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University of California, Berkeley Student Research Papers, Fall 1996 Q H /ironmental Science, Policy and Management 107, Geography 142, IDS 158, and Integrative Biology 198 *• M6 B56 T he B iology and G eomorphology 1996 BIOS of T ropical Isla n d s RESERVES Student Research Papers, Fall 1996 Richard B. Gump South Pacific Biological Research Station Moorea, French Polynesia University of California, Berkeley A b o v e : The 1996 Moorea Class, on the front lawn of the Gump Research Station, with Cook's Bay and fringing reef in the background. Standing, from left: Jenmfer Conners, Morgan Hannaford (Graduate Student Instructor), Sandra Trujillo, Solomon Dobrowski, Brent Mishler (Professor, IB), Ylva Carosone, Stephanie Yelenik, Joanna Canepa, Kendra Bergstrom, Peter Weber (Graduate Student Instructor), Julianne Ludwig, Larry Rabin, Damien Filiatrault, Steve Strand (Executive Director, Gump Research Station), and Carole Hickman (Professor, IB). Reclining or seated, from left: Xavier Mayali, Chris Feldman, Sapna Khandwala, Isa Woo, Tracy Benning (Professor, ESPM), Patricia Sanchez Baracaldo (Graduate Student Instructor), and Michael Emmett. B elo w : The beach and lagoon atTetiaroa, site of a class field trip, with Tahiti (left) and Moorea (right) in the background. Environmental Science, Policy and Management 107, Geography 142, IDS 158, Integrative Biology 158 ' ? /A (e 1996 Student Research papers TABLE OF CONTENTS NK\\V0l( \cK $[05 Introductory remarks. Brent D. Mishler 1 The distribution and morphology of seagrass (Halophila Michael Alan Emmett 2 decipiens) in Moorea, French Polynesia. Zonation of lagoon algae in Moorea, French Polynesia. Xavier Mayali 15 Distributional patterns of mobile epifauna associated with Kendra G. Bergstrom 26 two species of brown algae (Phaeophyta) in a tropical reef ecosystem. Neuston composition and the effect of freshwater sediment Joanna L. Canepa 38 plumes in Paopao and Opunohu Bays (Moorea, French Polynesia). Habitat and cavity preference in the stomatopod Larry Rabin 51 Gonodactylus childi. Factors affecting the distribution of holothuroids on Vaipahu Daniel D. Filiatrault 60 Reef, Moorea, French Polynesia. Comparative effects of the introduced mangrove, Rhizophora Isa Woo 72 stylosa, and the native tree, Hibiscus tiliaceus, on the salt marsh grass, Paspalum vaginatum. Establishment and development of the mangrove fem Ylva Carosone 82 Acrostichum aureum on Moorea, French Polynesia. The success of the introduced Common Myna, Acridotheres Julianne Ludwig 95 tristis, on the island of Moorea, French Polynesia, as demonstrated by foraging patterns related to human development and disturbance. Factors influencing the early life cycle of Inocarpus fagiferus. Sandra Trujillo 112 The distribution of corticolous epiphytes on Hibiscus tiliaceus Solomon Dobrowski 121 in the Opunohu watershed; Moorea, French Polynesia. Leaf retention and decomposition in a tropical island stream, Sapna B. Khandwala 134 Moorea, French Polynesia. Ecological and evolutionary implications of spines on the Stephanie Yelenik 143 tropical stream snail, Clithon spinosa. Distribution and ecology of freshwater shrimp (Decapoda) Chris Feldman 151 in the Opunohu River, Moorea, French Polynesia. A behavioral and ecological phylogeny of the freshwater Jennifer Rose Conners 163 Neritidae on Moorea. m Environmental Science, Policy and Management 107, Geography 142, IDS 158, Integrative Biology 158 1996 Student Research papers --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- N University of California, Berkeley M ^1 ^6 W '* I Biology and | Geomorphology of Tropical Islands ^ J Inroductory Remarks This is a rare course in the modem age of college education, an interdisciplinary course open only by application and interview, that occupies one whole semester (13 units), with a student : teacher ratio of about 2:1, featuring all-inclusive research experience and full immersion in the life of science and a foreign culture. The 15 students spend a month in Berkeley for lectures and labs five days a week, then go to the Richard B. Gump South Pacific Biological Research Station on Moorea in French Polynesia for two months to carry out an intensive research project as well as some general educational field trips and group projects, finally returning to Berkeley for two weeks of non-stop data analysis, library research, and writing. Following a round of peer reviews, the students prepare camera-ready copies for their papers and give an oral presentation in a professional-style symposium. The 1996 class, whose papers follow in this book, set new standards of achievement and formed bonds with each other and the teaching staff that will last a long time. The professors (who spent 1-3 week periods each on Moorea) and the Graduate Student Instructors (who spent the whole two months on Moorea) had a unique opportunity to help each student design their project, go with them in the field, observe their data-gathering and work habits, and assist them in the analysis and write-up phase. This close living and working situation allows the transfer of fundamental methods, theories, and even attitudes about science, in addition to the expected transfer of basic information about islands and their biology. It is extremely rewarding for us to see students transform into research scientists in front of our eyes! Such a course is an expensive and time consuming effort that would not be possible without the help of many people. As lead instructor, I had the privilege of working with several other faculty members, all experts in tropical studies but with a wide spectrum of specialties. In addition to myself, field teaching was done by professors Tracy Benning, Roy Caldwell, Carole Hickman, and David Stoddart, all of whom gave lectures at Berkeley as well. Additional faculty who gave lectures on campus include Carla D'Antonio and Vince Resh. Dr. Chene Semans gave presentations on campus and visited Moorea to help students with cartography; the results of her efforts are evident in this volume. The three intrepid Graduate Student Instructors, Morgan Hannaford, Patricia Sanchez, and Peter Weber deserve special mention. They were responsible for the day-to-day running of the course on Moorea, helping the students in many ways ranging from mundane logistical matters to sophisticated scientific techniques. We literally couldn't have done without them! We thank the Director of the Gump Research Station, Dr. Vince Resh, for facilitating the course's stay at the Station. The Executive Director, Dr. Steven Strand, who resides at the station, helped in all aspects of the course, kept everything working, and was generous with scientific assistance and advice. His wife, Pat Strand, also shared her hospitality and biological expertise and was extremely helpful to all. Thanks also to Frank Murphy for organizing the welcoming tamara'a, Hinano Murphy for her helpful advice, and Marimari Kellum for opening her wonderful garden to the students. We also are grateful to Gordon and Betty Moore (and the Moore Family Foundation) for their continuing support of laboratory and computation facilities at the Station. The three departments involved (Environmental Science, Policy and Management, Geography, and Integrative Biology) committed financial support, personnel, equipment, and facilities. In particular we would like to thank Julie Meyers in Integrative Biology for dealing with finances and accounting, Dorothy Tabron in Integrative Biology for help with supplies and equipment, and Don Bain in Geography fo, help with eotnputation. -j D - Brent D. Mishler Department of Integrative Biology • See also the WWW site at: http://ucmpl.berkeley.edu/moorea/mooreahome.html The Distribution and Morphology of Seagrass (Halophila decipiens) in Moorea, French Polynesia Michael Alan Emmett Environmental Sciences Department, College of Letters and Science University of California, Berkeley 94720 ABSTRACT. A survey of the seagrass resources in Opunohu and Paupau Bays on the island of Moorea, French Polynesia was conducted between October and November, 1996. A single species, Halophila decipiens Ostenfeld. was located in both bays. Each of the bays contained beds in the shallow estuarine backbay areas and the deeper lagoon area of the backreef slope. These seagrass meadows ranged from 3-15 hectares in area. Biomass samples and ecological data were taken at two study areas in each bay, one in each of the two habitat types. Leaf surface area, intemode length, biomass, percent seagrass cover, and the intemodal growth rate data were collected and reported for each study site. The plant morphology within the bed structures was found have statistically significant variations, depending on habitat type and the location within the bed. The plants in the bed margins had a larger intemodal length than those in the interior portions of the bed structure (p=0.0091). The leaf-blade surface areas were smaller in the bed margins than in the interior (p=0.0336). The intemodal lengths were shorter in the lagoon habitats (p=0.0140). The leaf-blade surface areas were larger in lagoon habitats than in the estuarine areas of the two bays (p<0.0001). Leaf surface area was also found to be greater in Opunohu Bay than in Paupau Bay (pO.OOOl). These morphological differences suggest that H. decipiens is a colonizing species adapted to a low light habitat and that it is able to adjust its morphology to accommodate environmental variables. Introduction and provides a secondary ecosystem function of stabilizing bottom sediments (Phillips 1984). As Seagrasses are
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