MCC Publications – Pacific Island Climate Adaptation Science Center

MANAGER CLIMATE CORPS PUBLICATIONS

Peer Reviewed Publications

Empowering long-term, relational research pathways: innovation and adaptation at the speed of trust within more-than-human and human communities

Laursen S, Palacat-Nelsen A, Leslie C, et al. (2025) Emotion, Space and Society. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emospa.2025.101109

Baseline conditions and land-based drivers of nearshore water quality in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia

Tonga B, Aguiar D, Wiegner T, McDermid K, Colbert S (2025) Marine Pollution Bulletin, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117833

Detection and modeling of Staphylococcus aureus and fecal bacteria in Hawaiian coastal waters and sands

Steadmon M, Takakusagi M, Wiegner TN, Jones M, Economy LM, Panelo J, Morrison LA, Medeiros MCI, Frank KL (2024) Water Environment Research, https://doi.org/10.1002/wer.11037

Biology and Impacts of Pacific Islands Invasive Species: Falcataria falcata (Miquel) Barneby and Grimes (Fabaceae)

Hughes RF, Anderson A, Clements DR, Norton J, Ostertag R (2024) Pacific Science, https://muse.jhu.edu/article/934416

Rainfall and streamflow effects on estuarine Staphylococcus aureus and fecal indicator bacteria concentrations

Economy LM, Wiegner T N, Strauch AM, Awaya JD, & Gerken T (2019) J. Environ. Qual., https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2019.05.0196

Collaboration across worldviews: Managers and scientists on Hawai‘i Island utilize knowledge coproduction to facilitate climate change adaptation

Laursen S, Puniwai N, Genz AS, Nash SAB, Canale LK, & Ziegler-Chong S (2018) Environ. Manag., https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-018-1069-7

Master's Theses

Predicting sea level rise impacts to coastal wastewater infrastructures and water quality along the Kailua-Kona shoreline

Kamau, I. (2024). M.S. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science graduate program. https://hdl.handle.net/10790/43924

Effects of climate change and fishing pressure on ciguatera prevalence in Hawaiian reef fishes: implications to public health in a changing climate

Rodriguez, N.D. (2024). M.S. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science graduate program. https://hdl.handle.net/10790/42737

Pockets and pathways to invasion: developing improved mosquito monitoring in high elevation forests on Hawaiʻi Island

Mladinich, S.K. (2023). M.S. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science graduate program. https://hdl.handle.net/10790/42514

Forest restoration techniques in a sub-alpine forest on Hawaiʻi Island Kanakaleonui, Mauna Kea

Pigao, A.K. (2023). M.S. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science graduate program. https://hdl.handle.net/10790/42739

Rainfall Driven Shifts in Staphylococcus aureus and Fecal Indicator Bacteria in the Hilo Bay Watershed (PDF)

Economy, L.M. (2018). M.S. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science graduate program. http://hdl.handle.net/10790/3500

Hydrology of three Loko Iʻa, Hawaiian fishponds, on windward Hawaiʻi Island, Hawaiʻi (PDF)

Kauahi, C. (2018). M.S. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science graduate program. http://hdl.handle.net/10790/3536

Mālama Loko Iʻa: Salinity and Primary Productivity Relationships at Honokea Loko. Hale o Lono, and Waiāhole/Kapalaho on Hawaiʻi Island, Hawaiʻi (PDF)

Anthony, K.J.E. (2018). M.S. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science graduate program. http://hdl.handle.net/10790/3532

Quantifying Shoreline Change at Three Diverse Coastal Geomorphologies on Hawaiʻi Island (PDF)

Hart, R. (2018). M.S. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science graduate program. http://hdl.handle.net/10790/3501

Can Compost From a Nitrogen-Fixing Tree, Falcataria moluccana, Replace Chemical Fertilizer and Store Carbon in Agricultural Systems? (PDF)

Norton, J.M. (2019). M.S. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science graduate program.http://hdl.handle.net/10790/5143

Final MCC Project Reports

Predicting sea level rise impacts to coastal wastewater infrastructure and water quality for adaptive planning and increased coastal habitat resilience (PDF)

Kamau I, Wiegner T (2024) PI-CASC Final Project Report.

He ala aukai – The path near the sea; adapting to climate impacts upon intertidal shoreline (PDF)

Kapono L, Burns J (2024) PI-CASC Final Project Report.

Effects of climate change and fishing pressure on ciguatera prevalence in Hawaiian reef fishes: implications to public health in a changing climate (PDF)

Rodiguez N, Grabowski T (2024) PI-CASC Final Project Report.

Forest restoration techniques in a sub-alpine forest on Hawaiʻi Island Kanakaleonui, Mauna Kea (PDF)

Pigao A, Price J (2024) PI-CASC Final Project Report.

Development of an early warning system for climate-change related invasion by mosquitoes into Hakalau Forest NWR (PDF)

Mladinich S, Hart P (2023) PI-CASC Final Project Report.

Understanding plants of the past to inform community reforestation efforts in the future: A place-based approach for promoting resilience in the Puʻuwaʻawaʻa Community-Based Subsistence Forest Area, North Kona, Hawaiʻi (PDF)

Russell D, Price J (2023) PI-CASC Final Project Report.

Developing geospatial models in Hawaiian watersheds to mitigate erosion and climate change (PDF)

Melcher, J.B. & Ostertag, R. (2020). PI-CASC Final Project Report.

Determining effectiveness of high-elevation habitat restoration efforts for Palila, an endangered honeycreeper: increasing resilience to climate change impacts (PDF)

Julian, K., Asing, C., Berry, L., & Hart, P. (2020). PI-CASC Final Project Report.

E Hui Pū: A collaborative approach to understand climate change impacts on traditional Hawaiian ʻōpelu (Decapterus macarellus, mackerel scad) aggregation sites in South Kona, Hawaiʻi (PDF)

Hurt, C., Ching, U., Springer, K., Alani, D., Kenison, D., Young, C., Schemmel, E., & Burns, J. (2020). PI-CASC Final Project Report.

Can Compost From a Nitrogen-Fixing Tree, Falcataria moluccana, Replace Chemical Fertilizer and Store Carbon in Agricultural Systems?(PDF)

Norton, J. & Ostertag, R. (2019). PI-CASC Final Project Report.

Rainfall Driven Shifts in Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Hilo Bay, Hawai`i(PDF)

Economy, L. & Wiegner, T. (2018). PI-CASC Final Project Report.

Impacts of climate change on hydrology and primary production of three Hawaiian fishponds (PDF)

Kauahi, C., Anthony, K., & Colbert, S. (2018). PI-CASC Final Project Report.

Quantifying Shoreline Change at Three Diverse Coastal Geomorphologies on Hawaiʻi Island (PDF)

Hart, R., Perroy, R., Fletcher, C.H., Colbert, S., & Morrison, B. (2018). PI-CASC Final Project Report.

Other Publications

Beyond event experiences: a relational approach to place through a native plant giveaway at the 2023 Hilo community climate fair

Laursen S, Sesno E, Parsons EW, Perry C, Heu C, Grady P, Johnson MV (2024) https://arcg.is/0WqH8H

Reality check: collaborative research contributes to real-life policy decisions

Laursen S, Morrison B (2020) US Climate Resilience Toolkit, Climate Program Office, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/reality-check-collaborative-research-contributes-real-life-policy-decisions

Hawaiʻi Island Manager Needs Assessment Report (PDF)

Laursen S, Puniwai N, Nash SAB, Canale LK, Genz, AS, & Ziegler-Chong S (2015) University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, PI-CASC Manager Climate Corps

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