1. Need for Coral Reef/Climate Change Ecologist Why Now? - Climate change impacts on coral reefs among the fundamental marine environmental issues of this century -Major funding opportunities through NSF, NOAA, private foundations (Pew Foundation, etc.) Why in Hawaii? largest most pristine reef system -Great natural advantage - largest most pristine reef system in USA (world?) in USA (world?) -Easy access to reefs suffering a broad range of impacts - High public awareness of importance of coral reef Ecosystems & ecotourism Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument -Why in Oceanography ? - Study of impacts interdisciplinary in nature, involving: - Physical/chemical processes - acidification - sea-surface warming - larval transport - Community/Ecosystems Ecology - competition & predation - recruitment and dispersal dynamics (connectivity) - Biological/Physical Modeling - forecasting physical/chemical changes in the ocean - predicting population/ecosystem responses Climate change impacts on coral reefs are at intersection of Physical, Chemical and Biological Oceanography

2. -Why in Oceanography ? - Research on coral ecosystem impacts interdisciplinary in nature: - Physical/chemical processes - acidification - sea-surface warming - larval transport - Community/Ecosystems Processes - competition & predation - recruitment and dispersal dynamics (connectivity) - Biological/Physical Modeling - forecasting physical/chemical changes in the ocean - predicting population/ecosystem responses - Ocean observing - in situ to remote sensing Climate change impacts on coral reefs are at intersection of Physical, Chemical and Biological Oceanography! Hoegh-Guldberg et a. 2007

3. Teaching gaps to be filled by Coral Reef/Climate Change Oceanographer: – coral reef ecology and climate change in GES Program – Coral reef ecology from Oceanography graduate courses – Advising/support of graduate students and GES undergradutes – Help the 7 instructional faculty in Biological Oceanography offer full BO graduate curriculum Conclusion: Coral reef/climate change ecologist could contribute fundamentally to O Dept and SOEST in research, funding, teaching, and community service Hoegh-Guldberg et a. 2007