RESEARCH PROJECTS
PI-CASC supports research that generates actionable climate science within several key focus areas defined by regional stakeholder needs.
Genetic assessment of giant clam stocks in American Samoa
PI: Robert Toonen, Research Professor, Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, UH Mānoa
Graduate Scholar: Paolo Marra-Biggs, Department of Marine Biology, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2022
Graduate Scholar: Paolo Marra-Biggs, Department of Marine Biology, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2022
Prioritization planning for coastal wetland restoration on Molokaʻi
PI: Judith Drexler, Research Hydrologist, USGS California Water Science Center
Co-Is: James Jacobi, Biologist, USGS Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center; Curt Storlazzi, Research Geologist, USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Funded: FY2021
Co-Is: James Jacobi, Biologist, USGS Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center; Curt Storlazzi, Research Geologist, USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Funded: FY2021
2021 SURF Projects
Six students completed projects in climate adaptation science for the 2021 SURF program, investigating stream flow quality and variability, coastal erosion, fish thermal tolerance, fishpond phytoplankton distribution, and reef microplastics.
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
Effect of extreme tidal events on future sea-level rise scenarios for He‘eia fish communities
PI: Yoshimi Rii, Research Coordinator, He'eia NERR/HIMB, UH Mānoa
Co-Is: Rob Toonen, Research Professor, HIMB, UH Mānoa; Kawika Winter, Reserve Manager, Heʻeia NERR/HIMB, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2021
Co-Is: Rob Toonen, Research Professor, HIMB, UH Mānoa; Kawika Winter, Reserve Manager, Heʻeia NERR/HIMB, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2021
Vulnerability of coastal ecosystems to increased salinity from climate change
PI: Kasey Barton, Associate Professor of Botany, UH Mānoa
Graduate Scholar: Anna McCormick, Department of Botany, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2020
Graduate Scholar: Anna McCormick, Department of Botany, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2020
He ala ʻae kai – The path near the sea: Climate inflictions upon intertidal
PI: John Burns, Assistant Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo
MCC Graduate Scholar: Lauren Kapono, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Co-I: Haunani Kane, Post-doctoral Researcher, Marine Science Department, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
MCC Graduate Scholar: Lauren Kapono, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Co-I: Haunani Kane, Post-doctoral Researcher, Marine Science Department, UH Hilo
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.
How will changing reefscapes affect the prevalence of ciguatera on Hawaiian reefs?
PI: Tim Grabowski, Fish Biologist, Hawai‘i Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, USGS/Adjunct Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo
MCC Graduate Scholar: Nikola Rodriguez, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2020
MCC Graduate Scholar: Nikola Rodriguez, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
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
Using cutting-edge technology to assess coral reef bleaching and recovery in Guam and CNMI
PI: Romina King, Associate Professor of Geography, University of Guam
Co-PI: Ved Chirayath, Research Scientist, NASA Ames Research Center
Funded: FY2020
Co-PI: Ved Chirayath, Research Scientist, NASA Ames Research Center
Funded: FY2020
How ridge-to-reef governance in Palau can enhance coastal food security
PI: Kirsten Oleson, Associate Professor of Ecological Economics, UH Mānoa
Graduate Scholar: Michelle Harangody, Department of Geography and Environment, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2020
Graduate Scholar: Michelle Harangody, Department of Geography and Environment, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2020