Two researchers, Ph.D. candidates from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia spent several weeks on Ofu conducting tests on certain species of corals to observe how they are able to tolerate rising ocean temperatures.
Ms. Harmony Hancock and Ms. Courtney Klepac sought to answer: first, whether corals can acclimatize to increased thermal exposure and how long they retain that ability, and second, how recent thermal history influences coral bleaching susceptibility.
The researchers shared insights into their work with American Samoa Community College students and local science and environmental professionals.
Marine Science instructor Jameson Newtson said, “It‘s important for students to be informed on locally relevant marine related issues such as coral heat tolerance in Ofu.”
He says, “When students hear from off-island researchers who are studying these things in the students’ own back yards, that opens their eyes.”
Newston said the talk shed light on potential marine science career paths for students.
Dr. Mark Schmaedick of ASCC-CNR explained that his division, along with the National Park of American Samoa and the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, has been supportive of coral studies on Ofu and Olosega since they began many years ago, at first by researchers from the University of Guam, led by Dr. Chuck Birkeland.
Dr. Birkeland originally came to American Samoa in 1985 to study the Crown of Thorns Starfish outbreak, and while here he began also studying corals on Ofu.
He relocated to the University of Hawaii in 2000, and one of his students, Dan Barshis, continued the study of Ofu corals to earn not only his PhD under Dr. Birkeland, but also his Post-Doctorate degree under Dr. Steve Palumbi of Stanford University.
Today, Dr. Barshis continues to lead the research on Ofu corals from Old Dominion University with the help of Hancock and Klepac.
