Mare Nostrum Caribbean: Stewardship through Strategic Research and Workforce Development

University Of The Virgin Islands, Charlotte Amalie VI

Investigators

Abstract

Non-technical Description The project "Mare Nostrum Caribbean" ("Our Caribbean Sea") implements coral reef science in service to ecological stewardship, with the goal of understanding how best to improve coral reef sustainability in a region threatened by overfishing, marine pollution, sedimentation, invasive species, and climate change. High-resolution coastal oceanographic models are being developed to increase understanding of how ecological patterns and processes are influenced by natural and anthropogenic disturbances. These efforts are creating a comprehensive understanding of the effects of climate change on coral reefs and associated ecosystems, and assisting in the development of potential climate change mitigation strategies. The project is increasing the intellectual involvement of Virgin Islanders with coral reef ecosystems and the stewardship of natural resources. The Virgin Islands Institute for STEM Education Research and Practice uses five strategies to understand and develop best practices for formal and informal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in the Territory. Technical Description The research will investigate factors that enhance or reduce a coral reef?s tolerance to environmental stress and its resistance to transitions to alternate ecological states (i.e., ecological resilience). Understanding these complex relationships is of paramount importance, especially considering that within the last decade corals in the U.S. Virgin Islands have experienced nearly 50% mortality due to climate-induced stress from warm-water bleaching and disease. Reef degradation increases the risk of coastal flooding, reduces fishery resources for local communities, is linked to reduced human health, and represents a tremendous loss of yet-undiscovered biological diversity. Studies integrate ecological, oceanographic, environmental, and socio-economic factors to investigate the complex relationships found within coral reef ecosystems. The U.S. Virgin Islands' ability to enhance environmental stewardship and implement economic change relies on an informed public, trained workforce and improved educational system. Specific broader impacts include an increase in 1) the numbers of K-12 through graduate students in STEM research activities and educational advancement; 2) underrepresented minorities in STEM fields; 3) opportunities to improve STEM teaching at all levels; and 4) the knowledge of and participation in coral reef science by the general public and students of all levels.