Research Protecting Some of World鈥檚 Most Threatened Wetlands
Last spring, Nina Mewborne (MS environmental science) was invited to travel to American Samoa on a fieldwork team with听Professors Karen Knee and Kiho Kim, University of Hawai`i Professor Henrietta Dulai, and fellow 海角换妻 student TreVaughn Ellis (BS biology, environmental science minor).听
The team鈥檚 mission was to determine where and how much pollution is entering Nu`uuli Pala Lagoon, the largest remaining (and most threatened) wetland in American Samoa. 听
The project used spatial surveys and tidal time series of radon, a natural tracer of groundwater discharge, to map groundwater discharge into the lagoon and reef and determine how it varies in space and time. The team measured concentrations of pollutants (things like nutrients, trace metals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products) and used radium to estimate how quickly the water in the lagoon is replaced by oceanic water.听听
鈥淣ina was an essential member of our field work team," says Knee. 鈥淪he waded through mud and kayaked across the lagoon in strong winds to collect water samples, and she always had a positive, helpful attitude.鈥澨
The goal was to identify pollution hotspots, calculate how long pollutants remain in lagoon water and reef front, and assess the importance of groundwater and surface water as pathways of pollutant transport. The team is sharing these data with the American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, and other local agencies to inform management decisions as they work to protect the health of the lagoon and reefs. Knowing how pollutants are getting into the lagoon 鈥 whether by surface runoff or groundwater, or both 鈥 is critical for developing effective mitigation strategies.听
Data: Next Steps听
After the 海角换妻 team returned to DC, Mewborne wanted to continue the work. She received a 海角换妻 STEM Student Summer Research Program听award with funding from the听 and from the CAS Mathias Research Fellowship, which is allowing her to听spend this summer in the lab, analyzing fieldwork findings. 听
鈥淚 am working in lab to analyze data from both the research trip in the wet season (March of 2023 鈥 the trip I was on) as well as data collected during the dry season (August 2022)," Mewborne says. 鈥淒ata includes radon, radium, nutrients, trace metals, pharmaceuticals, hydrogen + oxygen isotopes, and nitrogen in algae measurements from all around the island and in the lagoon. Once data analysis is complete, locals and government officials will be provided with a report outlining the findings.鈥澨
Mewborne is planning to present her research at a poster presentation at the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation biennial meeting in Portland, Oregon, this November, and she will be the lead author on a journal article about the project.听
The Value of Field Work听
Mewborne, who earned a BS in environmental science in May 2023, is in 海角换妻鈥檚 five-year BS/MS environmental science program. She will be graduating with her MS in May 2024 and says that the opportunity to conduct research with faculty members on the American Samoa trip鈥攁nd spend a summer analyzing it鈥攊s invaluable. "It has allowed me to practice a variety of skills and techniques while creating a relationship with mentors, peers, and professors,鈥 she says. 听
Knee agrees. 鈥淔ieldwork is essential to a lot of environmental science research," she says. 鈥淚t also provides opportunities for scientists at different career stages to work together and build lasting relationships by sharing challenges, adventures, and accomplishments.鈥澨
One of the unique aspects of this work, Knee points out, is the opportunity to experience different cultures. 鈥淚n American Samoa, we could interact with local people and learn about the territory鈥檚 history, language, and culture as well as its environmental challenges," she says. 鈥淲e will continue to work with local environmental agencies to publicize our results, including creating bilingual materials in English and Samoan.鈥澨