RESEARCH PROJECTS
PI-CASC supports research that generates actionable climate science within several key focus areas defined by regional stakeholder needs.
2022 SURF Projects
Five students completed projects in climate adaptation science for the 2022 SURF program, investigating fire-prone invasive grasses, spillover effects of Marine Protected Areas, shifts in estuarine fish biodiversity, optimal regeneration conditions for koa, and effects of marine warming on different phytoplankton strains.
Predicting and mitigating avian disease at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
PI: Dennis LaPointe, Research Ecologist, USGS Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
Funded: FY2021
Funded: FY2021
How do Hawaiʻi stakeholders use and contribute to land-to-sea ecosystem service analyses
PI: Clay Trauernicht, Ecosystem and Fire Extension Specialist, NREM, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2021
Funded: FY2021
Enhancing social-ecological resilience and ecosystem services through restoration of coastal agroforestry systems
PI: Leah Bremer, Assistant Specialist and Conservation Scientist, UH Mānoa
Graduate Scholar: Gina McGuire, Department of Geography, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2020
Graduate Scholar: Gina McGuire, Department of Geography, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2020
Perceptions of wildfire and wildfire management on Guam
PI: Christine Fejeran, Chief Forester, Guam Forestry Division
CARM Undergraduate Scholar: Farron Taijeron, Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, University of Guam
Funded: FY2020
CARM Undergraduate Scholar: Farron Taijeron, Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, University of Guam
Funded: FY2020
Future of fire in the Pacific Islands: Towards a national synthesis for wildland fire under a changing climate
PI: Christian Giardina, Research Ecologist, Inst. of Pacific Islands Forestry, US Forest Service
Co-PI: Alyssa Anderson, Fire Post-doctoral Fellow, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2020
Co-PI: Alyssa Anderson, Fire Post-doctoral Fellow, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2020
2020 SURF Projects
Three students completed projects in climate adaptation science for the 2020 SURF program, investigating salinity tolerance in coastal plants, fire-plant interactions, and new techniques to improve reforestation efforts.
Biochar as a mitigation tool for soil rehabilitation in Guam’s badlands and savannah grasslands
PI: Mohammad Golabi, Professor of Soil Science, University of Guam
CARM Graduate Scholar: Patrick Keeler, Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, University of Guam
Funded: FY2020
CARM Graduate Scholar: Patrick Keeler, Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, University of Guam
Funded: FY2020
Development of an early warning system for climate-change related invasion by mosquitoes into Hakalau Forest NWR
PI: Patrick Hart, Professor of Biology, UH Hilo
MCC Graduate Scholar: Stephanie Mladinich, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
MCC Graduate Scholar: Stephanie Mladinich, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
Comparing arbuscular mycorrhizal diversity among different life stages of Intsia bijuga (Colebr.) Kuntze in Guam’s Limestone Forests
PI: Alexander Kerr, Professor of Marine Biology, University of Guam
CARM Graduate Scholar: Charles "CJ" Paulino, Environmental Science, University of Guam
Funded: FY2020
CARM Graduate Scholar: Charles "CJ" Paulino, Environmental Science, University of Guam
Funded: FY2020
Optimizing techniques to restore forest to increase endangered species habitat and mitigate future drought
PI: Jonathan Price, Professor of Geography , UH Hilo
MCC Graduate Scholar: Amberly Pigao, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
MCC Graduate Scholar: Amberly Pigao, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
Understanding plants of the past to inform community reforestation efforts in the future
PI: Jonathan Price, Professor of Geography , UH Hilo
MCC Graduate Scholar: David Russell , Restoration & Outplanting Field Assistant, Nāpuʻu Natural Resources Management
Funded: FY2020
MCC Graduate Scholar: David Russell , Restoration & Outplanting Field Assistant, Nāpuʻu Natural Resources Management
Funded: FY2020
Sea-level rise impacts on coral reef and mangrove interactions and resulting coastal flooding hazards
PI: Curt Storlazzi, Research Geologist, USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Co-I: Karen Thorne, Research Ecologist, USGS Western Ecological Research Center
Funded: FY2020
Co-I: Karen Thorne, Research Ecologist, USGS Western Ecological Research Center
Funded: FY2020
Identifying the risk of runoff and erosion in Hawaiʻi’s National Parks
PI: Lucas Fortini, Research Ecologist, USGS Pacific Islands Ecosystem Research Center
Co-I: Victoria Keener, Research Fellow, PacRISA, East-West Center, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2018
Co-I: Victoria Keener, Research Fellow, PacRISA, East-West Center, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2018