine science education included hands-on learning,participation in citizen science,and listening to guest speakers which provided insight into future career routes. In addition to the incorporation of the above methods into the curriculum, Maassen personally created several lesson plans from her own experience as a marine science student. These lesson planswerethen sharedwithteachersat Waik?loatobe taught or weretaught byMaassen personally.Fromher experience working with Waik?loa School many students and teachers alike gained knowledge and better understandingof marinescience.

Fishingreel. Photo by:Wynand van Poortvliet;Unsplash.

Girl in theaqua. Photo by: CarolineHernandez;Unsplash.

HIGH ELEVATION SURVEYSFOR ?UA?U

BURROWSON MAUNA KEA- Best Research Paper

CadenChristensen,UniversityofHawai?iatHilo?Research

Caden Christiensen relayed hisinvolvement in the surveying of ?Ua?u burrows on Mauna Kea. The ?Ua?u,or Hawaiian Petrel,namedfor itsuniquesong,is endemic to Hawai?i and spendsmuch of itslifeat sea onlyreturningtolandtobreedinburrows.For thefirst time in 50 years, signsof an ?Ua?u colony on Mauna Kea were observed. Christiensen?s objective was to confirm such signs and study any ?Ua?u using the maunatoburrow.

?Ua?uburrowin lavarock,returningtothevery burrow each year for each breeding cycle. The endangered ?Ua?u only produceonechick per year and are vulnerable to further population decline due the following factors: egg predation by rats, cats, and mongoosesaswell asurbanization. Because the?Ua?u use the stars to navigate, urbanization and light pollution inhibit their ability to accurately navigate. Christensen conducted day surveys on Mauna Kea carefullylookingfor anysignsof ?Ua?uburrowssuchas feathers and droppings. At night, he used forward looking infrared technology to confirm suspected burrows. Once evidence of ?Ua?u presence on the mauna was confirmed, he petitioned there be a predator proof fence constructed to ensure the ?Ua?u chicks be given the best chance of survival. This discovery of ?Ua?u on Mauna Kea is particularly excitingastheyaresuretoreturnduetotheir tendency toreturnthesameburroweveryyear.

OKINAWA INTERNSHIP AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE RYUKYUS

SamanthaDiaz,HonoluluCommunityCollege?Internship

SamanthaDiazsharedtheMOPskill project she completed at theUniversity of theRyukyusviazoom. Whileworkingasan intern at Okinawa?sUniversity of the Ryukyus, Samantha gained valuable experience conductingfield surveys,collectingsamples,and more. As a student of Ryukyus Molecular Invertebrate Systematicsand Ecology or MISElab, Diaz acquired a wide range of biological knowledge. She studied the field of ecology, biodiversity, and taxonomy focusing on benthic fauna such as corals. Diaz learned how to properly preserve and study specimens and observed the presence of gametes while performing coral histology. Using her diving abilities, Diaz conducted field surveys, and observed bleaching events in Okinawa. Samantha also investigated reefs and how they change,makingnoteof thespecimensthat resided within reefs. Diaz reflected on the partnerships she created with other students through the MISE lab. Many of Diaz?s colleagues in the MISE lab were also international students.Diazemphasizedthegreat sense of communityshefelt amongst her MISElabpeers.

Hawaiian petrel.

Photo by:Forest and Kim Starr;Flickr.

Okinawan reef. Photo by:Hiroko Yoshii; Unsplash.

Octopus Intelligence

By:Sarah McGhee,UHM

MOPStudent

PMNM Octopus.Photo by: Paula Ayotte/NOAA;Flickr.

While dolphins,orcas,and even penguins get credit for being the smartest animals in the ocean,there is one more species that deserves some credit.With eight arms and nine brains,the octopus has proven to be a very intelligent species,capable of problem solving and using tools, according to recent research.

Obviously,humans and octopuses are wired differently. Humans have a central nervous system with one brain controlling all parts of our body. We have neurons reaching to our fingertips and toes sending signals of movement and pain.If we put our hand on a hot stove, signals would be sent from our hand to our brain and back to our hand,this happens in milliseconds and is why we are able to avoid serious injury.

Octopuses,on the other hand, have one central brain,which controls all parts of their body, but in addition to that,they have eight smaller ?brains?called ganglia in each of their arms. These ganglia control the

movement of each individual arm.They are also used to sense chemicals,touch,and possibly even sensing light.Octopus have an impressive 500 million neurons in their body,around 2/3rds of which are located in their extremities.While this pales in comparison to the 100 billion in the human body,it is very high for an invertebrate.We all know how important the eight arms are to an octopus;they are used for movement,hunting,and protecting themselves against predators.These eight different brains allow each arm to function independently of the others, making it that much easier for the octopus to survive in the tough conditions of the ocean.

Along with the ability to control each body part separately, octopuses have been known to use tools and even recognize human faces.A smaller species, Tremoctopusviolaceus,also known as the common blanket octopus, have been seen carrying a tentacle of the Portuguese Man O? War as a weapon,these tentacles

carry a deadly punch of venom, while the octopus itself remain unharmed by it,their prey and predators are not.

Relative to other invertebrates,octopus have large optic lobes (the area of the brain associated with visual processing).A brief experiment was done at the Seattle Aquarium testing recognition abilities of the Giant Pacific Octopus.Two biologists,wearing the same uniform,visited the octopuses once a day.One fed the octopuses and the other poked them with a stick.After two weeks,the octopuses behaved differently around each biologist,even though they wore the same outfit. Besides intelligence, octopuses seem to be sentient creatures as well.Typically,in the animal kingdom,the incubation or brooding period of eggs is a matter of months.Almost a mile down,in the depths of Monterey Canyon,California,researchers found a brooding Graneledone boreopacifica mother protecting her eggs and measured how long

she remained with them.Over the course of 18 dives,the researchers never saw the mother leave the eggs or eat anything.An astonishing 53 months later,on their last dive,the eggs were hatched and the mother was nowhere to be found.She had remained over her eggs,not moving or eating for almost 4 and a half years!Her sacrifice gave her eggs the greatest chance of survival once they hatched.This was the longest measured brooding period for any animal. Unfortunately,in most octopus species,shortly after conception, the male dies months later.It is believed the females also pass away after such a long incubation period.

While measuring intelligence is difficult for non-humans,(we can?t give invertebrates the standard IQtest) scientists can look at other factors to determine their brain power.We also cannot directly compare our idea of intelligence to other species. Recent research looked at the RNA of and octopus.RNA is a

nucleic acid,similar to DNA,and is partially responsible for the expression of certain genes.The RNA is then translated to proteins, and the researchers detected a significant activity level in an area of the brain related to ?behavioral plasticity.?This means that octopuses have the ability to adapt and change to solve problems.These genes are similar to those found in humans,known as ?jumping genes.?These are short sections of DNA that can copy and and paste itself to another location in the genome.

These genes make up a staggering 45%of the human genome.

While we share some mental processes with octopuses,we cannot begin to grasp the world they live in.Our most recent common ancestor was a flatworm that lived 600 million years ago; it?s safe to say our brains have evolved since then.Although we still cannot completely grasp the true intelligence of an octopus,we can admire their problem-solving ability,their recognition,and their parental instincts.

Octopus.Photo by: damn_unique;Flickr.

Shipwreck Reefs

By: Lucian Anderson, UHM MOP Alumnus

Coral encrusted shipwreck.

Photo by:David Burdick; Flickr.

In 1941, Europe, North Africa, and Asia were engulfed in war. Citizens around the world were plagued by the chaos and horror of bomber propellers spinning in the air, bombs dropping onto unsuspecting people, and bullets fired like pouring rain. At the time, much of North Africa was still colonized, primarily by The French Republic, Kingdom of Italy, and The British Empire. During the spring of 1941, British troops stationed in North Africa were cut-off by chaos caused in the Mediterranean by the Axis powers. In June, a supply ship, SS Thistlegorm, disembarked from Glasgow, Scotland to bring much-needed equipment to their countrymen. To avoid German U-boats and naval mines in the Mediterranean Sea, they traveled south, towards Cape Town, South Africa and up towards the Arabian and Red Sea.

Due

to a collision in the Suez

Canal, the SSThistlegorm was forced to anchor off the coast of the southern Sinai Peninsula. German intelligence had received reports of a large British troop transport ship in the Red Sea. German bombers were deployed from occupied Crete to neutralize the troop

carrier. The bombers eventually located a British ship, although it wasn?t the troop carrier they set out to destroy. Instead, they found the anchored Thistlegorm. Two bombs were dropped near the stern and ammunition on board caused an explosion. As the SS Thistlegorm sank a neighboring ship rescued sailors in the water. Four sailors were killed and the ship was lost to the depths.

In 1955, the SSThistlegorm was ?rediscovered?by Jacques Cousteau for his documentary, though it had previously been sighted by local fishermen. Seventy years later, the sunken supply ship has become a popular scuba diving attraction.

For seven decades, the wreck has accrued a lot of flora and fauna, becoming something of an artificial reef. The wreck leans upward meaning that some parts of the ship are only 16 meters below the surface.Additionally, the wreck is not located near the shores of Egypt or any country bordering the Red Sea and is consequently more protected from the extreme high temperatures that more nearshore waters experience.

From 2007-2014, Scientists from

the University of Bologna and citizen scientists surveyed species present at the wreck to determine if the shipwreck has as many species present as a natural reef and if the species presence is consistent over time. Seventy-two species were listed that live in the general vicinity of the natural coral reefs of this region. They found 71 of the 72 species present at the wreckage with fluctuations during the seasonal changes, which was to be expected.

It has been hypothesized that creating artificial reefs, in this case using shipwrecks, could help boost scuba recreation and tourism while mitigating the stress that the tourism has on natural coral reefs, essentially spreading the species across a wider range and creating another hub for species to call home. The team believes that their findings with species presence is enough to say that shipwrecks can create sustaining communities of flora and fauna.

It is possible that artificial reefs can also alleviate some of the stress of climate change. Shipwrecks in cooler waters with exposure to sunlight can allow coral to grow while at the same

time not be as warm as waters on the immediate coast. Provided the wrecks have enough exposure to sunlight, this could cause a migration of coral reefs from the increasingly warming coastal waters to cooler, more open waters.

Before plans to sink a bunch of useless vessels are made, other factors such as ship composition and materials need to be considered. Near the Palmyra Atoll, a region devoid of iron, a ship with iron chains ran aground and was abandoned in 1991. The iron from the chains caused algae to grow and later, an ?invasion" of corallimorphs (an anemone species) occurred. In a short period of time the anemone out competed the coral species in the general vicinity of the shipwreck. The anemone has a dark coloration which led scientists to call the area, The Black Reef.

The SSThistlegorm is a reminder that even amidst the chaos of war, unexpected sources of beauty and life can emerge. For coral reef conservationists, artificial and shipwreck reefs may be an effective strategy for combating the stressors caused by tourism and climate change. However, it is also vital to consider the composition and materials of anything added to a natural environment in order to avoid unintended consequences on the surrounding ecosystem.

Shipwreck.Photo by:Olga Ga;Unsplash.

Creatureof theMonth:

Hawaiian Spiny Lobster

By:Soleil von

Hausch

Lobster

If you happen to spot a colorful crustacean scuttling across a Hawaiian reef, chances areyou?respotting theHawaiian spiny lobster (Panulirus marginatus). The?ula,as it?s known in Hawaiian, may lack the largefront pincers associated with ?truelobsters,?but they are important to Hawaiian cultureas food and occasionally as a sacrificeto thegods.

Hawaiian spiny lobsters reproduceduring thesummer months. Malelobsters possibly follow thetrail of femalelobster pheromones. Themalefertilizes thefemale's eggs by attaching a sticky packet of sperm near her reproductiveopening. After mating, a femalelobster stores her eggs on appendages called swimmerets for four months taking special careto aeratethem by fanning her abdominal limbs and cleaning them with special claws. Oncetheeggs hatch, they becomemicroscopic larvaefor 9 months beforematuring.

Hawaiian SpinyLobster at Gardner Pinnacles. Photo by: GregMcFall/NOAA;Flcikr.

Both a predator and a scavenger, theHawaiian spiny lobster is an important part of coral reef ecosystems. A nocturnal consumer, it feeds on a variety of species, including sea urchins, clams, sea hares, and crabs, to namea few. Additionally, it scavenges on dead organisms, keeping thereefs clean.

When they?renot scavenging, ?ula areoften found in cracks and crevices within reefs, in order to hidefrom predators. They can be spotted by looking for their long antennaewhich often stick out of thecrevicethey aresheltering in. Theseantennaearealso used to producea warning sound through a process called stridulation, where thelobster rubs hard pads at the baseof their antennaeagainst ridges on their head. During the day, spiny lobsters remain in their shelters and emergeat night to forageon thereef.

In theevent they aren?t sheltered by thereef, thelobsters usethemany spines on their

antennaein order to defend themselves and takeadvantageof their powerful tail muscles to propel them from danger. Additionally, they possess a hard exoskeleton that crustaceans are known for, which also gives them added protection.

Despiteall thesedefensive measures, theHawaiian spiny lobster populations aredeclining. Dueto being a popular food, they wereheavily fished in earlier decades and arenow rareto find in thewild. As a result, they are now a protected species by the Stateof Hawai?i. Measures have been taken to ensurea restored population, for instance, caught lobsters must beabovea certain sizeto ensurethat they?vehad timeto reproduce. Additionally, lobsters can?t befished during thesummer months (May-August), which is when they reproduce. TheHawaiian spiny lobster is an important Hawaiian species that deserves to beprotected to ensureits survival.

Lobster on Maro Reef. Photo by: GregMcFall/NOAA;Flcikr.

Changing [Color] Tides

By: Alexandrya Robinson, UHM MOP Student

ColorbandsPhoto by:Julie Burgher;Flickr.

Breathing is something done without thought or question about how it?s managed. The oxygen that most eukaryotic cells need to respire is ever present in our atmosphere, but where does it come from?Your first thought might be the Amazon rainforest; it has often been described as the, ?Lungs of the Earth.? Satellite imaging uses the fluorescence, or the reflected light that plants do not absorb, to measure the productivity of our world?s plants. Current data show that roughly half of all atmospheric oxygen is actually produced in the ocean.

The primary producers of this atmospheric oxygen are microscopic organisms known as phytoplankton which utilize nitrogen and phosphorus in order to carry out their normal day-to-day tasks. Recently, the input of mass amounts of these nutrients as a result of human

activities has caused overwhelming growth of phytoplankton to be more common. These are known as harmful algal blooms (HABs) or red tides because the aggregation of these plants change the color of the ocean itself from the characteristic blue to red, brown, or even green. In places like Florida, a species of dinoflagellate named Karenia brevishas become an ecological nightmare.

K. brevis, like many other microorganisms, produce many byproducts in order to meet regular physiological requirements such as metabolism rate, cell wall structure, virulence, growth, and reproduction. K. brevisnaturally produces a sodium channel stimulant known as brevetoxin.

Brevetoxin at background levels that are normally present in the environment are not necessarily high enough to cause problems

but with the human input of nitrogen and phosphorus, the red tide concentration of brevetoxin is much higher.

People can have highly adverse respiratory issues from breathing in brevetoxin that has been aerosolized by the crashing waves. If a person consumes shellfish that has a high level of brevetoxins they can become sick from neurotoxic shellfish poisoning. This is a nonfatal illness but very uncomfortable with symptoms like vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, tingling, and numbness. Other species of plankton produce different varieties of toxins that can result in similar illnesses including; diarrhetic shellfish poisoning which is aptly named, amnesic shellfish poisoning that can cause short term and long-term memory loss, and paralytic shellfish poisoning which can be fatal because it causes severe respiratory distress because the

muscles in the chest become paralyzed. It isn?t only people though that are affected by these toxin buildups in the environment.

Brevetoxin is taken in by other marine organisms like fish and shrimp which results in their death. Manatees are also under threat from brevetoxins, three manatee casualties have been reported to have died due to brevetoxin poisoning this year. As the bloom starts to dissipate, the decomposition process of species like K. brevis reduces the level of dissolved oxygen in the water and organisms can suffocate, this process is known as eutrophication.

Scientists are urging the public about the importance of reducing the input of anthropogenic nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. The Mississippi River has farmlands that deposit into it as well as

treated sewage water resulting in high nutrient loading that is directly dumped annually into the Gulf of Mexico. Due to the Gulf of Mexico being a relatively closed off area of the ocean with one side being trapped by land mass there is not much area for the nutrients to diffuse through.

Because of this, implementing management techniques for nutrient loading from people and industry all along the Mississippi River is important in order to help control red tide blooms before they start to preserve both people and animal lives.

Harmful Algal Bloom.Photo by: ZacharyHaslick;Flickr.

My MOP Project:

Incorporating Citizen Science in High School Classrooms using REEF.org

Attention to anyoneembarking on a MarineOption Program Skill Project! It's an excellent opportunity to gain valuableexperience, build skills, and enhanceyour CV. I was inspired to start my own MOP project, entitled ?Incorporating Citizen Sciencein High School Classrooms Using REEF.org,? becauseI was eager to participatein conducting marinesurveys alongside my community.

I moved to Hawai?i in theFall of 2021 to pursuea degreein marine

scienceat UH Hilo. Right away, I was determined to exploremy interests. Reef fish intrigued me, so I signed up for reef fish survey trips organized by theschool, which sparked my interest even further. Along with this, I began taking education courses becauseteaching marinescienceis something I hopeto pursuein thefuture. My MOP Project was inspired by observing my peers' projects and their passions.

My project is focused on educating high school students on

Story & Photos by: Sequoia Rueger, UHH MOP Student

Parrot fishobserved during Sequoia Rueger'sREEFFish Survey.

local reef fish, theimportanceof reef conservation, and surveying reef fish abundancealongsidethem at Richardson?s and Keaukaha Beach. I conduct onlinetraining sessions for UH Hilo students about theReef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), wherewediscuss becoming a surveyor, common local reef fish, and how to usetheREEF database.

REEF is a marineconservation organization that engages local communities in reef fish surveying projects. My project involves oneof their hands-on programs, the Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Snorkelers and divers areenlisted to collect information on weather conditions and fish abundancefor the REEF databasein order to monitor and protect thereefs. I designed my project with theintention of continuing theREEF fish surveying at UH Hilo whileproviding high school students with opportunities to conduct surveys as well.

I encountered several difficulties throughout theproject, such as efficient timemanagement, preparation, and adaptability. When I first began educating students, managing my timeand completing all portions of thelesson was a challenge. However, I overcamethis obstacleby practicing my lessons multipletimes beforepresenting them to thestudents.

This project is important to me becauseit is thefirst skill-based project I?veever experienced, and it has enabled meto exploremy passion for marinescience. Additionally, this project has provided mewith an important experienceto add to my CV, which will benefit mein future opportunities. I highly encourage anyoneconsidering a MOP project to taketheplunge; it has been an excellent way for meto exploremy interests and strengthen my skills.

REEFFishSurvey.

Sequoia Ruegerconducting a reef surveyfor herMOPproject.

Volume XXXVIII,Number 5

Editor: Abbie Jeremiah

Associate Editor:Sofía Flores Pina

Dr.Cynthia Hunter (eminence grise)

Jeffrey Kuwabara (eminence grise)

Writing Team: Chloe Molou,Lucian Anderson,Alexandrya Robinson, Haley Chasin,Abbie Jeremiah,Sofía Flores Pina,Sara McGhee,Dora

Figueroa, Soleil Van Hausch

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 isthe monthly newsletter newsletter of the Marine Option Program at the University of Hawai?i.Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Marine Option Program or of the University of Hawai?i.

Suggestions and submissionsare 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 photosare taken by MOP unlessotherwise credited.