University of Guam

This study explores the hydraulic relationship between marine tides and groundwater levels in Medvjeđa špilja Cave on Lošinj Island, northern Adriatic, Croatia. Using water level loggers in the cave pool and adjacent sea, we recorded a peak tidal lag of 20–30 min and nearly identical amplitudes, confirming a strong hydraulic connection driven by the cave's proximity to the sea and high hydraulic conductivity. To complement this, geochemical parameters such as dissolved oxygen and pH were measured to assess the mixing of seawater and freshwater within the cave system and its response to tidal forces. Seasonal monitoring revealed notable tidal amplitude variations, with the largest observed in autumn, indicating the importance of this period for future studies. Tidal variations influenced the mixing of oxygenated seawater into the cave system, as reflected in dissolved oxygen levels, while stable pH values highlighted the buffering capacity of the system. These findings suggest that Medvjeđa špilja Cave holds significant potential for reconstructing historical sea levels using phreatic overgrowths on speleothems (POS). As the first study of its kind in the Adriatic, this research provides a methodological framework for analysing tidal dynamics in coastal karst systems. It emphasises the importance of high‐resolution monitoring for understanding coastal aquifers and the potential of such studies to inform sea‐level reconstructions in changing environmental conditions.

Ribbon worms (Nemertea) are a less-known group of invertebrates, specially challenging for taxonomic studies due to the scarcity of external morphological features. As a consequence, the number of known nemertean species might represent just a small fraction of the true diversity of the phylum. The present study increases the number of known ribbon worm species with the description of the accordion worm Pararosa vigarae sp. nov., a new genus and species of Heternonemertea from the northwest coast of Spain. We performed molecular phylogenetic analyses based on partial sequences of 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and histone H3 gene markers that indicated the newly identified specimens represent a new genus and species of heteronemertean in the family Lineidae. We also provide morphological data and images illustrating its unique behaviour, contracting its body into a series of rings similar to an accordion. Our results increase our knowledge on the diversity of an important but often overlooked invertebrate phylum and emphasize the need to combine morphological and molecular data to discover new ribbon worm species and better evaluate the true diversity of the phylum.

Snakes are a useful model for gaining insights into the relationships between predator and prey sizes and resource utilization because their anatomy limits the size of prey that can be swallowed whole. However, data are sparse regarding how commonly gape‐limited predators eat or attempt to eat prey with sizes up to or exceeding their maximal gape. Thus, for an invasive predator, the brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis), we fed captive snakes dead birds with an extremely large range (17%–447%) of relative prey area (RPA = prey cross‐sectional area/snake gape area) to test the predictive value of RPA for snakes attempting to ingest or successfully ingesting prey. As expected, RPA significantly predicted (logistic regression p < 0.0001) the probability of birds being eaten, with an upper size limit similar to the maximal gape of the snakes. Although RPA also significantly predicted (p = 0.003) the probability of attempting to eat a bird, it was less accurate in predicting attempts than successes, and many snakes attempted to eat birds too large to swallow. Twenty‐five snakes attempted to eat birds with RPA ranging from 130% to 447%. The longest durations of unsuccessful feeding attempts were often for values of RPA near 100% rather than the extremely large values. For six large birds with mean measured RPA = 93%, the prey diameter soon after ingestion averaged 14% less than that measured prior to ingestion, which can allow snakes to consume 30% more mass than would otherwise be possible. Our findings complement a recent field study that concluded brown treesnakes regularly attempt to eat live birds too large to swallow. Our results also greatly expanded the known range of avian prey sizes that these snakes attempt to eat. Consequently, brown treesnakes pose a risk to birds with sizes well beyond the limit on prey size imposed by gape.

The Western Pacific region, including Guam, has the highest prevalence of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus, which are associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS)—a cluster of preventable risk factors. Children with parents with MetS are likely to develop MetS in the future. MetS prevalence in Guam and the impact of MetS on children are unknown. Data from the Pacific Islands Cohort on Cardiometabolic Health (PICCAH) study in Guam were analyzed to determine MetS in adults and MetS risk in children using the International Diabetes Federation criteria and sex- and age-specific waist circumference values for abdominal obesity, respectively. MetS Z-scores were calculated. MetS or MetS risk indicators, including MetS Z-scores, were examined by lifestyle risk factors (parent and child: physical activity and sleep; parent only: sedentary behavior and stress; child only: screen time). The relationship between adult MetS Z-scores and child MetS Z-scores was evaluated using linear-regression analyses. Child–parent risk for MetS was directly correlated in this population. The high prevalence of adult MetS in Guam demonstrates a critical need for interventions involving both parents and children. Expanding the analysis to assess the relationships between other lifestyle factors, like diet, in parent–child dyads is necessary to refine such intervention programs.

Diplodus puntazzo is a demersal fish inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic and plays an important ecological role in coastal areas. Here, we present the first nuclear genome assembly and annotation of this species and genus. We used a combination of PacBio CLR long reads, Illumina short reads and chromatin capture reads (Omni-C) to generate a chromosome-level assembly. The nuclear genome assembly has a total span of 788 Mb, containing 24 chromosome-scale scaffolds (98.76% of the total length), coinciding with its known karyotype. By using RNA-Seq data from D. puntazzo and gene models from closely related species, we also generated a high-quality nuclear annotation. We predicted a total of 87,572 transcripts from the nuclear genome, 26,838 coding, and 60,734 non-coding that included lncRNA, snoRNA, and tRNAs. We also assembled and annotated the mitochondrial genome, circularized in 16,642 bp comprising 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA, and 22 tRNA. This high-quality reference genome will enrich the current genomic resources available to the large fish scientific community.

The genus Capsicum is a diverse group encompassing several wild and domesticated species native to tropical and temperate regions of the Americas. In cultivation, convergent domestication for desirable traits has resulted in significant morphological and genetic overlap across species, particularly within the globally distributed and economically valuable Capsicum annuum complex, which includes species such as C. annuum , Capsicum chinense , and Capsicum frutescens . In Guam, the hot pepper known as donne ’ is an economically and culturally important crop first introduced by Spanish traders in the late 17th century. Since its introduction, Capsicum has become naturalized, growing in island forests as wild type and diversified as landraces maintained by local farmers and home growers. However, research on the genetic diversity of local Capsicum specimens remains limited. In this study, we used multiplexed intersimple sequence repeat genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq) to assess the genetic diversity of 37 Capsicum accessions, including both cultivated and wild types, collected from Guam and Tinian in the Mariana Islands. Analysis of genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms generated from MIG-seq strongly supported three distinct groups among the Capsicum accessions assignable to C. frutescens ( n = 20), C. annuum ( n = 15), and C. chinense ( n = 2). Population structure analysis within the C. frutescens and C. annuum groups clustered accessions into seven and three distinct genotypic populations, respectively. The clustering of accessions into these genotypic groups elucidated shared ancestry among variants or clones of unknown origin. Furthermore, the evidence of genetic admixture in accessions between genotypic populations suggests introgression between cultivated and wild-type hot peppers and intraspecific cross-pollination between accessions. The study presents MIG-seq as a potential method for characterizing the genetic diversity in traditional Capsicum landraces, providing new knowledge of a valuable genomic resource for agriculture.

Contemporary surfing is undeniably grounded in Indigenous knowledge sets that predate colonization. Numerous scholars have contended that riding waves on boards in specific manners, before it became known as surfing, was an Indigenous Hawaiian and Polynesian activity. In this chapter, I examine the discursive intersections between Indigenous wave riding and its Western manifestations as surfing. I focus on the symbolic and material shifts involved as he‘e nalu or wave sliding was deliberately transformed into surfing. To examine its symbolic representation is to examine its material performance, and, in this shift, many other contextual realities come into focus. I first discuss Indigenous surfing as an aspect of Austronesian seafaring cultural knowledge. Second, I illustrate how Western surfing developed from Hawaiian he‘e nalu. Finally, I examine the ways in in which this development both helped advocate for Indigenous representation and fuel colonial ends.

The extent of built marine infrastructure—from energy infrastructure and ports to artificial reefs and aquaculture—is increasing globally. The rise in built structure coverage is concurrent with losses and degradation of many natural habitats. Although historically associated with net negative impacts on natural systems, built infrastructure—with proper design and innovation—could offer a largely unrealized opportunity to reduce those impacts and support natural habitats. We present nine recommendations that could catalyze momentum toward using built structures to both serve their original function and benefit natural habitats (relative to the status quo, for example). These recommendations integrate functional, economic, and social considerations with marine spatial planning and holistic ecosystem management. As the footprint of the Anthropocene expands into ocean spaces, adopting these nine recommendations at global scales can help to ensure that ecological harm is minimized and that, where feasible, ecological benefits from marine built structures are accrued.

In this article, I examine the sustainability of employing philosophy for children (P4C) to address the ongoing ecological crises affecting Guam. I argue that although P4C aims to foster a more ecological form of living, its failure to cultivate contemplation and dialogue grounded in specific ecosystems renders it incapable of fostering generative and sustainable inquiry that pushes against the serializing forces of capitalism and colonialism. I further draw on Austronesian seafaring traditions and the works of Indigenous CHamorus to reconceptualize the community of philosophical inquiry as a community of philosophical wayfinding. Within such a community, the participants navigate an ocean of harmful ideas in an empowering and sustainable manner by emphasizing the local mental, social, and environmental conditions of their inquiry. I begin by first motivating the question of P4C’s ecological sustainability for Guam through the history of capitalism’s and the Brown Tree Snake’s co-colonization of CHamoru subjectivity. I specifically use Félix Guattari’s The Three Ecologies to identify the semiotics of power through which capitalism pollutes CHamoru Ecology to further Americanize CHamoru existential cartographies. While P4C offers a potential pathway for creating new subjectivities, I argue that the community of philosophical inquiry’s abstract nature turns it into a source of capitalist expansion on Guam. Finally, I draw from Austronesian seafaring and CHamoru ecopoetry to reimagine the community of philosophical inquiry as a more locally grounded and impactful practice, capable of addressing Guam's ecological crisis through the creation of invested subjectivities.

The semienclosed Bouraké lagoon in New Caledonia is a natural system that enables observation of evolution in action with respect to stress tolerance in marine organisms, a topic directly relevant to understanding the consequences of global climate change. Corals inhabiting the Bouraké lagoon endure extreme conditions of elevated temperature (> 33°C), acidification (7.2 pH units), and deoxygenation (2.28 mg O2 L‐1), which fluctuate with the tide due to the lagoon's geomorphology. To investigate the underlying bases of the apparent stress tolerance of these corals, we combined whole genome resequencing of the coral host and ITS2 metabarcoding of the photosymbionts from 90 Acropora tenuis colonies from three localities along the steep environmental gradient from Bouraké to two nearby control reefs. Our results highlight the importance of coral flexibility to associate with different photosymbionts in facilitating stress tolerance of the holobiont; but, perhaps more significantly, strong selective effects were detected at specific loci in the host genome. Fifty‐seven genes contained SNPs highly associated with the extreme environment of Bouraké and were enriched in functions related to sphingolipid metabolism. Within these genes, the conserved sensor of noxious stimuli TRPA1 and the ABCC4 transporter stood out due to the high number of environmentally selected SNPs that they contained. Protein 3D structure predictions suggest that a single‐point mutation causes the rotation of the main regulatory domain of TRPA1, which may be behind this case of natural selection through environmental filtering. While the corals of the Bouraké lagoon provide a striking example of rapid adaptation to extreme conditions, overall, our results highlight the need to preserve the current standing genetic variation of coral populations to safeguard their adaptive potential to ongoing rapid environmental change.

This article reports on the development of group model-building workshops for understanding children’s nutrition and health as a complex adaptive system. A community-based system dynamics approach was used to conduct workshops in 5 United States–Affiliated Pacific jurisdictions as part of the Children’s Healthy Living Food Systems project from October 2022 to March 2023. Workshops were cofacilitated by local teams using a facilitation guide with a series of structured small-group exercises or “scripts” and evaluated using a pre–post participant survey. Products generated through these workshops included causal maps of the food systems driving child nutrition and health and prioritized action ideas that can be used to inform program design, planning, and implementation of local initiatives. Workshop evaluation highlights the robustness of workshops across jurisdictions, cultural contexts, and varied experiences of facilitation teams. Implications for the future development of group model-building facilitation guides and child nutrition are discussed.

Mutualistic relationships such as the one between Trapezia crabs and coral colonies are common in reef organisms and play a crucial role in coral resilience and resistance to climate‐induced stressor, yet very little is known about the taxonomic diversity and evolutionary history of the species involved. Despite being essential actors of coral reefs and threatened by the ongoing degradation of their habitat, little genetic information is available for Trapezia crabs, including the exact number of species and their relationships. To overcome this limitation, we sampled Natural History Collections, an important and underutilized source of genomic data. We used a novel approach optimized for degraded DNA to generate high‐quality genomic data from a combination of 166 museum tissues and freshly collected samples and recovered a strongly supported phylogeny of the Trapezia genus, clarifying species relationships of a majority of taxa and suggesting the potential division of Trapezia into two genera. We then focused on the most widespread species T. bidentata and identified four distinct genetic clusters, suggesting high divergence and cryptic speciation in the Indian Ocean and the Marquesas Islands. Populations of the Central and West Pacific showed signs of admixture across a heterogeneous seascape, attributing to a potentially long pelagic dispersal phase and expansive gene pool. Our results highlight the need to further explore the genetic diversity within other Trapezia species and other coral‐associated organisms, as they are likely to exhibit more complex genetic patterns than previously understood.

Background Gout, the most common inflammatory arthritis disease, and hyperuricaemia onset are influenced by environmental and genetic factors. We sought to investigate these factors in an Indigenous community in Guam. Methods In this feasibility study, the University of Guam led the qualitative inquiry with the native community, training (pre-screening of participants, data collection methods, and biospecimen handling), study implementation (outreach and recruitment, data collection, and DNA extraction and quantification), and qualitative and epidemiologic data analyses. Recruitment targets were based on demographic representation in current census data. The University of Otago collaborated on ethics guidance, working with Indigenous communities, and led the genetic sequencing and genetic data analysis. Participants were recruited in Guam from Fall 2019 to Spring 2022. Results Of the 359 participants, most self-identified as Native CHamorus (61.6%) followed by Other Micronesians (22.0%), and Filipinos (15.6%). The prevalence of metabolic conditions from highest to lowest were obesity (55.6%), hyperuricaemia (36.0%), hypertension (27.8%), gout (23.0%), diabetes (14.9%), cardiovascular disease (8.4%), kidney disease (7.3%), and liver disease (3.4%). There was variation in the prevalence of metabolic conditions among the major ethnic groups in this study. Conclusions We estimated the prevalence of metabolic conditions, especially gout and hyperuricaemia, and found variation among ethnic groups, all while obtaining the Indigenous community’s feedback on the genetic study and building gout research capacity. The results of ongoing genetic sequencing will be used to understand molecular causes of gout in Guam.

Comparative genomic studies of closely related taxa are important for our understanding of the causes of divergence on a changing Earth. This being said, the genomic resources available for marine intertidal molluscs are limited and currently, there are few publicly available high‐quality annotated genomes for intertidal species and for molluscs in general. Here we report transcriptome assemblies for six species of Patellogastropoda and genome assemblies and annotations for three of these species ( Scurria scurra , Scurria viridula and Scurria zebrina ). Comparative analysis using these genomic resources suggest that and recently diverging lineages (10–20 Mya) have experienced similar amounts of contractions and expansions but across different gene families. Furthermore, differences among recently diverged species are reflected in variation in the amount of coding and noncoding material in genomes, such as amount of repetitive elements and lengths of transcripts and introns and exons. Additionally, functional ontologies of species‐specific and duplicated genes together with demographic inference support the finding that recent divergence among members of the genus Scurria aligns with their unique ecological characteristics. Overall, the resources presented here will be valuable for future studies of adaptation in molluscs and in intertidal habitats as a whole.

Spatial changes in benthic community structure have been observed across natural gradients in deep-sea ecosystems, but these patterns remain under-sampled on seamounts. Here, we identify the spatial composition and distribution of coral and sponge taxa on four sides of a single central Pacific equatorial “model” seamount within the US EEZ surrounding the Howland and Baker unit of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. This seamount rises from 5,000 + m to mesophotic depths of 196 m, and is influenced by the Equatorial Undercurrent. Four remotely operated vehicle (ROV) transects were completed, one on each flank of the seamount. Shallower than ~ 250 m, the mesophotic seafloor was composed of scoured carbonate pavement with sediment accumulation only found in rocky depressions. Waters below 500 m hosted communities predominantly composed of octocorals, however, several coral taxa showed seamount flank preference (higher abundance on one or more flanks than the others) even though strong vertical (depth) zonation of corals and sponges was observed on all flanks. Euplectellidae, Plexauridae and Chrysogorgia spp. corals each showed a distinct preference for flank. To help visualize the influence of current flow, oxygen, depth, and substrate type on the zonation of seamounts, we created an Alexander Von Humboldt-style infographic to illustrate the observed biodiversity patterns. Given the importance of seamounts to ocean biodiversity and productivity, this study is an early attempt at a holistic visualization of seamount biology that can advance new hypotheses about seamount ecology.

The island of Guam is a U.S. territory in the Western Pacific with a population of approximately 174,000. Most persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) in Guam live at home with their family. This is due, in part, to Guam’s indigenous Chamorro culture, which emphasizes the importance of caring for the manåmko’ (elderly), but also to the limited availability of residential care facilities for older adults. In fact, Guam currently has no nursing homes or assisted living facilities that specialize in care for persons living with ADRD. This places a heavy burden on Guam’s families. Fortunately, Guam has an impressive array of community‐based resources to support persons living with dementia and their family caregivers. However, many members of the community are not aware of these services or do not know how to access them. To improve access to Guam’s dementia care support services, a series of education outreach presentations were provided to the community through an online support group for family caregivers of persons with dementia held weekly on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. The presentations were conducted by elder care specialists from local government agencies and private healthcare organizations. A wide range of services were covered including: (1) adult day care services; (2) transportation services; (3) congregate and home‐delivered meals; (4) adult protective services; (5) case management services; (6) in‐home services; (7) home health services; (8) long‐term residential care for non‐ambulatory older adults; (9) government health insurance programs for older adults including Medicaid and Guam’s Medically Indigent Program; and (10) legal services for older adults, including guardianship, powers of attorney, wills, living wills, and advance healthcare directives. Each presentation provided guidance on eligibility criteria and application procedures, as well as contact information for key personnel. Program outcomes indicate the following: (1) all sessions were well attended; (2) participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive; and (3) a significant number of participants followed through with applying for dementia care services. In sum, education outreach presentations conducted online can serve as an effective means to improve access to community resources for persons living with ADRD and their family caregivers.

Purpose Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is a sampling method that relies on social networks to recruit hard-to-reach populations, and reduces the bias from non-random selection. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of RDS in collecting health assessment data from underrepresented populations not captured by traditional sampling techniques. Methods An RDS study was conducted in Hawaiʻi between 2017 and 2018 of Native Hawaiians, Chuukese, and Marshallese participants. 1006 cases consisting of 352 seeds and 654 recruits were analyzed in conjunction with data from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), filtered to include Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander participants (n = 1564). Missing network size data was imputed by RDSAnalyst and determined by the sample median network size. Weighted samples were compared for differences. Results Chi-square testing revealed significant differences between the RDS and BRFSS weighted samples across sex, age, education, income, and colon/cervical cancer screening variables. Only BMI group and smoking status exhibited no significant differences. RDS methods recruited participants efficiently within one year. Conclusion The findings indicate that RDS offers an effective sampling methodology when trying to reach hidden populations and provides more insight into the social networks of underserved communities as the transfer/utilization of health information may be linked to social connectedness.