Fellow Project: Connecting Community--Assessing Patterns in Climate Change, Fish Abundance, and Shark Parturition Phenology in a Hawaiian Fishery through Local Ecological Knowledge Completed
Learn about the research of Danielle Bartz, a 2023 Diverse Knowledge Systems Fellow.
Fellow Information
- Danielle Bartz, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
- Fellowship: 2023 Diverse Knowledge Systems Fellow
- Mentor: Mari-Vaughn Johnson, Pacific Islands CASC
Project Summary
The harmful effects of climate change impact marine ecosystems on every trophic level from apex predators to microplankton. Rising temperatures and increased flood and drought events are anticipated to occur in Hawai’i with altered frequency due to projected climate change. It is unclear how these climatic factors, often exacerbated by other anthropogenic stressors, may influence population dynamics and declines in marine faunal populations. This project proposes to document and analyze local ecological and indigenous knowledge from community members of various diverse backgrounds in Hilo, Hawai’i. Knowledge data focused on trends in climate change, juvenile shark abundance and reproductive patterns, fish populations, fishery needs, community resilience, indigenous perspectives, and recommendations will be coalesced into a usable format in collaboration with local resource management agencies interested in the development of such a tool. Suggested conservation efforts will be guided by local resource users and backed by scientific data from climate models and local ecological knowledge. Products of this research include a foundational two-way stream of wisdom exchange between community members and resource managers, educational outreach with a focus on community resiliency and empowerment, and media productions to showcase and highlight the study’s participants and the natural and cultural significance of the resource.
Learn about the research of Danielle Bartz, a 2023 Diverse Knowledge Systems Fellow.
Fellow Information
- Danielle Bartz, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
- Fellowship: 2023 Diverse Knowledge Systems Fellow
- Mentor: Mari-Vaughn Johnson, Pacific Islands CASC
Project Summary
The harmful effects of climate change impact marine ecosystems on every trophic level from apex predators to microplankton. Rising temperatures and increased flood and drought events are anticipated to occur in Hawai’i with altered frequency due to projected climate change. It is unclear how these climatic factors, often exacerbated by other anthropogenic stressors, may influence population dynamics and declines in marine faunal populations. This project proposes to document and analyze local ecological and indigenous knowledge from community members of various diverse backgrounds in Hilo, Hawai’i. Knowledge data focused on trends in climate change, juvenile shark abundance and reproductive patterns, fish populations, fishery needs, community resilience, indigenous perspectives, and recommendations will be coalesced into a usable format in collaboration with local resource management agencies interested in the development of such a tool. Suggested conservation efforts will be guided by local resource users and backed by scientific data from climate models and local ecological knowledge. Products of this research include a foundational two-way stream of wisdom exchange between community members and resource managers, educational outreach with a focus on community resiliency and empowerment, and media productions to showcase and highlight the study’s participants and the natural and cultural significance of the resource.