2 15 Western Pacific Tropical Research Center IMPACT REPORT College of Natural and Applied Sciences University of Guam Buenas yan Hafa Adai, Hafa Adai, Western Pacifi c Tropical Research Center To be is to do . It’s been an exciti ng year for the Western Pacifi c Tropical Research College of Natural and Applied Sciences Center, in part because we’ve expanded our research base by extending The Western Pacifi c Tropical Research Center is once again proud to WPTRC funding to other UOG faculty within the College of Natural & showcaseUniversity some of of Guamour 2015 research, extension and instructi onal Applied Sciences. The projects highlighted in this year’s Impact Report outcomes and the relevance WPTRC plays in the advancement of “Good demonstrate the variety of important issues being studied at the to Great” within the University of Guam and our island and regional University of Guam. communiti es. In 2015, we conti nue to address the challenge to Guam’s tropical This year we highlighted projects that exhibit the wide diversity of what agriculture industry, our region’s environment and natural resources, we are doing on Guam and in the Pacifi c region. The cover, centerfold and we are studying the growing problem of child obesity. We also and fi rst arti cle are about saving Guam’s indigenous tree snails that are strive to extend our current capabiliti es beyond the boundaries of Guam under the threat of exti ncti on. There are also four studies that were to become an internati onally recognized tropical research center. conducted in the Philippines, which show the depth of our research outside of Guam and how it can be applied to our own island ecosystem. The hardworking faculty and staff of WPTRC conti nue to remain We have a team of scienti sts and recent agriculture graduates working competi ti ve in securing extramural funding. We conti nue to focus on our on generati ng a rare plant nursery to propagate rare Guam fl ora for opportuniti es, such as: partnerships with other enti ti es in Micronesia, future out-planti ngs on Guam. For the local farm community, there our proximity to Asia, clean ocean water for aquaculture research, is a team of scienti sts and farmers working together to have a bett er commitment by the U.S. government to preserve nati ve species on understanding of a devastati ng tomato disease and testi ng for virus- Guam, and interest by other research enti ti es to collaborate. In 2015, resistant plants. We also get a great update about combati ng Guam’s we collaborated with multi ple off -island scienti sts and insti tuti ons, new invasive litt le fi re ants and an innovati ve way that our entomologist provided employment to the local community, and off ered students to can track the coconut rhinoceros beetle. Our senior aquaculturist opportunity to gain valuable research experience. provides an update on shrimp geneti cs and RNAi immune response. And fi nally, to show the breadth of WPTRC, we conclude our impact WPTRC is here to serve our stakeholders, so please feel free to contact report by highlighti ng a study about childhood obesity on Guam and in my offi ce if you have any questi ons or need additi onal informati on. the Pacifi c region. A must read! I want to personally thank all who have contributed to the 2015 WPTRC impact report and especially to my administrati ve team members who Rachael Taitano Leon Guerrero set true examples of leadership. This year’s report exemplifi es what a Associate Director small group of scienti sts is capable of doing and the impact they have on WPTRC the lives of our island and regional communiti es. To be is to do . Si yu’us ma’ase, Administrati on Lee S. Yudin, Dean and Director Lee S. Yudin (671) 735-2002 Dean/Director Rachael Leon Guerrero, Associate Director CNAS/WPTRC (671) 735-2004 WPTRC 2015 IMPACT REPORT Credits 1 Save our snails! 17 Rare plant nursery Photographs Mark Acosta 5 Testing for virus-resistant 19 The good news about Herman Crisostomo tomato plants G. Curt Fiedler Hui Gong Jiang 7 Disturbing an idyllic tropical 21 Radio little fire tracking ants of CRB Thomas Marler Olympia Terral forest 23 Shrimp studies: genetics Writers 9 Stabilizing and destabilizing and the environment G. Curt Fiedler forces drive Mount Pinatubo Rachael Leon Guerrero Hui Gong Jiang recovery 25 RNAi and shrimp immune Thomas Marler response Aubrey Moore 11 The unfortunate loss of Olympia Terral traditional knowledge 27 Children’s Healthy Living Cover Photo G. Curt Fiedler 13 The aspect of recovery 31 Publications Guam’s Partula radiolata is one of three indigenous snails added to the federal Endangered Species list in 2015. Centerfold G. Curt Fiedler Tiny Samoana fragilis navigates the mosses in its native Guam habitat. Table Of Contents Back Cover Western Pacific Tropical Research Center G. Curt Fiedler College of Natural & Applied Sciences UOG Station Editor Mangilao, Guam 96923 Olympia Terral http://cnas-re.uog.edu/ UOG is an equal opportunity provider and employer, and a tobacco and smoke-free campus. WPTRC 2015 IMPACT REPORT Save our snails! The fragile tree snail, and all of Guam’s indigenous tree snails, are under threat of extinction and have recently been added to the federal Endangered Species list. WPTRC biologist, Dr. G. Curt Fiedler, is working to conserve these species. 1 WPTRC 2015 IMPACT REPORT lthough invasive Cuban slugs and giant thousands. Given that this snail is only known African snails in your garden may not be from Guam, this is a good thing. However, Adesirable residents, Guam does have three many of its populations are declining and all indigenous tree snail species that are drawing are at risk. increased attention since they were added to the federal Endangered Species list in 2015. The humped tree snail (Partula gibba) is Historically, Guam had four native tree snail known from several Mariana islands. This snail species, and they were once common and was once so common it was used to make colorful inhabitants in limestone and strand handbags and jewelry from the 1940s-1970s. forests on the island. One of them, the Alifan Unfortunately, these snails are disappearing This fragile tree snail is encircled by a Manokwari tree snail (Partula salifana), went extinct in fast from most of their native range, and the flatworm, the main threat to all endemic snails. the 1950s from its limited range on southern Guam population is estimated to be little Tree snails seem to prefer shady, moist Guam peaks. The remaining three are on more than one hundred individuals at Haputo. forests, with nearby fresh water, and the decline due to habitat destruction and broad-leafed plants. Unfortunately, such introduced predators. Dr. G. Curt Fiedler and locations on the coastlines are prime sites his Snail Team from the Terrestrial, Marine for development. Also, the presence of and Freshwater Invertebrate Laboratory in the unchecked populations of pig and deer Natural Sciences Division are studying these degrade native forests reducing leaf litter and snails. promoting growth of invasive plant species that are not good homes for tree snails. The Guam tree snail (Partula radiolata) is still somewhat widespread, at more than 20 Although there are natural predators of tree locations on Guam, and may number in the snails, introduced animal predators are now the major source of mortality, including Humped tree snail shells were once used to make rats and pigs. The careless introduction of jewelry and handbags, but now less than 150 individuals remain on Guam. two additional snail-specific predators has made the situation worse. The Manokwari The fragile tree snail (Samoana fragilis) flatworm is the biggest threat. Although this historically occurred on both Rota and Guam, voracious predator eats introduced pests, like but was last reported from Rota in 1996. the giant African snail, its impact on native On Guam, this snail is known only from four land snails has been devastating. Empty locations, with small populations (10-60 shells of dead snails litter the ground in many individuals). Worse, this species may be the forested areas. most vulnerable to predation from Manokwari Although still relatively widespread, Guam tree Continued on next page 2 snail populations are in decline and at risk. flatworms (Platydemus manokwari). WPTRC 2015 IMPACT REPORT TheSave Intersectionour snails! of Alien Invasions and Typhoons The fragile tree snail (Samoana fragilis) historically occurred on both Rota and Guam, but the last reported observation from Rota was in 1996. 3 WPTRC 2015 IMPACT REPORT Dr. Fiedler’s interest in tree snails began in limited understanding of their basic biology part because of his photography hobby. In and ecology.” Snail Team has an intern his first week on Guam, he photographed analyzing the contents of snail feces to assess Guam tree snails at Sella Bay overlook and dietary components, and recently added Asan Park. “When I found out what they a graduate student to help with various were, I started noticing them more and projects. Fiedler also has begun to examine became pretty good at spotting them,” activity patterns of tree snails and their home explained Fiedler. These skills helped him as plant preferences. He hopes to conduct part of a 2013 team of UOG and University of captive rearing of the most vulnerable species Hawaii biologists conducting surveys of tree once federal permits are obtained from the snails and rare butterflies funded by the US US Forestry and Wildlife Service. Department of Defense. Subsequently, he decided to focus his own research on these Collaborators in this research include Dr.