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khyrenbach 'at' hpu 'dot' edu | ||
Last Updated January 2022 |
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Professor of Oceanography
HPU Makapu'u Campus, Oceanic Institute
41-202 Kalanianaole Hwy., Waimanalo, Hawai'i 96795 Phone: (808) 236-3563 |
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My research at HPU addresses three main questions: (i) how do the trophic links and ecological interactions amongst large marine vertebrates influence the flow of energy and pollutants in pelagic ecosystems, (ii) how does oceanographic variability in time and space shape the distribution and community structure of these marine vertebrates, (iii) how do these habitat associations influence the efficacy of spatially-explicit management strategies for their management and conservation. My lab's research on marine birds, turtles, mammals, and predatory fishes seeks to characterize the habitats of these marine predators and their responses to local and regional oceanographic variability. The conservation applications of this research include identifying important habitats for the development of spatially-explicit protective measures (e.g., marine protected areas), highlighting potential threats on protected species from anthropogenic activities (e.g., fisheries overlap), and using these far-ranging species as biological sensors of the incidence and magnitude of marine pollution (e.g., plastic ingestion). In addition to teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, I contribute towards collaborative initiatives for seabird conservation, marine debris research, and marine protected areas.. Currently, I am participating in the following marine conservation fora: Biological Indicators of Ocean Plastic Pollution (BioPs) Center for Marine Debris Research (CMDR)
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