Monitoring Coral Reef Bleaching Internship

NPS Unit:

War in the Pacific National Historical Park (WAPA)

Project Title:

Monitoring Coral Reef Bleaching

Location:  

Hagatna, Guam

Position Description:

Unique coral reef habitats make up more than half the area of WAPA.  These have the highest diversity (over 300 coral species) of any coral reefs within the U.S. National Park System and are easily accessible to visitors, directly from shore.  Health of this coral ecosystem is threatened by impacts of climate change.

Bleaching of healthy coral colonies, related to elevated seawater temperatures, has become increasingly prevalent in the past few decades. It leads to mortality of the affected corals. Climate change causing elevation of ocean water temperatures is increasing the occurrence of such bleaching incidents. Management of the unique coral reef resources of WAPA requires analysis of data on coral bleaching. Regular annual monitoring of the WAPA coral reef habitats by NPS staff through the regional I&M Program and by other networked agencies does not target the shallow areas most susceptible to bleaching and is not scheduled at seasonal summer  times of elevated temperatures. Multi-year coral reef monitoring in Guam is coordinated in a cooperative network and carried out by the University of Guam, the Department of Agriculture’s Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources, the Coastal Management Program, the Environmental Protection Agency, Army COE permit mitigation projects and others. NOAA satellite monitoring of potential bleaching conditions allows planning for bleaching assessment.  But existing programs do not provide coverage of timely records of specific incidents of coral bleaching. To fill such data gaps, WAPA proposes to develop a program for training students to collect this data during summer months of elevated sea temperatures. Planning for coral bleaching monitoring would be coordinated with  other monitoring programs, especially the University’s Coral Disease Monitoring Program. Sponsors of these monitoring programs and reef management planners would benefit from the information and data generated by this proposed NPS work.

To fill this critical gap in monitoring, a system to establish best methods for monitoring coral bleaching at WAPA by youth volunteers will be designed and tested. The Integrated Resources Manager for WAPA will oversee NPS biologists and a university graduate student intern to identify and map the coral reef areas and coral colonies to be targeted by this monitoring program. Other federal and local natural resource agencies are supportive of NPS leading this monitoring.  Based on this project, a long term multi-year program to continue this monitoring and train new youth annually will be developed. Practical, safe  and efficient methods of monitoring bleaching at representative sites in WAPA will be designed and tested. Youth volunteers will be trained to do the monitoring. Occurrence and extent of bleaching during the intern’s summer employment will be recorded. Results will be used to produce protocols and training materials for future annual monitoring by volunteer youths. Through its annual Reef Rangers summer program, WAPA is building a base of local youth that will implement the coral bleaching monitoring. Students are trained in coral reef knowledge and learn to safely snorkel through the shallow coral reefs within WAPA submerged lands, including in the Piti Bomb Holes Marine Protected Area.

Learning goals:

The intern will be advised by the  NPS supervisor and local scientists, all familiar with climate change research,  including University of Guam Climate Change Response Program staff.  The intern will be directed to review the numerous reference materials from IPCC, Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative, National Park Service’s Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Climate Change Response Sharepoint, and many other available sources.  He or she will also interview Guam resource managers who have information on historical observations on coral bleaching and related  possible impacts of climate change. 

Products:

1) Summary report of known coral bleaching events on Guam

2) Maps of selected monitoring areas for coral bleaching events in WAPA in GIS.

3) Detailed GIS data on selected coral colonies to be monitored for health and bleaching effects.

4) Draft plan for implementing a multi-year pilot program for statistically valid coral bleaching monitoring in WAPA by local student volunteers, with prospect of expanding the monitoring system elsewhere on Guam or other Pacific Islands.

Qualifications:

Intern should have experience in studying coral reef environments at undergraduate or preferably graduate level.  Must have swimming and snorkeling skills and SCUBA certification. Needs GIS use capability and statistical and report writing skills.  Familiarity with corals of the Western Pacific desired.  Ability to understand student volunteer capabilities also desired.

Position Dates:

Dates somewhat flexible but prefer June through August.

Housing Available:

Housing in the Park is not available.   Student housing is readily available at $600 to $800 per month rental.

Vehicle Required:

Access to a vehicle for commuting to work and general transportation on Guam is needed.

Work Environment:

The intern will be based in the Headquarters Office of the War in the Pacific National Historical Park in Hagatna, the capitol of Guam, along with the supervisor and supportive technical and administrative staff, with access to computers and GIS.  Field work will target the WAPA shallow coral reefs in, and adjacent to, the Piti Bomb Holes Marine Protected Area about two miles from the office and extend to the Agat Unit of WAPA, about a half hour drive from the office.  Coral reef areas to be surveyed are easily accessible from paved roads and entered from shoreline beaches.  Any diving will be limited to less than 20 feet depth.  Ocean water temperatures average about 80 degrees F. daily year-around. Experienced partners will always be with the intern when in the water.  Diving and snorkeling safety protocols will be followed. NPS kayaks or dive boat will be used as needed.