NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2019: He pukoa kani aina: A coral reef that grows into an island

这一行动为NSF 2019财年生物学博士后研究奖学金提供资金，扩大了生物学领域代表性不足群体的参与。该奖学金支持一项针对该研究员的研究和培训计划，该计划将增加对生物学中代表性不足的群体的参与。该研究金将研究珊瑚礁生物多样性和生产力的变化如何影响环礁岛屿对海平面上升的自然恢复能力。环礁和岛屿是相互联系的，岛屿完全由来自近岸珊瑚礁的沙子和碎石组成。环礁-岛屿非常重要，因为它们提供了太平洋某些地区唯一的宜居土地，而这些岛屿的丧失直接与文化认同有关。土著社区和代表性不足的社区普遍认识到，需要应用与文化相关的科学和环境进程。为了扩大太平洋岛民对生物学的参与，该研究员将与夏威夷当地教育工作者合作，为夏威夷土著人口较多的社区开发K-12课程。此外，夏威夷大学希洛分校是一所为少数群体服务的机构，为该研究员在研究项目的所有方面指导本科生提供了一个很好的环境。该奖学金将阐明在未来海平面上升和其他环境压力的背景下，促进或限制帕帕哈瑙莫库凯亚海洋国家纪念碑内岛屿恢复能力的生物地质联系。将利用长期摄影调查数据(2012-2019年)对近岸珊瑚群落进行摄影测量三维重建。每个珊瑚礁研究地点的3D重建将被用来表征珊瑚礁组成、珊瑚健康和3D建筑复杂性的时间和空间变化。珊瑚礁群落组成将与环礁-岛屿沉积物进行比较，以确定关键的造岛物种及其在现代珊瑚礁上的相对丰度。将通过三维重建量化珊瑚礁框架生产力(沉淀率)和侵蚀，以评估用于岛屿建设和维护的沉积物可用性。对珊瑚礁如何应对环境压力的更好理解将指导帕帕哈瑙莫库卡海洋国家纪念碑内以及整个太平洋岛国旨在保护低洼环礁岛屿和岛民的努力。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2019, Broadening Participation of Groups Under-represented in Biology. The fellowship supports a research and training plan for the Fellow that will increase participation in groups underrepresented in biology. This fellowship will examine how shifts in coral reef biodiversity and productivity impact the natural resiliency of atoll islands to sea level rise. Atoll reefs and islands are linked such that islands are composed entirely of sand and rubble that is derived from the nearshore reef. Atoll reef-islands are highly significant as they provide the only habitable land in certain regions of the Pacific, and the loss of these islands is directly tied to cultural identity. It is widely recognized among indigenous and underrepresented communities that there is a need for culturally relevant applications of scientific and environmental processes. To broaden participation of Pacific Island peoples in Biology the fellow will partner with local educators in Hawaii to develop K-12 curriculum for communities with a high native Hawaiian population. Furthermore the University of Hawaii at Hilo is a minority serving institution and provides an excellent setting for the fellow to mentor undergraduate students in all aspects of the research project.This fellowship will elucidate the bio-geological linkages that enable or limit island resiliency within Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the context of future sea level rise and other environmental stressors. Long-term photographic survey data (2012-2019) will be used for photogrammetric 3D reconstruction of nearshore coral communities. 3D reconstructions of each reef study site will be used to characterize temporal and spatial shifts in reef composition, coral health, and 3D architectural complexity. Reef community composition will be compared to atoll reef-island sediments to identify key island building species and their relative abundance on modern reefs. Reef framework productivity (sediment rates) and erosion will be quantified from 3D reconstructions to assess sediment availability for island building and maintenance. An improved understanding of how coral reefs respond to environmental stressors will guide efforts within Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, and across Pacific Island nations aimed at protecting low lying atoll islands and islanders.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.