Dr. Peter Edmunds, a scientist at the Moorea Coral Reef Long Term Ecological Research site discusses efforts to understand how climate change impacts coral reefs.

CSUN Researchers in Race to Save the Reefs

In the heart of French Polynesia, a motor boat glides across a crystal lagoon, stopping at the bay’s perimeter. As the vessel rocks gently in the subsiding wake, a handful of university scientists gear up for a dive into the shallow depths. The less experienced students among them, dazzled by the treasure below, wrestle on their scuba equipment, eager to explore the ridge of colorful marine life that stretches like a jeweled necklace around the mountain island of Moorea.

Though it may read like just another day in paradise, for CSUN marine biologists Peter Edmunds and Bob Carpenter it’s really a race against time. Under the pressure of global warming and human encroachment, this largely pristine ecosystem could one day resemble the expanding graveyard of bleached-out and degraded reefs that litter coastlines around the world.

Now in their sixth year of study on Moorea, which is part of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) global network of Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites, the two reef experts are revealing a sea of data about the intricate processes that fuel these fragile ecosystems.

“At the rate we’re going, coral reefs could disappear by the next century,” says Edmunds, who is a lead investigator on the multi-million dollar grant. “And that’s a problem. On a crass economic level, they generate billions of dollars each year through tourism and fishing, so whole economies depend on them. But from a scientific perspective, the greater tragedy is in the devastating loss of biodiversity.”

Coral reefs account for less than one percent of the ocean’s surface yet harbor nearly a quarter of all marine species. A breathtaking array of living corals form reefs that host a suite of exotic fish, plants, microbes, and invertebrates—from parrot fish, sponges and sea urchins, to squid, crabs and symbiotic bacteria. Their complex relationships form the matrix of healthy reef ecosystems, but shifting environmental conditions—including rising sea levels, warmer ocean temperatures, waste runoff, and destructive fishing practices—can trigger disease and decimate species, ultimately destroying the slow-growing habitats.

Understanding the dynamics of coral reef ecosystems, says Phil Taylor, director of the NSF’s biological oceanography program, “allows us to make more accurate predictions about how coral reef ecosystems respond to environmental changes, whether human-induced or from natural cycles.”

The Moorea LTER is a joint program between CSU Northridge and UC Santa Barbara. It represents the only coral reef project in the 26-site LTER network, which the NSF established to document changes over time (from six to 30 years) in the processes that fuel the world’s biomes. In turn, this rich archive of baseline information is used by other scientists studying these ecosystems.

To date, Edmunds and Carpenter have amassed a wealth of data about the dynamic ecology of Moorea’s reefs—from how corals recover after outbreaks of predatory starfish, to the temperature threshold under which a stony coral’s symbiotic algae can survive.

But Moorea’s not their only hot spot. These intrepid scientists are all over the map—often in tandem and with a posse of CSUN students in tow.

In 2008, they combined their scientific expertise with their academic acumen and traveled to the southern coast of Taiwan, which is believed to have the highest density of marine species. There they helped launch a new coral reef research center at Taiwan’s National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, and were instrumental in cementing a partnership between CSUN and National Dong Hwa University to link students and researchers from both institutions. This fall, they’ll collaborate closer to home, tag-teaming as faculty members for California State University’s annual Marine Biology Semester on Catalina Island.

“Working together is fun and rewarding,” says Carpenter, who’s been with CSUN since 1988. “We share a commitment to doing good science, training dedicated students, and working with our colleagues to maintain our marine biology program’s reputation of excellence.”

But any healthy relationship requires breathing room, so they annually retreat to their own island getaways to conduct independent research: Edmunds to the protected coastline of St. John in the Virgin Islands and Carpenter to Oahu, Hawaii.

This time of year, Moorea is the primary blip on their island radar. Both recently returned with a handful of inspired students and a wealth of field data that will enhance our understanding of these beleaguered marine habitats.

“Rain forests are the only things that come close to reefs in their beauty and biodiversity,” says Edmunds, who as a child counted Jacques Cousteau among his heroes. “Corals are such fascinating animals. It would be a massive tragedy to sit by and let them go extinct. For me, this is not simply a job. It’s my life.”

— Merrik Bush

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