Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station

13 Aug, 01 PM - 13 Sep, 01 PM

Coral reefs are declining worldwide due to increasing water temperature, over-fishing, and coastal development which releases sediments and nutrients into the nearshore system (Dubinsky and Stambler, 2011). In the last decade, reefs on the North shore of Moorea, French Polynesia, have seen a steady decline of coral cover and a corresponding increase in algal cover. Reefs on the East and West shores, however, do not show this trend (Schmitt et al., 2016). The reason for the disparity in reef health around the island is a troubling mystery, especially to the local people who are reliant on the reefs for survival. I hypothesize that the ecosystem state shifts on the North shore is driven by elevated inputs of terrestrially-derived nutrients and sediment. Despite the extensive research conducted in Moorea on reef ecosystems, very little work has been done regarding the basic hydrology of rivers on Moorea, much less nutrient fluxes, sedimentation rates, and river plume dynamics. Due to the steep topography on the East and West shores of the island, most of the development and agriculture takes place in the North shores two valleys (Pao Pao and Opunohu). These valleys form the watersheds for the two largest rivers on the island. The project presented here is a multi-year effort to deepen our understanding of freshwater systems on Moorea and their role in neighboring reef ecosystems.

Visit #58214 @Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station

Approved

Under Project # 41186 | Research

Nutrients and Sediment from Ridge to Reef in Moorea, French Polynesia

graduate_student - University of California, Santa Barbara

Reservation Members(s)

Kyle Neumann Aug 13 - Sep 13, 2018 (32 days)

Reserve Resources(s) | Create Invoice

Bed in shared room 1 Aug 13 - Sep 13, 2018