Research Projects

PI-CASC supports research that generates actionable climate science within several key focus areas defined by regional stakeholder needs.

Two men stand amidst elevated root systems of mangrove trees, watching another installing an instrument.

The future resiliency of mangrove forests to sea-level rise in the Western Pacific

PI: Karen Thorne, Research Ecologist, USGS Western Ecological Research Center
Co-PI: Richard MacKenzie, Research Ecologist, US Forest Service
Funded: FY2019
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Man lays a small fish along a ruler, with more fish in a tray nearby.

E Hui Pū: a collaborative approach to understand climate change impacts on traditional Hawaiian ‘ōpelu…

PI: John Burns, Assistant Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo
Co-Is: Tim Grabowski, Research Fish Biologist, Hawai‘i Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, USGS/Adjunct Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo; Courtney Hurt, Consultant, Conservation International
Funded: FY2018
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Green bushes dot a brown, scrubby landscape looking toward distant coastal clouds.

Effectiveness of high-elevation habitat restoration for increasing resiliency of the palila honeycreeper

PI: Pat Hart, Professor of Biology, UH Hilo
Co-I: Kahua Julian, Department of Agriculture, UH Hilo & Technician, Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project
Funded: FY2018
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Large horned mammals run across the field of view, backed by Hawaiian forest plants.

Managing non-native game mammals to reduce future conflicts with native plant conservation in Hawaiʻi

PI: Steve Hess, Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS Pacific Islands Ecosystem Research Center
Funded: FY2018
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Close-up of many fresh green sprouts against dark soil

Impacts of climate changes on a native and an invasive Hawaiian plant using a newly developed Intelligent Plant growing System (IPS)

PI: Camilo Mora, Assoc. Professor of Geography, UH Mānoa
Co-PI: Devon DeBevoise, Department of Botany, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2018
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RESEARCH