1999 ESPM C107, IB 158LF Biology and Geomorphology of Tropical Islands Class
Year: 1999
Type: other
Abstract: The student research papers from the 1999 Moorea course provide a broad scientific examination of the island's marine and terrestrial environments. Marine research focused on how physical wave forces influence reef morphology and how coral branch spacing affects the colonization of damselfish. Invertebrate studies documented the high sediment turnover rate of Black Sea Cucumbers and the symbiotic color-matching abilities of commensal shrimp on sea stars. Behavioral experiments explored the photosensitivity of upside-down jellyfish and the escape responses of jumping clams. Other marine studies investigated the diurnal distribution of reef fish and the use of chemical cues in nudibranch aggregation. Terrestrial research included a systematic survey of morning glory species and an investigation into the asexual reproduction of forest lianas through runners. Studies on fire scars revealed that fire significantly reduces plant species richness for years, often leading to the dominance of a single native fern species. Research into the native Metrosideros collina tree suggested its low recruitment results from seedling shade-intolerance rather than pollinator loss. Animal behavior studies identified territorial aggression and peak feeding times in geckos and found higher bird species richness in structurally complex habitats. Experiments with pygmy octopuses assessed their learning capabilities, while research on freshwater shrimp showed they prefer microbes over leaf material and adapt well to flash floods. Conservation-focused surveys tracked micro-gastropod populations following the extinction of Moorea's endemic tree snails. Finally, papers on human impact compared species richness between natural and resort beaches and assessed the agronomic damage caused by banana weevils on local farms.
Source: iPlaces-Kotahi
Authors: Jere Lipps, Brent Mishler, David Lindberg, David Stoddart, James Bartolome, Norm Hetland, James Jackson, Meredith Bauer
Institution: University of California, Berkeley
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7137925501
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