By Dan Barshis
Researchers from the Department of Biological Sciences from Old Dominion University collaborated with researchers in Japan during the summer of 2024 as part of a Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science research exchange. ODU Associate Professor Dan Barshis along with several graduate students and a postdoctoral associate worked with scientists at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan. Their research focused on examining the temperature tolerance of corals of Okinawa to assess their health and to compare them to other corals around the Pacific.
The team consisted of ODU Biological Sciences graduate students Katie Parker and Ponchanok Weeriyanun as well as postdoctoral associate Jason Toy, Ph.D. ODU researchers worked in tandem with Saki Harii, Ph.D. and Frederic Sinniger-Harii, Ph.D. from the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan.
Barshis was the project leader and designed the experiments in collaboration with Harii and Sinniger-Harii, while the students and postdoctoral associate helped collect the corals, run the experiments, and extract DNA from the samples.
“Our research focused on testing the upper temperature tolerance limits of reef building corals in Okinawa and comparing the limits of common shallow species to those of common species that live deeper on the reef (up to 150ft deep),” said Barshis. “By using our Coral Bleaching Automated Stress System (the CBASS) and the exact same experimental approach as we've used in other places in the Pacific, we can assess the health of the reefs of Okinawa and compare the limits of Okinawan corals to our other study sites.”
All of the research was performed at the Sesoko Marine Station of the Tropical Biosphere Research Center at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan. Barshis was invited to bring the experimental system he developed, the CBASS, to Okinawa since it had never been used there before. The CBASS has now been used to test corals in the Red Sea, Florida, the US Virgin Islands, Curacao, Mexico, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Hawai’i, French Polynesia, the Galapagos Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Australia, and now Okinawa.
“We used the CBASS to determine the vulnerability of Okinawan corals to ocean warming/climate change as well as evaluate their health and resilience,” said Barshis.
Fourth year ODU doctoral student, Katie Parker expressed how appreciative she was for the experience abroad. "I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to chat with graduate students and researchers from around the world who were all focused on different projects. Within our two-week trip I spoke with scientists from Japan, China, Malaysia, France, and Australia at the station. The SCUBA diving was also incredible. It was inspiring to see reefs with high coral cover and diversity during a time of mass coral bleaching and reef degradation due to climate change. While these reefs are still at risk, it was an important reminder of what we as coral conservationists are working so diligently to protect."
Ponchanok Weeriyanun, another ODU doctoral student explained her research experiences in Japan. "I really enjoyed my time working in Okinawa. Sesoko Station is located right by the ocean, which is truly remarkable. I had the opportunity to meet researchers and students from around the world, and we enjoyed exchanging knowledge and cultures. I felt very welcomed and inspired, and I am honored to be part of this collaboration.”
“Comparing the health and resiliency of some of the same coral species we’ve been working with in American Samoa was a unique and insightful opportunity. I also had the chance to work with Dan to sample the deep reefs and see firsthand the stark contrast between the shallow and deeper coral communities in Okinawa,” said postdoctoral researcher, Jason Toy, Ph.D., of his experience in Japan. “But on a personal level, the most impactful part of the trip for me was the cross-cultural exchange at the Station, which houses an incredibly diverse group of visiting researchers from across the globe.”
The collaboration between graduate students working alongside experts in the field are just some of the meaningful opportunities provided at ODU.
