Ruzelle Judicpa - Guam EPSCoR

January 29, 2025January 29, 2025

Duenas presents thesis on coral-friendly microalgae

Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistant Anela Duenas presents her thesis proposal "Ecophysiology of Coral Species Replacement on Reef Flats of Guam."

In preparation for her master’s thesis defense this summer, Anela Duenas, a Guam NSF EPSCoR graduate assistant, presented her proposal, “Ecophysiology of Coral Species Replacement on Reef Flats of Guam,” that examines the relationship of the microalgae Symbiodiniaceae with reef-building corals Acropora pulchra and Pavona decussata.

Symbiodiniaceae is a family of dinoflagellate algae notable for symbiotic associations with reef-building corals. Through her research, Duenas confirmed two genera of symbionts dominating A. pulchra – Cladocopioum and Durusdinium – and one dominating P. decussata – Cladocopium.

In her presentation held in January at the UOG Marine Lab, Duenas noted the significance of the symbiotic relationship between coral and Symbiodiniaceae for the health and success of reef-building coral such as Acropora pulchra and Pavona decussata.

Duenas has begun working on her experiments under the mentorship of EPSCoR’s Bastian Bentlage, Ph.D., and will continue them over the next few months. She expects to start analyzing her results in March and to present her findings and defend her thesis in the summer.

As part of the process, Duenas will conduct thermal stress experiments on the two coral species that harbor these symbionts. The experiments are designed to simulate coral bleaching conditions, allowing her to observe how the corals and their accompanying symbiont variants react to and recover from thermal stress.

Through her experiments, she aims to document coral species replacement on Guam’s reef flats, assess the diversity of Symbiodiniaceae assemblages present, and understand how the observed corals harboring the symbionts respond to environmental changes.

“Presenting my proposal was a big step in the process. I am relieved it went well, and the audience raised important concerns and questions for me to consider moving forward,” said Duenas, expressing her appreciation for the discussion that followed her presentation. She and her committee carefully considered the feedback and adjusted her methods in ways she believes will improve her experiment.

“I feel more confident after meeting with my committee and addressing these concerns,” she remarked. “I am excited to move forward with my thesis project and conduct my experiment.”

Hailing from the island of Saipan, Duenas first became interested in marine science by observing coral under a microscope on the beaches where she grew up. She went on to earn a degree in natural resources management from Northern Marianas College before obtaining her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Guam.

“I feel more confident after meeting with my committee and addressing these concerns,” she remarked. “I am excited to move forward with my thesis project and conduct my experiment.”

January 29, 2025February 12, 2025

Workshop participants learn computer repair basics

Participants of the "Repairing & Upgrading Your Laptop" workshop as a collaboration between MacTech Guam and the G3 Makerspace and Innovation Hub.

Alex Castro, right, works on a computer repair as part of a workshop at the G3 Makerspace and Innovation Hub. — Alex Castro, right, works on a computer repair as part of the “Let’s fix it! Don’t Ditch it!” workshop at the G3 Makerspace and Innovation Hub.

Jordan Lansang discussing the basics of computer repair during the Repairing & Upgrading Your Laptop Workshop with MacTech Guam. — Jordan Lansang discussing the basics of computer repair during the “Let’s fix it! Don’t Ditch it!” workshop with MacTech Guam.

Walfred Adonay guiding participants through the steps of computer repair for a workshop at the G3 Makerspace and Innovation Hub. — Walfred Adonay guiding participants through the steps of computer repair for the “Let’s fix it! Don’t Ditch it!” workshop at the G3 Makerspace and Innovation Hub.

MacTech Guam decor featuring computer parts as a way to repurpose electronic waste. — MacTech Guam decor features computer parts as a way to repurpose electronic waste.

From professionals with years of experience to tech newbies, a total of 12 participants attended the two-day computer repair workshop as part of a partnership between the Guam Green Growth (G3) Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub and MacTech Guam.

The workshop “Let’s fix it! Don’t Ditch it!” aims to empower participants to repair, upgrade and maintain their laptops to boost performance, avoid e-waste and save on the cost of replacement devices.

First, participants were introduced to the basics of computer repairs and learned how to identify the different parts of a computer from cooling system to storage options. They also were introduced to the concept of electronic waste (e-waste) and how less than 20% of e-waste is recycled.

Because Guam lacks a facility to recycle e-waste, MacTech has developed a disposal program where people can turn in or trade in devices and unused tech. This program helps deter the creation of electronic waste and illegal dumping on the island. According to workshop facilitator and MacTech Guam head technician Jordan Lansang, there are also creative ways to repurpose electronic waste such as use parts as decorations or jewelry.

However, Lansang emphasizes that learning how to replace computer parts can extend the lifespan of devices and help delay the need for a new device.

“Repairing is the best thing to do for your budget and for the environment,” said Lansang, noting it is common for manufacturers to use less reliable parts to force consumers to purchase a brand-new device within a short time frame.

On the final day of the workshop, participants became honorary junior technicians as workshop facilitators led them through the steps on how to successfully install a new battery, solid state drive and an operating system into a new computer.

“It is kind of intimidating,” said workshop facilitator Walfred Adonay, “but it is something you can learn to do yourself.” Adonay also added that there are many resources available online for people to learn how to repair their computers at home.

“After attending this workshop, I learned that computer repair is not as challenging as it may seem,” said workshop participant Alex Castro, adding that the facilitators made the workshop easy to follow. Because of the workshop, Castro looks forward to being able to use the skills she learned to avoid needing to discard devices so frequently.

The computer repair workshop was offered by the G3 Makerspace and Innovation Hub with the intention to equip participants with the ability to maintain their own computers and promote sustainability, support local repair shops and reduce e-waste.

For more information on workshops like this one, visit www.guamgreengrowth.org or follow @guamgreengrowthmakerspace on Instagram.

January 9, 2025January 9, 2025

Near Peer students reflect on 2024 experiences

The 2024 cohort of the Near Peer mentorship consisting of 12 students from NSF INCLUDES SEAS Islands Alliance and Guam EPSCoR came together one final time in November 2024.

From fostering independence to establishing a clear career path — the 12 students who participated in the 2024 Guam NSF EPSCoR Student Research Experience (SRE) and the Guam NSF SEAS Islands Alliance undergraduate fellowship shared their insights at a final Neer Peer mentorship meeting in November.

Overseen by Cheryl Sangueza, Ph.D., the Near Peer mentorship creates an opportunity for student researchers to learn from and mentor each other and shape their career paths in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics). Sangueza is the student coordinator for Guam NSF EPSCoR and co-principal investigator of Guam NSF SEAS Islands Alliance.

One of the major goals of the program is to prepare the students for the SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference, teaching them how to network and best present themselves at the nation’s largest diversity conference. Another goal of the program is to help the students relate their experiences to things outside of science, including how their research connects with identity and culture.

“The process is the product,” said Sangueza during the meeting, driving home that the Near Peer mentorship and research experiences impact the evolution of their self-identity. “It’s the process and the journey that is the product.”

Between bites of pizza, the students discussed their experiences in research, reflected on the year and wished each other well on their future endeavors. While they all had different backgrounds, experiences and intentions in participating, every student was able to clearly communicate the value of the program.

Nicole Pineda, a Guam NSF EPSCoR SRE student, who is in the pre-med biology track decided to participate in the program to widen her perspective on STEM careers. She expressed that she found the mentorship incredibly valuable as she performed research on the ecophysiology of Ostreobiu, a genus of green algae. Despite having no background in marine biology, Pineda was welcomed by her mentors and peers in order to help her build a foundation on the topic.

“I really enjoyed having independence over my own project and something that I could see grow throughout the months,” said Pineda, adding that there was a sense of fulfillment from being able to have questions answered by her research as time went on.

Throughout the year the students not only grew professionally but also personally, finding that the program became a place to learn about themselves. For example, Pineda has become more interested in research-based STEM careers after completing the program.

Despite originally being disinterested in the length of time it takes to earn a Ph.D., Guam NSF SEAS Islands Alliance fellow Nadley Yow realized that she wanted to pursue one after interacting with so many scientists and discovering how much more knowledge there is out there.

Cyril Concepcion, another Guam NSF SEAS Islands Alliance fellow, came to appreciate how empowering it is to be a woman in STEM. Originally feeling the “Women in STEM” label to be tokenizing, her perspective shifted after time with her Near Peer cohort.

“It’s more like an identity that you can help connect with others,” said Concepcion, admitting that she no longer feels limited by the term. “You can be that representation that little girls need.”

Of course, while the program touts itself as a vehicle for self-discovery and career growth, the main benefit of the Near Peer mentorship was the camaraderie. While each students’ research varied, all of the students could agree on one thing: the program gave them a sense of community amongst fellow researchers.

“If you didn’t already feel like you belong in the science community, you come into this and you find out that, there are people that feel the same way as you,” said MaryJolleen Perez, affectionately known as MJ to her peers.

Perez, who studied diatoms under Guam NSF EPSCoR’s Christopher Lobban, Ph.D., spoke about feeling self-conscious over struggling with her research or not having enough information. She had been previously concerned that she was behind in her research, but later found reassurance that her peers could identify with that feeling.

“The Near Peer definitely helped in a way sort of like affirm that I belonged here,” agreed Daniel Urbano, another Guam NSF EPSCoR student researcher, “because no matter how I felt in my research, like, ‘oh, I feel like I’m behind on things’ or like ‘this study isn’t as important as maybe some of the other studies’… everyone was sort of in the same boat when we went to Near Peer. We could talk about it peer to peer, as equals.”

The Near Peer mentorship will start up again in Fañomnåkan 2025 with a new batch of student researchers. Students who participate in either the undergraduate fellowship or SRE can look forward to benefitting from the mentorship program.

January 2, 2025January 29, 2025

UOG’s Donaldson co-authors paper on fish that communicate with sound

Sargocentron spiniferum or Sabre Squirrelfish, the largest member of the family Holocentridae (Squirrelfishes and Soldierfishes), are able to communicate with sound as detailed in a scientific paper recently published and co-authored by Guam NSF EPSCoR’s Terry Donaldson, Ph.D., at the University of Guam. Photo credit: Dave Burdick/Guam Reef Life

University of Guam Professor of Ichthyology Terry Donaldson recently co-authored a paper on bioacoustic communication within the family Holocentridae, a group of marine fishes commonly known as squirrelfishes and soldierfishes. These fishes are known to communicate by sound production. The paper, “Sounds as taxonomic indicators in holocentrid fishes,” was a collaboration with Marine Banse, Eric Parmentier and Estrelle Bertimes (University of Liege, Belgium), David Lecchini (PSL University, French Polynesia), and Frederic Bertucci (University of Montpelier, France). The paper was published in November 2024 in the open access Nature scientific journal NPJ Biodiversity (https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-024-00064-4).

The study is the first large-scale phylogenetic investigation on fish bioacoustics within this family and examines whether it is feasible to use sounds for taxonomic identification of species. Members of the Holocentridae produce sounds through the “contraction of paired bilateral sonic muscles originating on the skull and inserted on articulated ribs in tight connection with the swim bladder.” These contractions produce vibrations that are amplified by the swim bladder. All 73 species that were investigated had certain characteristics that made this family ideal for this type of study. This is especially important because holocentrids are nocturnal and rely heavily on vocal communication in the dark.

From May 2019 to July 2022, almost 400 specimens were collected from coral reefs of French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, Guam, Philippines and Seychelles. Sounds made by the specimens were recorded while the fish were hand-held in the field, rather than in aquariums, to minimize artifacts (false signals not generated by the fish but rather picked up in the recording process), and provide the most reliable sound comparisons. The sounds that are created vary by species and can range from grunts to clicks to thumping noises. After recording these sounds, the fish were measured and photographed to confirm species identity.

While species-specific sounds of animals have been extensively documented, there is limited phylogenetic research on acoustic behavior of fish species. “It’s possible to suggest that no two species make the same exact sound, even though they’re closely related,” said Donaldson. “They may have components that are the same but there’s something slightly different here or something radically different if you go from one genus to the next.”

This study demonstrates that sounds can indicate different taxonomic groups, although this depends on taxonomic level (i.e. family, genus or species). It was found that the higher the taxonomic level, the easier it was to differentiate them based on sounds.

A significant portion of this collaborative study was supported by Guam NSF EPSCoR thanks to an award from the National Science Foundation’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). Donaldson is Guam EPSCoR’s Principal Investigator and Project Director.

Donaldson has also co-authored, with Banse, Parmentier, and others, a publication based on a smaller study that describes acoustic communication between nine species of squirrelfishes in their relationship with cleaner fish. “Production of sounds by squirrelfish during symbiotic relationships with cleaner wrasses,” published in Scientific Reports in May 2024 (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-61990-8), describes the ability of squirrelfish to communicate their desire to be cleaned by cleaner wrasses through the use of acoustic signals. Scientific Reports is also an open access journal from Nature that publishes original research in the areas of natural science, psychology, medicine, and engineering.

December 6, 2024January 6, 2025

Meet the admin team: Glenn Meno and Annalyn Bansil

Sitting right at the entrance of the Dean’s Circle is the Guam NSF EPSCoR Admin Office, where grant assistant Glenn Meno and financial analyst Annalyn Bansil claim to be their home away from home.

Meno and Bansil make up the dynamic duo, the Guam NSF EPSCoR admin team, which helps keep the organization running and the research going. Their day-to-day includes a plethora of administrative duties from procurement to timekeeping, which is a no-brainer for two folks with decades of combined experience.

However, while both of them have plenty of experience in their respective positions, they both agree that they have had to learn a lot to keep Guam NSF EPSCoR running smoothly. Due to the nature of the organization, their jobs require them to be aware of the intricacies of scientific research.

When the researchers need special supplies such as microscopes, scanners, or even a flume tank from Japan, the admin team gets those to Guam. When samples or specimens are being sent to laboratories off-island to assist with research, the admin team ensures to get it there as quickly as possible. They operate as a unit with each task and rely on each other to keep up with the work, almost as if in a synchronized dance.

“We know all the work,” said Meno, noting that despite their different positions, having everyone on top of each task means nothing is lost in the process. “From step one to the end, we already know the work. So if anyone takes leave, we will take over.”

When they’re not keeping the organization functioning, they have hobbies that keep them almost as busy.

For Meno, he spends time tending to his garden, where he has begun growing tomatoes, peppers, and even calamansi. Bansil, on the other hand, has a hobby fitting for a financial analyst: she likes to memorize retail prices. Are you looking for a good deal for shoes or a coffee maker? Call Ms. Lyn; she’ll tell you exactly where they cost at different locations. It’s no wonder she has a talent for procuring supplies.

For the past five years, both Bansil and Meno have come to enjoy working with the Guam NSF EPSCoR team and look forward to many more. Even with the busyness of the load, when it’s time to return to the office they have no complaints about their work at Guam NSF EPSCoR.

Bansil’s family has even pointed out how much happier she has been since starting the position, finding that she never has to unload the day’s stress when she gets home.

“That’s how you know you’re happy with your work,” says Bansil. “You’re not going to talk about your work because you’re already satisfied. I go home and I (can) just be me.”

November 29, 2024December 6, 2024

G3 Makerspace collaborates with Nenpire

On November 16, the question “What are you good at?” was written at the top of the board at the Guam Green Growth Makerspace and Innovation Hub. The answers, given by kids between the ages of 6 to 13, ranged from “dancing” to “bowling” to “making smoothies”.

This question is meant to get them thinking about their own strengths and interests as they begin the first day of Nenpire, a start-up entrepreneur program designed to “unleash creativity, build skills and empower the next generation of ‘nentrepreneurs'”.

Through Nenpire, participants learn about the different aspects of entrepreneurship through mentorships with business owners throughout the island. One of those mentors is Guam Green Growth’s Circular Economy Coordinator Abby Crain.

After Daria Calvo, the creator of Nenpire, attended a workshop at the G3 Makerspace she approached Crain about collaborating for the neni entrepreneurship program. This was a natural step for collaboration since in the past the Makerspace has collaborated with other organizations such as GUMA (Guam Unique Merchandise and Art) and the Guam Junior Achievement Program.

“It’s really the same material but just presented to be much more palatable and the hands on activities are different for the kids programs,” said Crain. For this age group, it’s important that each step from development to product launch is presented in interactive ways for the participants to grasp. During her presentation, she made sure to not just show products that were created through the support of the Makerspace but also gave the kids a tour of the workshop to show the tools and process of how those products were made.

On November 26th, the Makerspace also held a special Nenpire Plastic Prototyping workshop, where plastic bags were fused together to create wearable crowns. This is a workshop that has been offered to adults several times in the past, just tailored to a younger audience.

Other activities included one where the kids were given a random bag of raw materials from pipe cleaners to canvas scraps to see what they can create, encouraging innovation as they consider what businesses they want to develop. These activities and this special collaboration between Nenpire and the G3 Makerspace is meant to start planting seeds about what a circular economy is and get the kids thinking more creatively about the kind of products they want to create – and on a larger scale, the future they want to see.

“A lot of sustainability and the things we do for Guam Green Growth and Center for Island Sustainability is really for our future,” said Crain, “and these kids are the future.”

The culmination of the program will be the Neni Christmas Market, where the nentrepreneurs will have their new businesses and products on display. The marketplace will take place on December 22 and community members are welcome to attend and shop their new products. In addition, one of the nentrepreneurs will be having pop up shops on December 4 and 18th at the Makerspace green store and there’s already has a corner set up where folks can shop Nenpire products – just in time for the holidays!

P1330678 — Nenpire kids checking out concrete blocks made out of recycled plastic during Makerspace tour.

P1330457 — Nenpire creator Daria Calvo on the first day of workshops.

P1330730 — Nenpire workshop activities included making something new out of raw materials.

October 31, 2024December 6, 2024

Dr. Terry Donaldson: From cold Lake Michigan to sunny Guam

Everyone knows that Terry Donaldson, PhD, is the principal investigator and project director of Guam NSF EPSCoR, but not everyone is aware of his journey as an ichthyologist. When did this interest in marine biology begin?

For Donaldson, it began as a child growing up by the cold lakes of Michigan and following the adventures of Jacques Cousteau through books and television series. It was no surprise that he developed an admiration for fish, having spent a great deal of his childhood snorkeling to find them or catching them with his grandfather.

Donaldson earned his doctorate in Ichthyology which led to him studying various species around the world including New Zealand, Japan, French Polynesia, the Solomon Islands and Guam, where he has been serving the University of Guam’s Marine Lab for over many years.

“Fish can be really beautiful to look at,” said Donaldson, noting that he can enjoy just watching and observing the sea creatures, from physical characteristics to their behaviors. Astounded by the sheer diversity – thousands of species, that we know of – he finds fulfillment in the discovery of new species as well as new observations on existing ones.

One of his most recent publications details the communication behaviors of squirrelfish, which reflects his interest in bio acoustics that stems from undergraduate studies at Michigan State University.

The paper, titled “Production of sounds by squirrelfish during symbiotic relationships with cleaner wrasses,” observes nine species of Holocentridae (squirrelfish) and how they use acoustic signals to communicate in their interactions with cleaner wrasses.

Throughout this life-long journey in Ichthyology and marine biology, Donaldson has also ended up in several leadership positions including principal investigator and project director of Guam NSF ESPCOR and the former head of UOG’s Marine Laboratory.

Most recently, he was elected as President of the National Association of Marine Laboratories in January of this year.

With decades of experience in research and leadership, he subscribes to the belief that learning is a lifelong endeavor.

“Every day I come through the door and I learn something new. Often people in this building teach me or just (through) interacting with other people, I learn something new,” he said nothing that Guam NSF EPSCoR’s successes are not just from his leadership but because he has a talented team working with him.

“Don’t be afraid to get your feet wet!” Donaldson said, offering a piece of advice to those just starting their careers.

He believes in the importance of trying new activities and cultivating interests that can be useful years down the line. This belief has certainly proven true for this scientist, whose love for marine animals started well before his own career took off.

October 29, 2024November 8, 2024

Bioblitz survey finds false spider crab in Guam

Among over a thousand species that were found during the University of Guam’s first Bioblitz is the Elamena castanea, a type of false spider crab.

While the Elamena castanea superficially looks like one, this species is not actually a spider crab and belongs to the Hymenosomatoidea superfamily which means they aren’t even related to true spider crabs.

Originally discovered in the Philippines, this is the first time that the species has been observed here in Guam even though the area has been sampled numerous times through the decades.

Since this discovery, several more crab specimens have been found on the reef flat behind the UOG Marine Lab.

“It shows you how much diversity there is out there,” said Robert Lasley, PhD, UOG Biorepository crustacea curator. “Elamena castanea specimens were collected under rocks or in seaweed in shallow depths – usually less than 1-2 meters.”

Lasley notes that even after the three-week biological survey, there are still hundreds, possibly even thousands, of marine species that remain undocumented in the waters off Guam.

“Honestly, though, we find new records all the time, often without noticing it,” he said. “It takes a lot of work at the microscope and digging through literature to confirm if something is a new species or new record.”

Along with the Elamena castanea, other findings included new records of different species of isopods, nudibranchs, nemerteans, gobies, and shrimps.

It has been estimated that between 10 to 15 percent of the specimens collected during the BioBlitz are either new records or entirely new species.

Since February, the Biorepository team has been developing and cataloging the specimens and uploading the specimen data to the Biorepository database.

Soon, they will be able to loan out specimens to researchers so that they can be further examined and new information can be reported.

The team is also planning future biological surveys with more targeted searches for specific organisms, using the information collected during this first Bioblitz.

In addition, they intend to organize surveys in other places throughout the region, such as Palau and the Marshall Islands.

Through these surveys, researchers will be able to learn more about what organisms call the vast ocean home, including the Elamena castanea, which will also help the community learn how to preserve and protect them.