Research - 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 15, 2025January 28, 2025

UOG workshop reveals findings on tackling crown-of-thorns outbreaks

Dr. Ciemon Caballes, a senior research associate at the University of Guam's NSF EPSCoR and assistant professor at the UOG Marine Lab, presented findings from a study during the "Guam Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Outbreak Response Strategy" workshop in December at the UOG Marine Lab.

Insights into reproductive trends, predation patterns, and climatic triggers observed before a crown-of-thorns (COTS) outbreak are crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies to protect coral reefs, according to Ciemon Caballes, Ph.D., a senior research associate at the University of Guam’s NSF EPSCoR and assistant professor at the UOG Marine Lab.

Caballes shared his insights during the “Guam Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Outbreak Response Strategy” workshop in December at the UOG Marine Lab.

COTS are marine invertebrates known for their predation on corals. They can cause devastating impacts on coral reefs by depleting coral populations. They are found in reefs across the Indo-Pacific region.

Caballes’ research, supported by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in collaboration with UOG’s NSF EPSCoR and Sea Grant, and other local and federal resource management agencies, focuses on understanding and mitigating these outbreaks.

“When we try to catch a serial predator, like the crown-of-thorns starfish, we need to build a profile,” Caballes said noting that understanding COTS and the trends leading to an outbreak is crucial for an effective mitigation strategy.

Caballes outlined several hypotheses regarding the formation of COTS outbreaks. The first suggests that outbreaks are a natural biological predisposition, given the species’ high fertilization rates.

According to Caballes, even a single mating pair can initiate a population surge. He said a female starfish could potentially produce over 100 million eggs in one spawning season while a male can produce around 50 billion sperm.

Surprisingly, he pointed out that, despite a male-skewed sex ratio, crown-of-thorns starfish maintain high fertilization rates, achieving up to 30% success even when separated by significant distances.

The second hypothesis links outbreaks to the overfishing of natural predators, leading to the release of COTS from predatory pressure and triggering a trophic cascade.

He also discussed the nutrient hypothesis, which posits that elevated nutrient levels from river runoff result in increased phytoplankton densities. Since phytoplankton provide a source of food for COTS larvae, the spike improves their survival and development rates. However, he also said recent findings indicate that excessive phytoplankton might lead to overfeeding, affecting larvae survival negatively.

Caballes also recalled several significant outbreaks, particularly one in 2009, and noted the possible influence of temperature and strong El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events on COTS populations. He illustrated the correlation between high precipitation and river discharge events, such as those in 2003 and 2004, and subsequent COTS outbreaks in 2006 and 2007.

Caballes noted, “With back-to-back coral bleaching events compounded by COTS outbreaks, corals are struggling to recover.” He emphasized the need for effective management strategies to address these dual threats.

“This workshop is the culmination of our work since 2022. The project began in March of that year to assess the crown-of-thorns starfish populations around Guam and explore the feasibility of coral rehabilitation in these reef areas.” Caballes stated.

Caballes described their research efforts, which included testing various plots to determine if culling crown-of-thorns starfish would enhance the survival of transplanted corals.

Input from workshop participants have been integrated into the Guam COTS Outbreak Strategic Management Plan, which will be available to the public and distributed to all local and federal partners.

Fran Castro, associate director for operations and development at the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, participates in the "Guam Crown-of-Thorns Starfish Outbreak Response Strategy" workshop in December at the UOG Marine Lab.

The Crown of Thorns Starfish has been reproducing at high levels causing trouble for coral reefs surrounding Guam. The workshop held at the UOG Marine Lab aimed to provide updates on the growing population and their affects on the marine ecosystem of the island. Photo courtesy of GuamReefLife.com and David Burdick.

Fran Castro, associate director for operations and development at the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, highlighted the significance of the project in addressing COTS. She described multi-agency efforts that involved training local agencies and coordinating monitoring efforts.

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, 2024December 6, 2024

Graduate research assistants continue to make impact

Grace McDermott displays coral samples at the Mote Marine Lab in Sarasota, Florida. Photo courtesy of Grace McDermott.

As the year 2024 reaches its end, four former Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistants (GRA) share where they are now, and how their time at the University of Guam helped them get there.

The Guam NSF EPSCoR Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) is a 3-year program that allows graduate students with a Bachelor of Science in Biology or related studies the chance to fully immerse themselves in their fields. Within the program, GRA student researchers can engage in fieldwork and utilize various oceanographic research instruments to investigate coral reefs and further develop research for their theses.

Carlos Tramonte studied under Bastian Bentlage, PhD, from 2020 to 2023, focusing on coral species replacements on the island’s reef flats. More specifically, Tramonte spent much of his time investigating coral-associated Symbiodiniaceae and their response to environmental stressors. Currently residing in Oahu, Hawaii, Tramonte is in his second year of the University of Hawaii’s Institute of Marine Biology PhD program.

EPSCoR 241031 CarlosTramonte 2 — *Carlos Tramonte conducting coral reef field work in Oahu, Hawaii. Photo courtesy of Carlos Tramonte.*

“My time at UOG laid a lot of the groundwork for everything I do today. The skills I developed in project design, data analysis, and environmental science, along with my first real experience in Pacific reef ecosystems as a graduate student, have been essential”, says Tramonte. “UOG’s programs helped solidify my commitment to Pacific conservation and gave me the tools to pursue complex projects, such as this current research on reef biodiversity.”

Now an official member of the Guam NSF EPSCoR Biodepository team, Kelsie Ebeling-Whited, initially did research on the spawning of sixbar wrasse fish under project director Terry Donaldson, PhD from 2017 to 2020.

Regarding her academic stint in the EPSCoR Biodepository, Whited describes that it “helped me discover my interest in historical collections and museum work.” Her transition to a full-time role with the team allowed her to continue the work she started as a GRA student researcher.

Therese Miller also studied under Bentlage for her 2020-2023 GRA experience, in which she investigated bacterial communities living within staghorn coral, most specifically Acropora pulchra. She also studied communities of bacteria living in Porites cylindrica and Porites lobata as part of an Guam NSF EPSCoR-funded project, which included transplantation experiments and coral monitoring/sampling.

Miller now resides in Nelson, New Zealand and is working towards her PhD in Marine Science through the University of Auckland. Her current research involves following migration routes of two freshwater eel species native to New Zealand: Anguilla dieffenbachii and Anguilla australis schmidtii.

EPSCoR 241203 ThereseMiller — *Therese Miller (front middle) and her colleagues at sea in New Zealand. Photo courtesy of Therese Miller.*

Miller had just recently completed a five-week long research voyage in her and her peers collected seawater samples from Wellington to New Caledonia.

“I’m about to start lab-work with the samples I collected from my time at sea, and the molecular biology I learned at UOG has given me plenty of experience for the amount of work I am now expected to do,” Miller explains.

“I also learned other valuable skills during my master’s, such as how to conduct literature reviews, how to organize and prepare my samples, how to work on a team of other researchers, and what the structure of a research-based degree is like.”

Under the guidance of UOG Marine Lab Director Laurie Raymundo, PhD, Grace McDermott studied the phenotypic differences in coral during her GRA program ending in 2023. These days, she works as a biologist and laboratory manager at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida, while also preparing to apply for PhD programs.

EPSCoR 241118 GraceMcDermott 2 — *Grace McDermott poses for a selfie in the lab at Mote Marine Lab, Florida. Photo courtesy of Grace McDermott.*

“My time at the UOG Marine Lab helped me cultivate experience organizing and leading experiments in the field and in the lab testing the resilience of corals to stress,” McDermott details. “The accessibility of Guam’s coral reefs provided me with the opportunity to explore my interest in the impacts of future climate change scenarios on marine ecosystems.”

As the year 2024 reaches its end, four former Guam NSF EPSCoR graduate research assistants share where they are now, and how their time at the University of Guam helped them get there.

Now an official member of the Guam NSF EPSCoR Biorepository team, Kelsie Ebeling-Whited, initially did research on the spawning of sixbar wrasse fish under project director Terry Donaldson, PhD from 2017 to 2020.

Regarding her academic stint in the Guam NSF EPSCoR Biorepository, Whited describes that it “helped me discover my interest in historical collections and museum work.” Her transition to a full-time role with the team allowed her to continue the work she started as a GRA student researcher.

Miller had just recently completed a five-week long research voyage in her and her peers collected seawater samples from Wellington to New Caledonia.

Her current research includes running experiments to identify coral species candidates for Mote’s coral restoration and reproduction programs, as well as studying situ coral disease dynamics and novel antibiotic-free treatment efficacy.

“My time at the UOG Marine Lab helped me cultivate experience organizing and leading experiments in the field and in the lab testing the resilience of corals to stress,” McDermott details. “The accessibility of Guam’s coral reefs provided me with the opportunity to explore my interest in the impacts of future climate change scenarios on marine ecosystems.”

November 25, 2024January 15, 2025

UOG-hosted town hall explores ocean energy for aquaculture, island power-source

Bastian Bentlage, associate professor of Bioinformatics at the UOG Marine Lab and one of the leads from UOG, speaks at the November town hall meeting, 'Ocean Energy Systems to Power Guam Aquaculture.' Bentlage states that UOG'd primary role in the project is to provide insights into site-specific considerations for evaluating the feasibility of deploying ocean energy systems.

While ocean energy system technologies are still in the development stage, their potential as a renewable energy source is promising, according to a technical report from a study developed by a team from the University of Guam, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and Sandia National Laboratory.

The findings presented at a November town hall meeting, “Ocean Energy Systems to Power Guam Aquaculture,” focused on utilizing ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) and wave energy conversion (WEC) technologies to power a proposed Guam Aquaculture Innovation Center and, potentially, as a renewable power source for Guam.

UOG hosted the town hall with the support of Guam NSF EPSCoR and the Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, during which PNNL, the lead entity for the project, presented the findings and gathered feedback from community participants to inform future research.

Since the performance of OTEC and WEC systems is site-specific, they examined two potential locations for the proposed aquaculture center: Tanguisson on the west side of Guam and an area near the UOG Marine Lab on the east side, according to Bastian Bentlage, associate professor of Bioinformatics at the UOG Marine Lab.

“One of the questions we asked is what are the options for powering an aquaculture facility using renewable energy that harvest the power of waves or thermal gradients between surface and deep-sea waters,” Bentlage said.

Bentlage explained that UOG’s primary role in the project was to provide insights into site-specific considerations for evaluating the feasibility of deploying these ocean energy systems. He emphasized the importance of including team members familiar with Guam’s unique landscape and marine environments.

Bentlage and David Crisostomo, an aquaculture specialist with the UOG Sea Grant Program, are leading the research at UOG for this project.

Crisostomo described the proposed aquaculture center as a potential game-changer for Guam’s aquaculture industry. He stated that the center will serve as a research hub for cultivating local species. Additionally, it could provide a business incubator setup for individuals interested in entering the aquaculture industry.

At the town hall, the project leads presented the benefits as well as the infrastructure, environmental, and economic impacts of OTEC and WEC.

In her presentation, Fleur de Peralta, senior advisor with the Risk & Environmental Assessment Group at PNNL, highlighted the benefits and challenges of ocean energy systems for Guam. She stated that OTEC can provide baseload power, which helps stabilize the grid and supports black start capabilities. The ocean’s depth near Guam is ideal for the technology, and the consistently warm surface temperatures ensure an adequate temperature differential. Additionally, OTEC, once deployed, will create jobs in installation and maintenance, among others.

However, there are challenges to consider. For OTEC, further research is needed to assess water temperatures and depths accurately, and environmental protection requires additional study. The permitting process remains unclear among various agencies, and shore-based plants must be designed to withstand natural hazards.

Regarding WEC, de Peralta presented assessments by Sandia that indicate Guam possesses substantial wave resources. However, ensuring a reliable survival strategy for installations is essential, and deployment can be costly, necessitating a careful balance of cabling and mooring expenses with location choices.

De Peralta noted, “Outreach engagements with the Guam community and stakeholders is an important part of our project to gain insights on the use of marine energy systems as a clean energy power source and considerations on the potential impact on the island, environment, culture, and livelihood of the island’s communities.”

Peralta, who grew up in Guam, said that the information shared during the town hall discussions will inform further assessments and the development of ocean energy systems.”

Meanwhile, Charles Gunzel, a program manager at PNNL, also emphasized the importance of community feedback, which ocean energy system designers should consider.

“It’s extremely satisfying to engage with the residents of Guam, learning their unique concerns, so these can be made known to the planners, designers, and manufacturers of tomorrow’s ocean energy systems,” Gunzel said.

According to Bentlage, a significant outcome of this project is the strengthened partnership between UOG and the two National Laboratories that lead in renewable energy research and development.

“We intend to build on this relationship to enhance research capacity in this area, supporting informed decision-making as Guam works to diversify its economy and transition to renewable energy,” Bentlage stated.

The project commenced in early 2023 after receiving funding from the US Department of Energy Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO).

Charles Gunzel, a program manager at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, highlights the importance of community feedback in designing and developing ocean energy systems. Gunzel participated in the "Ocean Energy Systems to Power Guam Aquaculture" town hall meeting in November.

At the “Ocean Energy Systems to Power Guam Aquaculture” town hall meeting in November, presenters shared findings on ocean energy systems from a technical report by the University of Guam, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratory. The focus was on OTEC and WEC technologies to power the proposed Guam Aquaculture Innovation Center and support renewable energy efforts for Guam. They also gathered feedback from members of the community.

David Crisostomo, aquaculture specialist at UOG Sea Grant, describes the proposed aquaculture center as a potential game-changer for Guam’s aquaculture industry at the November town hall meeting, "Ocean Energy Systems to Power Guam Aquaculture."

Fleur de Peralta, senior advisor with the Risk & Environmental Assessment Group at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, presents the benefits and challenges of ocean energy systems for Guam. De Peralta is one of the presenters at the “Ocean Energy Systems to Power Guam Aquaculture” town hall meeting in November.

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.

October 26, 2024November 25, 2024

Collaborative study yields new research instrument

After a detour to Alabama following the 28th NSF EPSCoR National Conference in Nebraska, Bastian Bentlage, PhD, Associate Professor of Bioinformatics, brought home a newly developed scientific instrument to aid in coral research.

Bentlage, with accompanying graduate research assistant Nikko Galanto, made the journey out to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, located on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. The lab has been developing the build and circuitry of a new scientific research instrument, as well as the computer models and programs needed to run it. This instrument measures the performance of a coral’s photosystem under heat stress using fluorescent light.

“If you shoot a blue light at a chloroplast, like let’s say an algal cell, not all of the energy from the light is actually seamlessly converted right into making sugars and by extension energy,” Bentlage explained. “So, you can actually measure the amount of fluorescence that is produced and by extension then can make some inferences about the underlying health of the chloroplast.”

With this new method, the researchers hope the instrument will help to identify corals that are most resilient to increasing sea surface temperatures so they may be prioritized for reef restoration.

This particular research project is conducted in collaboration with Kenneth Hoadley, Ph.D., from the University of Alabama and Mark Warner, Ph.D., from the University of Delaware, with Bentlage and Marine Lab director Laurie Raymundo, Ph.D., representing the University of Guam.

The connection stemmed from another proponent of the research project Victor Bonito, Ph.D., director of Fiji-based non-profit Reef Explore Fiji, Ltd. The universities first approached Bonito to write a grant to help expand their existing research. As a graduate of the UOG Marine Lab, it was through Bonito’s recommendation that the UOG Marine Lab be sought out for collaboration.

“It was really interesting for me to visit, to see a different approach to science,” Bentlage mentioned. “I’ve never really thought about, or didn’t know really where you would start to work with someone who was actually in that space where, ‘hey, we’re actually developing the technology to measure certain things.’”

The two universities plan to visit Guam next year to see what results the instrument has found, as well as to conduct their own research and experiments.

October 10, 2024October 11, 2024

Lasley ready to bring crab education to students on Guam in latest CHalan Deskubre

Crabs have always had a special place in Robert Lasley’s heart, and now he is sharing that love to help educate students on Guam.

As a part of the placed-based educational magazine CHalan Deskubre, which is supported by Guam NSF EPSCoR, Lasley has lent his “crab genius” so the children of the island may learn more about the crustaceans and what they do for our ecosystem.

According to CHalan Deskubre Editorial Coordinator Maria Louella Losinio, who also works on the EPSCoR Science Communication Team, Lasley’s gift for conveying science in an easily digestable way makes him a great fit for the magazine.

“The target audience for this magazine is school aged people from kinder through twelve grade and something we can all agree on is the intrigue they all share about animals around Guam,” said Losinio. “Dr. Lasley is able to bring information about the crabs to them in ways that they not only learn from, but are entertained by too.”

Lasley will be featured in the second issue of the magazine, which focuses on Sustainable Development Goal #14 – Life Below Water.

The issue is set to launch this month and will be available to students all around Guam.

September 10, 2024October 10, 2024

Coral research could have big implications for Guam’s future

Research by Reilly Kleven at the University of Guam (UOG) has revealed the remarkable growth potential of branching Lithophyllum coralline algae, a vital component of Guam’s coral reefs.

Kleven is a Graduate Research Assistant with the Guam National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) at UOG.

Kleven’s research, conducted under the guidance of Tom Schils, Ph.D. of the UOG Marine Labratory, focused on quantifying the growth rates of these algae in various reef habitats around the island. By utilizing advanced 3D scanning techniques, Kleven was able to measure the growth of individual algae samples over an extended period.

“Nongeniculate coralline algae are one of the most abundant calcifiers on Guam’s reef. They provide a variety of ecosystem services for reef environments. They help build and stabilize reef framework by depositing calcium carbonate in the form of magnesium calcite skeletons,” explained Kleven. “They act as important binders, decreasing the likelihood of structural collapse by reinforcing caves and cavities. Their skeletons further contribute to the resilience and recovery potential of reefs, providing protection from disturbances such as bio erosion and tsunamis.”

One of the most significant findings of the study was the exceptional growth rates observed in Lithophyllum algae from Pago Bay, Guam. These algae demonstrated remarkable resilience, growing at a rate that far exceeded previous estimates for coralline algae in tropical regions.

Kleven’s research also highlighted the importance of environmental conditions on algal growth. While Pago Bay offered optimal conditions for Lithophyllum growth, factors such as nutrient levels, sediment output, and water temperature were found to significantly influence growth rates in other areas, such as Togcha Bay.

These findings have significant implications for understanding the resilience of Guam’s coral reefs and their ability to recover from disturbances. As climate change continues to threaten coral ecosystems, the growth potential of lLithophyllum algae offers hope for future reef conservation efforts.

“As coral bleaching events become more frequent and severe the significance of coralline algae increases. These algae are likely to play a crucial role in preserving tropical reef carbonate structures as environmental change continues,” added Kleven.

Kleven’s research marks a significant contribution to the field of marine biology and provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of coral reef ecosystems at a time when many see the importance of the protection of our reefs.