2024 SURF Projects
Social interactions’ impact on cleaner fish and reef intelligence
SURF student: Andres Jojoa, marine biology major, KCC/UH Mānoa
Faculty mentors: Elizabeth Madin/Jose Maceiras de Paula, HIMB, UH Mānoa
This research project focuses on explores how changing conditions may affect the behavior and cognitive abilities of Hawaiian cleaner wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus), a crucial member for maintaining reef health and community order that removes parasites from a wide variety of fish, including predators. We hope to improve our understanding of wrasse reef interactions, social management, intelligence development, and prioritization of cleaning services.
Enhancing native Hawaiian forest restoration with richer soils at Nā Pōhaku
SURF student: Rylee Larson, environmental resources major, University of Alaska Southeast
Faculty mentor: Travis Idol, NREM, UH Mānoa
This project centers around aiding native forest restoration efforts in collaboration with a community organization, ʻAhahui Mālama i ka Lōkahi, at Nā Pōhaku o Hauwahine, on O’ahu’s windward side. We are conducting soil sampling in previous and projected planting sites to identify limiting factors where soil amendments may be beneficial. We are testing a variety of soil amendments by planting ʻuala in them and monitoring growth rates to find the most effective combination for encouraging native plant regeneration. This will help inform future planting decisions and maximize restoration efforts.
Understanding Hawaiʻi’s biomes in climate space
SURF student: Jaslyn Miura, environmental science and resource management major, University of Washington
Faculty mentors: Helen Sofaer, PIERC, USGS
This project involves using spatial analysis, graphs, maps, and charts to create a model that depicts how Hawaiʻi’s biomes have shifted to date, and may shift under different climate change scenarios. With climate change transforming ecological systems, visualizing the island’s biomes and vegetation under certain conditions can provide managers with information to decide their best management approach within the Resist-Accept-Direct framework.
Building a coral nursery to study the effects of thermal stress on coral skeletal density using 3D photogrammetry
SURF student: Maria Pla Prahl, marine science/date science major, UH Hilo
Faculty mentor: Steve Doo, Marine Sciences, UH Hilo
This project involves the construction of a coral nursery under specific conditions to quantify coral growth rates of calcification and measure coral skeletal density using 3D photogrammetry, a non-intrusive method for studying corals by building 3D models of coral fragments.
PROGRAM DETAILS
These four projects were conducted during the 10 weeks of the PI-CASC Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program in 2024. The SURFers worked with their mentors to carry out these impressive climate adaptation science projects, participated in professional development workshops, and presented their results at a symposium at the end of the summer.