Science Highlights
'A hui hou' San Diego - back to the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
My time in the Shurin Lab at the University of California, San Diego has come to a close. I've never worked with a more amazing group of humans. I am incredibly thankful for my "alpine lake family" and the memories we've shared together. I am returning to the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa where I will start a new position as a Research Faculty in the Department of Earth Sciences. I am honored to have been selected to serve as a 2023 SOEST Early Career Research Fellow. My lab at UH will focus on coral reefs and applying high resolution stable isotope analyses to understand energy channels at organismal (symbioses) and ecosystem scales (energy subsidies, trophic interactions). While returning to my salty passions, I will continue to pursue research in alpine lakes. Interested in working with me? Reach out! |
Two new publication on fire effects on aquatic ecosystems
Wall CB, Spiegel CJ, Diaz E, Tran C, Fabiani A, Broe TY, Jackrel SL, Mladenov N, Symons CC, Shurin JB. (2024) Fire transforms effects of terrestrial subsidies on aquatic ecosystem structure and function. Global Change Biology 30: e17058 [link to article pdf]
Spiegel CJ, Mladenov N, Wall CB, Hollman K, Tran CH*, Symons CC, Shurin JB. (2024) Life after a fiery death: Fire and plant biomass loading affect dissolved organic matter in experimental ponds. Global Change Biology 30: e17061 [link to article pdf]
Wall CB, Spiegel CJ, Diaz E, Tran C, Fabiani A, Broe TY, Jackrel SL, Mladenov N, Symons CC, Shurin JB. (2024) Fire transforms effects of terrestrial subsidies on aquatic ecosystem structure and function. Global Change Biology 30: e17058 [link to article pdf]
Spiegel CJ, Mladenov N, Wall CB, Hollman K, Tran CH*, Symons CC, Shurin JB. (2024) Life after a fiery death: Fire and plant biomass loading affect dissolved organic matter in experimental ponds. Global Change Biology 30: e17061 [link to article pdf]
We have two new papers out in Global Change Biology on the impacts of fire on aquatic ecosystems. We used an experimental, mesocosm approach to test how different gradients of burned or unburned material influenced the function and chemistry of freshwater ecosystems.
Lakes and rivers receive terrestrial plant detritus from their watersheds, and wildfires accelerate the input while transforming its chemistry. We tested the effects of loading and burning of plant matter on ecosystem metabolism, greenhouse gas emissions, and aquatic invertebrates in experimental ponds. We found that burning stimulated the effect of plant detritus on photosynthesis and respiration but led to lower greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions and reduced transfer of plant-nitrogen to zooplankton. These results show that fire transforms the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems by changing the chemistry of plants that wind up in lakes, rivers and ultimately the ocean. Read more at Global Change Biology Read the press release from UCSD News and NSF News Watch me discuss this work on Fox 5 San Diego News Data and code available at GitHub for Wall et al. and Spiegel et al. |
New publication: Association networks of microbiomes and metabolomes in reef primary producers
Mannochio-Russo H, Swift SIO, Nakayama K, Wall CB, Gentry EC, Panitchpakdi M, Caraballo Rodriguez AM, Aron AT, Petras D, Dorrestein K, Dorrestein T, Williams TM, Nalley E, Altman-Kurosaki NT, Martinelli M, Kuwabara J, Darcy JL, Bolzani VS, Kelly LW, Mora C, Yew J, Amend AS, Hynson NA, Dorrestein PC, Nelson CE. (2023) Association networks of microbiomes and metabolomes among dominant coral reef primary producer holobionts illustrate a potential role for immunolipids in marine symbioses. Communications Biology 6, 896.
Mannochio-Russo H, Swift SIO, Nakayama K, Wall CB, Gentry EC, Panitchpakdi M, Caraballo Rodriguez AM, Aron AT, Petras D, Dorrestein K, Dorrestein T, Williams TM, Nalley E, Altman-Kurosaki NT, Martinelli M, Kuwabara J, Darcy JL, Bolzani VS, Kelly LW, Mora C, Yew J, Amend AS, Hynson NA, Dorrestein PC, Nelson CE. (2023) Association networks of microbiomes and metabolomes among dominant coral reef primary producer holobionts illustrate a potential role for immunolipids in marine symbioses. Communications Biology 6, 896.
In a recent (heavily collaborative) paper, I worked with colleagues in Hawai'i and San Diego to test how reef primary producers (fleshy and coralline algae and reef corals) differ in their microbiomes and metabolomes, i.e., their host-associated microbial communities and metabolite pools. We found that these primary producers showed unique microbial communities and that there were high degrees of overlap between microbial taxa and metabolite classes, indicating putative functional roles for these microbes and interesting avenues to further explore in host-microbe interactions. Interestingly, our multi-omics investigations highlight common lipid-based immune response pathways across host organisms.
Read more here at Communications Biology |
New publication: Isoscapes in remnant montane forests and plantations of Hawai'i
Wall CB, Swift SIO, D’Antonio CM, Gebauer G, Hynson NA. (2023) Isoscapes of remnant and restored Hawaiian montane forests reveal differences in biological nitrogen fixation and carbon inputs. PeerJ 11:e15468. peerj.com/articles/15468/
Wall CB, Swift SIO, D’Antonio CM, Gebauer G, Hynson NA. (2023) Isoscapes of remnant and restored Hawaiian montane forests reveal differences in biological nitrogen fixation and carbon inputs. PeerJ 11:e15468. peerj.com/articles/15468/
Excited to share our new paper using stable isotopes landscapes ( or 'isoscapes') in remnant and restored Hawaiian forests of Hakalau National Forest Reserve on Hawai'i Island.
We sought to test whether outplanting of native N2-fixing trees (Acacia koa) supporting alternative forest states by supplying N to invasive grasses? Some background: Over 300,000 Acacia koa canopy trees have been planted in former deforested pasturelands of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge since 1980s. These afforested forests areas were planted to restore native bird habitat and support forest regeneration. However, after 30 years, these afforested, plantation forests still struggle. Native birds are showing signs of returning but the forests differ in their composition relative to native, remnant forests nearby. Notably, plantations are dominated by invasive, nitrophilous grasses. We used nitrogen isotopes to test whether these restored forests were providing more fixed N to the soil and to understory plants (as koa is a nitrogen fixing plant). We also used carbon-isotopes to assess C4 grass carbon in soils and plant water use efficiencies. Spatial interpolation of these data as isoscapes revealed unique biogeochemical properties. In plants and soils we found: greater N-fixation, greater C4 grass signature, and higher water use efficiency in the plantation. These data show that outplanting N2-fixing trees produce different biogeochemical landscapes and differences in plant-water relations in these forests, and Koa may be facilitating invasive grass dominance. Read more here at Peer J Data and code available on GitHub |
Second field season in Yosemite complete!
In my new position as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California San Diego, I am working to understand the influence of microbes on zooplankton communities in alpine lakes. This work puts me in some of the most beautiful wilderness in the United States: The Eastern Sierras and Yosemite National Park.
My work on zooplankton microbiomes building on the long term research from the Shurin Lab at UCSD, which has been involved in studying these lakes for the last ten years. Zooplankton are important in transferring energy from the bottom of the food web to higher trophic levels and also help to control algal blooms by consuming microscopic phytoplankton.
However, we don't know much about how the microbes that live in lakes (and with plankton) are changing in response to food web quality, environmental conditions and climate change, and geography. So many cool questions! Now to get to the bench and start prepping samples for DNA sequencing!
New publication: Symbiont community effects on coral nutrition across a light gradient
Wall CB, Kaluhiokalani M, Popp BN, Donahue MJ, Gates RD (2020) Divergent symbiont communities determine the physiology and nutrition of a reef coral across a light-availability gradient. The ISME Journal 14:945–958
Wall CB, Kaluhiokalani M, Popp BN, Donahue MJ, Gates RD (2020) Divergent symbiont communities determine the physiology and nutrition of a reef coral across a light-availability gradient. The ISME Journal 14:945–958
In the warmer and brighter shallow waters of Kāne‘ohe Bay, O‘ahu, the Hawaiian rice coral (Montipora capitata) hosts more heat-tolerant symbiotic microalgae (Durusdinium spp.) in their tissues compared to corals in deeper waters (Cladocopium spp.). Using genetic sequencing, we found that light availability is shaping the distribution of these symbiont communities in corals sampled from Kāne‘ohe Bay, with the heat-tolerant Durusdinium symbionts being more common in shallow depths. Interestingly, although the heat-tolerant symbionts were present in much greater abundance inside the coral’s tissues relative to other symbiont species, they were providing less energy to their shallow coral hosts. The greater frequency of disturbances in shallow, near-shore habitats may have allowed stress-tolerant coral symbionts, thought to be more opportunistic and ‘selfish’, to proliferate within the local coral population. This study shows that while stress tolerance may be favorable during challenging periods, these symbionts provide less food to their corals, which may not be as beneficial to the corals in the long term. Read more at Nature: Behind the Paper and the ISME Journal website. Data and code on GitHub. |
New publication: Soft tissues and nutrition in bleached and recovering corals in Hawai'i
Wall CB, Ritson‐Williams R , Popp BN, Gates RD (2019) Spatial variation in the biochemical and isotopic composition of corals during bleaching and recovery. Limnol Oceanogr 64 (5), 2011-2028. doi:10.1002/lno.11166
Wall CB, Ritson‐Williams R , Popp BN, Gates RD (2019) Spatial variation in the biochemical and isotopic composition of corals during bleaching and recovery. Limnol Oceanogr 64 (5), 2011-2028. doi:10.1002/lno.11166
Coral bleaching is a cellular response brought on by environmental stress that results in the breakdown of the symbiosis between corals and their endosymbiont algae. Hawai'i and reefs across the world were affected by ocean warming brought on by a record-strong El Nińo event in 2014-2016, causing a global coral bleaching event. However, some corals are resistant to thermal stress and we wanted to understand more about the differences between bleaching sensitive and bleaching resistant corals.
Our research sought to determine how corals that bleached and those that did not responded to thermal stress (and their eventual recovery from stress) and whether these responses different across reef environments. We found that coral biomass was very important in the response of corals to stress and that bleaching reduced this important energy reserve. However, corals were able to utilize this tissue during recovery and re-built tissue reserves quickly following temperature stress. These results show that coral tissue are important in the bleaching and recovery of corals and that bleaching resistant corals can maintain their soft tissue energy reserves in the face of temperature stress.
You can access our paper at Limnology and Oceanography, data on github, and read more at Science News Daily
New publication: Urchins and divers working together to reduce invasive macroalgae on coral reefs
Neilson BJ, Wall CB, Mancini FT, Gewecke CA. (2018) Herbivore biocontrol and manual removal successfully reduce invasive macroalgae on coral reefs. PeerJ 6:e5332 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5332
Neilson BJ, Wall CB, Mancini FT, Gewecke CA. (2018) Herbivore biocontrol and manual removal successfully reduce invasive macroalgae on coral reefs. PeerJ 6:e5332 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5332
Invasive macroalgae are a serious problem for many coastal areas around the world. In Hawai'i, coral reefs have suffered from invasive macroalgae for nearly half a century. Removing these invasive species is a priority for effectively managing coral reef resources and keeping reefs in 'coral-dominated' states.
In my recent paper with Hawai'i Division of Aquatic Resources program administrator (Brian Neilson), we showed that manually removing algae and applying hatchery raised collector sea urchins native to Hawai'i to reefs was an effective means of keeping invasive algae low over a two year study period. Most importantly, the actions of the managers reduced macroalgae by 85% while not harming any of the important organisms on the reefs such as corals or crustose coralline algae, which are important for baby corals during settlement on the reef. This was a great study to work on and we hope it can provide useful information for other places looking to mitigate invasive macroalgae in the support of coral reefs. There has been some phenomenal press on this project so Read More at the links on the right and check out our paper in the journal PeerJ. |
June 2018: IsoCamp! University of Utah course in stable isotope biogeochemistry ecology
I had the pleasure of attending the University of Utah at Salt Lake City as a 2018 IsoCamp cohort with the SIRFER Lab (Stable Isotope Ratio Facility for Environmental Research). This course is amazing--it offered the fundamentals of stable isotope theory and ecology as well as insight into cutting edge applications of stable isotopes. Plus I got to meet some real legends in the field of stable isotope ecology. I can't sing enough praises for this course, its content, faculty and resources.
You can read more about the impact IsoCamp has had as a teaching resource for early career scientist training here (Teaching Science, Launching Careers) and if you are looking for an... "enriching" academic experience you should consider applying to the next IsoCamp! Information can be found at the University of Utah: ISOCAMP!
You can read more about the impact IsoCamp has had as a teaching resource for early career scientist training here (Teaching Science, Launching Careers) and if you are looking for an... "enriching" academic experience you should consider applying to the next IsoCamp! Information can be found at the University of Utah: ISOCAMP!
May 2018: New publication: Environmental history, thermal stress and the immunity and physiology of corals
Wall CB, Ricci CA, Foulds GE, Mydlarz LD, Gates RD, Putnam HM. (2018) The effects of environmental history and thermal stress on coral physiology and immunity Marine Biology 165: 56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-018-3317-z
Wall CB, Ricci CA, Foulds GE, Mydlarz LD, Gates RD, Putnam HM. (2018) The effects of environmental history and thermal stress on coral physiology and immunity Marine Biology 165: 56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-018-3317-z
The response of corals to stress are influenced by environmental conditions co-occurring with stressful periods, but previous or historical environmental conditions over the life of an organisms (i.e., environmental history) can also shape how corals respond to stress.
In my most recent paper: The effects of environmental history and thermal stress on coral physiology and immunity published in the journal Marine Biology we looked at how corals from different sites with unique histories of carbon dioxide concentrations in seawater (pCO2)--particularly high versus low variability in pCO2 (see figure at right)--affect the immunity of corals and their response to bleaching stress. We found some interesting results, namely that immunity (especially melanin activity) was very much influenced by short term thermal stress, however, corals from the high pCO2 variable site had higher constitutive antioxidative and immune activity. In short, our results show thermal stress and history affect how corals respond to stress in interesting ways that are only beginning to be understood. Read more at Marine Biology. |
April 2018: The 43rd Albert L. Tester Memorial Symposium
Lot's of excitement this week at UH Mānoa with the culmination of the 43rd Annual Albert L. Tester Symposium. Shayle Matsuda, Tom Iwanicki, and I were the organizers for this year's symposium, and WOW what a great group of presented talks and posters we had year. Hat's off to all the great students and their faculty mentors for making the event a success. Also, a huge thanks to the UH faculty, the UH departments, local businesses and NGOs that participated in and sponsored our event.
Congrats to Ariana Huffmyer, Patrick Nichols, and Emily Young for best talks! Very excited to see the 44th Tester Symposium in 2019! |
February 2018: New publication, collaboration on coral symbiosis ecology
Innis T, Cunning R, Ritson-Williams R, Wall CB, Gates RD. (2018) Coral color and depth drive symbiosis ecology of Montipora capitata in Kāne‘ohe Bay, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. Coral Reefs 37: 423. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-018-1667-0
Innis T, Cunning R, Ritson-Williams R, Wall CB, Gates RD. (2018) Coral color and depth drive symbiosis ecology of Montipora capitata in Kāne‘ohe Bay, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. Coral Reefs 37: 423. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-018-1667-0
The Gates Lab, led my a Three-Seas graduate student Teegan Innis and former post-doc Dr. Ross Cunning, published a new paper on the ecology of the coral Montipora capitata (rice coral) and the distribution of Symbiodinium symbiont types (clade C vs. clade D) and color morphs (orange vs. brown) across sites and depths within Kāne'ohe Bay. You can read our paper online now in the journal Coral Reefs. It was a great project to be involved in and it had three of my favorite topics: free diving, photography, and symbiosis! A bit about our report We found that the distribution of symbiont type and coral color morphs was largely influenced by depth, where orange morphs hosting clade D symbionts were prevalent at < 2m depth, and brown morphs hosting clade C symbionts became more dominant with increasing depth. Brown morphs were almost exclusively associating with clade C symbionts, but orange morphs showed depth-dependent shifts in their symbionts, being D-dominated at >4m and C-dominated below. Overall, this shows that environmental changes over relatively short distances can affect the distribution of corals and their relationships with Symbiodinium. These findings may underscore differences in coral performance and bleaching outcomes, and are important in the ecology of this species in Kāne'ohe Bay and elsewhere. |
November 2017: New publication, 1st chapter of Ph.D. research
CB Wall, RAB Mason, WR Ellis, R Cunning, RD Gates. Elevated pCO2 affects tissue biomass composition, but not calcification, in a reef coral under two light regimes. R. Soc. open sci. 2017 4 170683; DOI: 10.1098/rsos.170683.
CB Wall, RAB Mason, WR Ellis, R Cunning, RD Gates. Elevated pCO2 affects tissue biomass composition, but not calcification, in a reef coral under two light regimes. R. Soc. open sci. 2017 4 170683; DOI: 10.1098/rsos.170683.
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The first chapter of my Ph.D. on the effects of ocean acidification and light effects on reef corals was recently published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. Check it out for free! Also, all data and R-code are available and open access on Dryad. Here is an overview of my paper. Coral reefs are threatened by climate change and rising ocean acidity (ocean acidification, OA). OA interferes with coral skeletal growth and may cause reefs to dissolve in the future. However, OA may also affect coral soft tissues—an important factor contributing to stress resilience and survival. We tested OA effects on the Hawaiian coral Pocillopora acuta, and report OA did not affect skeletal growth, but OA reduced tissue biomass quality. Therefore, OA effects on calcification are only part of the story, and negative OA effects on coral tissues may harm coral resilience, reproduction, and survival today and into the future. |
August 2017: Aloha to my intern Mario Kaluhiokalani-- a hui ho!
Over the last few months I worked with Mario Kaluhiokalani on a project testing for spatial-temporal variation in coral nutrition in Kāne'ohe Bay. Mario is an undergraduate studying at Humboldt State University, but Mario was born and raised here on the windward side of O'ahu and has a deep connection with the ocean and Hawai'i's coral reefs. He put the time in this summer!--doing a combination of field work and lab work, and we estimate he must have counted ~ 80,000 individual Symbiodinium cells! But I'm stoked for Mario because he got the research experience he wanted, but he still managed to squeeze in time for some waves. It is easy to forget how important work-life balance is, especially when we have our heads down, pressed to the grindstone. Science is pretty important to us scientists, but we must remind ourselves how important is it to continue investing in our connections to the special places and beasts that motivated us to pursue our chosen field. For me, and Mario, surfing is that connection. Cheers to a great summer--see you in the lineup again soon, Mario! |
April 2017: Mentored student studying sunscreen and corals advances to National Science Fair! Cheehu!
March 2017: Association for the Study of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) conference in Hawai'i
This last week was the ASLO conference here in Hawai'i. A great opportunity to network and learn about cutting-edge research in aquatic biogeochemistry and oceanography. Many members of the Gates Lab presented their research on corals--ranging from stress tests on early life stages in the laboratory, to adult corals and their response to natural bleaching. I presented a chapter from my Ph.D. research on coral bleaching and recovery using corals that bleached and did not bleach during the 2014-2015 regional coral bleaching event. Exciting stuff! And we saw some very interesting patterns. Look forward to publishing this one, hopefully in the ASLO journal Limnology and Oceanography. |
September 2016: Environmental Protection Agency STAR award to study coral reefs
I am honored to be one of only 53 recipients awarded the 2015/2016 US Environmental Protection Agency Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship. This funding will support my research on coral reefs under local and global environmental stressors, including nutrient pollution and ocean warming. My project will specifically test for the interaction of local and global stressors on reef corals in Hawaiʻi by testing how temperature and dissolved nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, affect a coral’s energy balance. Environmental stress can reduce the performance of reef corals and lead to breakdown of the relationship between coral and its algae symbionts (Symbiodinium spp.)—epitomized by the phenomena known as “coral bleaching”. Ultimately, nutrient pollution may cause corals to be more sensitive to ocean warming and bleaching. Mahalo EPA for this opportunity! |
August 2016: Featured as IUCN and UH East-West Center "Eco Steward" in advance of World Conservation Congres
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently wrapped up the World Conservation Congress here in Honolulu. University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa's East-West Center in collaboration with IUCN created an online resource IUCN Youth Voices to "...inform, inspire, excite, and empower children and youth, and their teachers, to connect with nature." I am honored to be highlighted as one of the IUCN "Eco-Stewards" for my work with online education and outreach. I feel passionately about coral reefs and our need to conserve these ecosystems. Growing up in Texas, I know first hand how digital media can foster a love for the ocean and its resources. I hope my work can motivate others to care for reefs, and to understand and mitigate the threats they face. Check out Youth Voices and the other Eco-Stewards to learn more about science education, conservation, and sustainability at http://iucnyouthvoices.org/ |
June 2016: New Research Fellowship from UH Mānoa!
I am honored to have been rewarded The Denise B. Evans Fellowship in Oceanographic Research from the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology. This is a tremendous honor, and I look forward to using this opportunity to further my research on the balance of autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition in reef corals. Mahalo nui loa!
I am honored to have been rewarded The Denise B. Evans Fellowship in Oceanographic Research from the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology. This is a tremendous honor, and I look forward to using this opportunity to further my research on the balance of autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition in reef corals. Mahalo nui loa!
May 2016: New publication-- CB Wall and the UH Manoa Fisheries Ecology Research Lab
Donovan et al., 2016. Effects of Gear Restriction on the Abundance of Juvenile Fishes along Sandy Beaches in Hawai‘i. PLoS ONE 11(5): e0155221, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155221 Happy to report a new publication! I worked in collaboration with UH Manoa fisheries biologists to assess the impacts of gear restriction (gill net fishing) on juvenile fish species in two locations on O'ahu. This project "developed a baseline status of juveniles of an important fishery species, and found effects of a fishery management regulation in Hawai‘i." We report juvenile bonefish were positively affected by banning beach seine fishing, but that the abundance of a bevy of juvenile fishes declined over time in both locations. Read more (for free!) at PLoS ONE |
April 2016: I am marine science and you are too! Science outreach and education for middle school students
This last week I met up with the middle school students of Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'O Ānuenue in Palolo Valley to talk with them about being marine scientist. Ānuenue is a Hawaiian culture immersion school that emphasized Hawaiian culture and language in every aspect of their teaching curriculum. This is the second year I've visited Ānuenue, and it is always an honor to speak with these engaging, gifted students. This year I talked with the students about a range of topics in marine science and resource sustainability, including pono fishing practices, the impacts of humans and pollution on coral reefs (stepping on reef, plastic debris, runoff), and how corals are affected by changing environmental conditions--and how they recover from stress! Especially cool was my opportunity to discuss my research in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, and discuss the cultural and ecological importance of this special ecosystem. The video (to the right) offers a particularly compelling example of just how amazing the Monument is! Looking forward to next year! |
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April 2016: Coral science at the 41st annual Albert L. Tester Symposium
This last week, the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa and the Biology Department hosted the 41st annual Albert L. Tester Symposium. This symposium is a great opportunity for undergraduates and graduate students to showcase their research to the department and the school as a whole--plus everyone has a chance to finally hear (succinctly) what exactly their colleagues have been up to! I presented on my research on the interactive effects of ocean acidification and light on reef coral tissue energy and growth.
The Gates Lab had a very strong showing-- with talks ranging from education and communicating science, to coral bleaching and reproduction, and interactive effects of climate change with other environmental stressors. Many of the presenters will be attending the International Coral Reef Symposium in June, here in Honolulu. If you missed us at Testers, hope to see you at ICRS!
April 2016: Gates Lab research covered in The New Yorker
Dr. Gates had the honor of sitting down and discussing her research with Elizabeth Kolbert--the Pulizer Prize winning author of "The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History". The article is a great read, by one of the world's leading science writers. Enjoy learning about our laboratory, and the novel we are taking to aid the adapation of corals to environmental stress.
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February 2016: Sunscreen effects on coral reefs
The University of Hawai'i and the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology are working with the State of Hawai'i to determine the effects of sunscreen pollution on reef corals. Last week, Dr. Ruth Gates as the Director of the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology and Robert Bley-Vroman (the Chancellor of the University of Hawai'i at Manoa) testified on the importance of this research and the need to better understand pollution effects on coral reefs. Sunscreens and other cosmetic products contain chemicals that either physically block, or chemically absorb UV light thereby preventing UV-induced damage to your skin. However, recent research shows that chemical sunscreens may be negatively affecting corals, and may represent a chronic pollutant on many coral reefs. It is great to hear that the State of Hawai'i is supporting this research initiative.
Read more from Civil Beat.com |
December 2015: Education with O'ahu's School for Examining Essential Questions in Sustainability (SEEQS)
One great part about being a scientist is working with young people and sharing our research with them. It is such a blessing to be able to be in a position where we can pull back the curtain and show kids how amazing science is in a hands-on learning environment. As scientists, it is our kuleana--our responsibility, our honor, and privilege--to share our knowledge with the next generation so that they can malama the aina (care for the land).
This last weekend, students from SEEQS came to visit the Gates Lab at The Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology to learn about coral reefs and climate change, and how scientists study "stress" in corals. We spent the day learning about DNA, coral bleaching and bleaching recovery, reef fish (and sharks and eels!!!), and how land-based nutrients affect coral reefs. We also learned about how reef corals are the engineers of reef ecosystems, where even in death the corals provide habitat for a multitude of reef taxa. I wish I had such an opportunity as a 7th grader--wow! What's the next step? Well now that they are hooked on science we will be designing science projects for them to test hypotheses they generate. Say aloha to the next generation of reef scientists: Gabbie and Tyler! |
November 2015: University of Hawai'i Hilo launches the "Coral Reef Health Atlas"
Hawai'i is a very special, and isolated, coral reef ecosystem. Isolation has provided Hawai'i with coral reefs filled with endemic species found nowhere else in the world. However, globalization and a growing population have led to many introduced species giving Hawai'i the nickname the "extinction capital of the world." Further, diseases on coral reefs have caused a decline in the abundance and health of coral reef. The Hawaiian Archipelago is a massive island chain! With islands and atolls spanning more than 2400 kilometers! To share and communicate the science of coral reefs with the public, the University of Hawai'i at Hilo--along with a graduate student in the Gates Lab--has built an amazing educational platform: The Coral Health Atlas.
"The Coral Health Atlas provides easily accessible data, immersive visual displays, and general information for study sites throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago. We hope to promote a global understanding of the importance of healthy coral reefs in order to protect and conserve these precious ecosystems."
Take a look and see for yourself!!
"The Coral Health Atlas provides easily accessible data, immersive visual displays, and general information for study sites throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago. We hope to promote a global understanding of the importance of healthy coral reefs in order to protect and conserve these precious ecosystems."
Take a look and see for yourself!!
November 2015: "Super corals" and global climate change
Coral reefs are threatened by climate change. However, some reef corals can tolerate environmental stress. In the Gates Lab, we are working to use resilient corals to better understand what makes a "super coral" able to handle assaults of ocean warming and climate change. Without adaptation, corals may experience massive die offs in the future. The stakes are high, and our lab is working to "assist" corals in gaining stress resilience through breeding resilient and non-resilient corals and examining host and symbiont traits that confer resilience.
Learn more about this important research: watch the video! |
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October 2015: Associated Press covers "assisted evolution" in corals
Some reef corals have the physiological and genetic capacity to survive environmental change, while others suffer, bleaching and ultimately die under the same stressors. Understanding what makes a coral a "winner" or a "loser" under climate change may give us insights into how humanity can help corals survive in an increasingly inhospitable future.
Read about "assisted evolution" in reef corals and how our lab is working to push corals towards adaptation through selective breeding experiments. |
June 2015: New paper from Gates Lab post-doctoral researcher Dr. Ross Cunning: Symbiont shuffling in reef corals
Gates Lab Post-Doctoral Researcher Dr. Ross Cunning published a new paper in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, Biology. Corals lose their symbionts under stress and become repopulated with symbionts during recovery. The community of symbionts may differ pre-and post-disturbance, and corals may "shuffle" symbionts as an adaptive response to stress. Ross's research found that both the severity of stress and the environmental conditions during recovery affect coral symbiont shuffling, and thereby affect the ability for corals to shift from stress-susceptible to stress-tolerant symbionts. Click the image to view his paper in its entirety! Congrats Ross!
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April 2015: The Doctor is in: Dr. Ruth Gates discusses ocean warming and reef corals
This week Huffington Post Green c/o Craig Musburger featured an article on coral bleaching and the persistent threat ocean warming poses to reef corals (article: "How to Train Your Coral"). Ocean warming leads to the breakdown of the coral-algae symbiosis and causes corals to appear white or "bleached". Severe bleaching can have severe effects on corals and may result in widespread mortality and local extirpation of corals. However, some corals are resilient to bleaching stress. Our laboratory is currently studying factors contributing to stress resilience in corals using a variety of cutting edge techniques, including confocal microscopy. HD under H2O produced a video with Dr. Gates discussing her research and the recent warm-water bleaching event in Hawai'i--all in HD! Check out the video below to learn more...
This week Huffington Post Green c/o Craig Musburger featured an article on coral bleaching and the persistent threat ocean warming poses to reef corals (article: "How to Train Your Coral"). Ocean warming leads to the breakdown of the coral-algae symbiosis and causes corals to appear white or "bleached". Severe bleaching can have severe effects on corals and may result in widespread mortality and local extirpation of corals. However, some corals are resilient to bleaching stress. Our laboratory is currently studying factors contributing to stress resilience in corals using a variety of cutting edge techniques, including confocal microscopy. HD under H2O produced a video with Dr. Gates discussing her research and the recent warm-water bleaching event in Hawai'i--all in HD! Check out the video below to learn more...
How to Train Your Coral from HD Under H2O on Vimeo.
April 2015: University of Hawai'i at Mānoa Albert L. Testers Symposium
This month was the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa 40th Annual Albert L. Tester Symposium, and I presented results from my most final master's research publication (left): "Evidence that elevated pCO2 perturbs protein metabolism in two early life stages of a tropical reef coral." In addition, three Ph.D students/candidates from the Gates Lab presented research: Elizabeth Lenz (on her octocoral research in St. John, US Virgin Islands), and Raphael Ritson-Williams (effects of the 2014 bleaching event on the corals of Kane'ohe Bay). There were many phenomenal talks from graduate students across the College of Natural Sciences and many great posters, as well!
As usual, the symposium was a blast, and we were honored to have the keynote address of Dr. Jeremy Jackson. Additionally, Raphael won Honorable Mention for best paper presentation for his talk! This work was done in collaboration with Dr Gates, Dr. Laura Nunez-Pons and myself--although the eloquence of the presentation was 100% Raphael! The man has analogies for coral bleaching in spades!
CONGRATS RAPHAEL ON A JOB WELL DONE! You can learn more about Raphael's research at his website.
New Gates Lab publication in PNAS (March 2015)
A new perspective paper Gates Lab members Dr. Ruth Gates and Dr. Hollie Putnam has bee published in the esteemed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS) on the topic of assisting coral reefs in adapting to climate change using assisted evolution.
The paper is open access, so download and share!
"Building coral reef resilience through assisted evolution"
A new perspective paper Gates Lab members Dr. Ruth Gates and Dr. Hollie Putnam has bee published in the esteemed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS) on the topic of assisting coral reefs in adapting to climate change using assisted evolution.
The paper is open access, so download and share!
"Building coral reef resilience through assisted evolution"