From ocean literacy to reef to ridge: UOG introduces new Sea Grant research

The University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant announced this month the recipients of the 2024-2026 UOG Sea Grant Competitive Research Funding. The grants support research projects addressing critical challenges facing Micronesia’s coastal ecosystems, communities, and economies. 

The university officials made the announcement at an event held at the UOG RFK Memorial Library.  

An estimated $350,000 will be distributed across the research projects within the two-year period. Focus areas included healthy coastal ecosystems, environmental literacy and workforce development, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and resilient communities and economies. 

“The UOG Sea Grant program is vital to our university’s mission,” said Sharleen Santos Bamba, Ph.D., UOG senior vice president and provost. “It supports research, education, and outreach that address the critical challenges facing our island and region. From climate change and coastal resilience to sustainable fisheries and marine conservation, this funded work will have a profound impact on our region.” 

Here are the researchers and proposals approved for funding: 

· Bastian Bentlage, Ph.D. (UOG Marine Laboratory): “Ridge to reef microbiome census and identification of reservoirs of potentially harmful bacteria in the La Sa Fua watershed, southern Guam.” 

·Peter Houk, Ph.D. (UOG Marine Laboratory):

“Mitigating climate change impacts on Micronesia coral reefs.” 

·Tom Schils, Ph.D. (UOG Marine Laboratory):

“Crustose calcifying red algae: Climate change winners on Guam’s reefs – Their abundance and contribution to the carbonate budget of coral reefs.” 

·Heloise Rouze, Ph.D. (UOG Marine Laboratory):

“Micro symbionts to support restoration of Acropora virgata in Guam’s reefs.” 

·Christina Karanassos (Palau International Coral Reef Center):

“Assessing the status of commercially important reef fish populations in Palau, to inform fisheries management.” 

·Laurie Peterka (Friends of the Mariana Trench): “Seascape of the CNMI: A study of intergenerational and culturally adaptive ocean literacy.” 

Bentlage, a UOG associate professor of bioinformatics, explained his research proposal, “We will map the distribution of bacteria throughout the watershed, including plant communities… How the bacteria impact different habitats across the watershed including the coral reefs.” According to Bentlage, the information will help inform stakeholders like the Guam Green Growth initiative and those involved in restoration efforts. 

Research projects will employ field and laboratory experiments, models, and socioeconomic studies to inform policy decisions and best management practices. To ensure maximum impact, projects selected must demonstrate a strong outreach component to engage and inform diverse audiences, including resource managers, industry stakeholders, citizen scientists, communities, and learners. 

Austin Shelton, Ph.D., director of the UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, said, “We now have funding to support these exceptional researchers from the University of Guam and our regional partners. Their work will provide invaluable insights to help us make informed decisions as island residents to better protect our resources.” 

“This is just the beginning,” Shelton added. “The UOG Sea Grant program has much more in store for our research initiatives.”