Course Syllabus

Typical Daily Lecture Schedule
(may vary from year to year)

Sunday

08:00 - 10:00
364 students arrive and check into dorms.

10:00 - 10:50 John Coney
Overview of QUEST, team selection - An overview of the QUEST schedule will be discussed in detail. Previous years QUEST and the leadership role of the 364 student will be discussed. Team selection will take place at this time.

11:00 - 11:50 Steve Russell
QUEST logistics - The success or failure of any field-oriented project can largely be attributed to the level of logistical support, from having the research team well fed to having the proper, functioning equipment. The substantial effort made by MOP staff to provide a high level of logistical support for QUEST will be discussed in this lecture. QUESTERS will learn the essentials of successfully planning and implementing a scientific research/training field project.

13:00 - 13:50 Dave Pence
Emergency oxygen use - Review fundamentals of emergency oxygen equipment used for university diving.

14:00 - 14:50 Brian Tissot
MINITAB refresher - Review fundamentals of analyzing data and making graphs using MINITAB. Homework assignment will be due the next day

15:00 - 15:50 John Pye
Dive safety management - Responsibilities of dive team leaders during QUEST will be discussed, including dive planning, advanced concepts of dive safety and accident management, and record keeping. An orientation to the availability and use of safety and emergency equipment during QUEST will also be presented. Finally, a dive will be conducted to practice leadership techniques needed for QUEST field activities.

16:00 - 16:50 BK Griesemer
Dive team leadership and management - Designed to increase the team leader's effectiveness in the non-dive aspects of the team leader's role. Concentrates on communication skills, team organization, team building, and leadership skills. Experiential exercises and role playing will be utilized.

Monday

07:30 - 12:00 BK Griesemer/John Pye Leleiwi
Team management dive - Advanced QUEST students work out diving scenarios and practice dive team management skills in the field. Discussion of management techniques practiced to be discussed.

13:00 - 15:00
264 students arrive and check into dorms.

15:00 - 15:30 Staff
Introduction to QUEST - Students will be introduced to the faculty and staff and to each other. The schedule will be briefly reviewed and students will be advised of the UH-Hilo drug and alcohol policy.

15:30 - 16:15 John Pye
Dive orientation - The Dive Master will introduce the assistant Dive Master and dive team leaders for QUEST 1995. Students will then meet the other members of their dive team, which have been selected for optimal balance. Students will also be introduced to proper equipment maintenance techniques and an inventory of all dive gear will be performed to insure all necessary equipment is on-hand. All equipment will then be bagged, marked, and stored for transport to Puako on Friday. All equipment will be the responsibility of each of the dive team members.

16:15 -17:00 John Pye/Mr. John Coney
Dive safety and accident management - Diving safety and accident management procedures will be discussed specific to the dive sites at Puako and Mahukona. Students will be familiarized with the safety/emergency equipment available, and proper procedures to be used during all QUEST 1995 diving activities.

19:00 - 20:00 George Stender/Team Leaders
Hawaiian reef fish identification - Student will be required to learn to identify approximately 80 species of common Hawaiian reef fish prior to their enrollment in QUEST. These fishes will be reviewed, focusing on characters useful for field identification. After the review, a photo-quiz requiring identification of selected species will be given.

20:00 - 21:00 George Stender/Team Leaders
Hawaiian macro-invertebrate identification - Students will be required to learn to identify approximately 44 species of common Hawaiian macro-invertebrates prior to their enrollment in QUEST. These invertebrates will be reviewed, focusing on characters useful for field identification. After the review, a photo-quiz requiring identification of selected species will be given.

Tuesday

08:00 - 08:30 Sherwood Maynard
Overview of QUEST - Students will be given an orientation to the overall academic program of QUEST. The history of transecting workshops and the rationale behind baseline surveys will be covered. Focus will be on the value of baseline surveys and the importance of statistically valid survey procedures.

08:40 - 09:50 Karla McDermid
Coral reef ecology - Basic aspects of the ecology of coral reefs will be discussed beginning with the global distribution of coral reefs. Basic physical requirements for their development, their major biotic components, and selected interspecific interactions will be examined.

10:00 - 10:50 Leon Hallacher
Reef fish biology - An overview of the biology of coral reef fishes will be introduced including taxa of major ecological importance, zoogeographical considerations, basic life history characteristics, and trophic ecology.

11:00 - 11:50 Walter Dudley
Reef geomorphology - Reef shape and structure will be studied. Students will be introduced to the techniques used to measure and accurately map a coral reef. Both in-class and homework exercises will be given.

13:00 - 13:50 Walter Dudley
Sedimentology of coral reefs - Sediment production by bioerosion and physical processes will be presented and mechanisms of sediment transport, deposition, and cementation will be discussed. Techniques used in reef sediment studies will be explained and demonstrated. Students will examine typical coral reef sediments using light and scanning electron microscopy.

14:00 - 14:50 Karla McDermid
Seaweed diversity on the reef - Marine algae are little known members of the biotic reef ecosystem. Yet they are the reef builders and consolidators in the Indian and Pacific Oceans and important primary producers in nutrient poor tropical seas. Seaweeds have a growing role as biological indicators of ecosystem stress.

15:00 - 15:50 Walter Dudley
Physical properties of coral reefs - The important physical parameters pertinent to coral reef studies will be introduced. Students will be introduced to the theory behind various techniques for measuring temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen concentration and turbidity and shown how to carry out these measurements in the field.

19:00 - 20:00 George Stender/Team Leaders
Hawaiian seaweed identification - Students will be required to learn to identify approximately 50 species of common Hawaiian limu (seaweeds) prior to their enrollment in QUEST. These seaweeds will be reviewed, focusing on characters useful for field identification. After the review, a photo-quiz requiring identification of selected species will be given. After the review, a photo-quiz requiring identification of selected species will be given.

20:00 - 21:00 George Stender/Team Leaders
Hawaiian reef coral identification - Students will be required to learn to identify approximately 20 species of common Hawaiian reef corals prior to their enrollment in QUEST. These corals will be reviewed, focusing on characters useful for field identification. After the review, a photo-quiz requiring identification of selected species will be given.

Wednesday

08:00 - 08:30 Leon Hallacher
Overview of QUEST surveying techniques - Survey sites at Puako will be introduced and procedures to locate and deploy permanent transects will be outlined. A video review of all surveying methods used during QUEST will be presented.

08:30 - 09:20 Leon Hallacher
Fish surveying techniques - The rational behind the utilization of ecological surveying techniques will be discussed. Various visual fish surveying techniques will be discussed and will include qualitative (presence/absence reconnaissance), semi-quantitative (multiple observer order of sighting), and quantitative (strip transect) methodologies.

09:30 - 10:20 Leon Hallacher
Benthonic surveying techniques - Methods commonly used to census benthonic epifaunal and infaunal invertebrates along a transect line will be discussed. Highlighted methods will include line transect, point-intersect quadrat search, percent-cover subquadrat search, and nearest neighbor.

10:30 - 11:40 Steve Russell
Tow board survey techniques - The use of tow boards for reconnaissance surveys of large areas prior to study site selection, and their use in quantitative and qualitative surveys will be discussed. Tow board design, modifications, limitations as well as hand signals and safety precautions essential for towboarding during QUEST will also be covered.

13:00 - 13:50 Steve Russell
Video surveying techniques - The use of video photography as a method of surveying epifaunal benthonic invertebrates and fishes will be discussed. Proper procedures for swimming a "video fish transect" will be reviewed as well as transects for epifaunal organisms. Potential problems that can be avoided will be covered.

14:00 - 14:50 Steve Russell
Photographic surveying techniques - This lecture will cover the maintenance and operation of a Nikonos V underwater camera, assembly and use of photo-quadrats and interpretation of photos taken with the photoquadrat. Students will be familiarized with the data sheets used for photosurveying.

15:00 - 15:50 George Stender
Underwater photography. General concepts relating to underwater photography will be discussed including film type, exposure, depth of field, focus, and shutter speed. Methods for obtaining photographs suitable for taxonomic and underwater surveys will be also discussed.

19:00 - 20:50 Faculty/Staff
ID EXAMINATION - Students will be tested on their ability to identify common Hawaiian fishes, corals, seaweed, and macro-invertebrates.

Thursday

08:00 - 08:50 Brian Tissot
Basic statistics - Fundamental concepts in probability theory and the development of statistical procedures will be discussed. Students will be introduced to selected statistical parameters such as the mean, variance, and standard deviation. The use and rationale of random sampling and the normal probability distribution will be discussed.

09:00 - 09:50 Brian Tissot
Statistical analysis - Basic concepts in statistical analysis as applied to ecological field studies will be discussed. Students will be introduced to the concept of statistical hypothesis testing. The t-test will be introduced as a method to test hypotheses generated during QUEST.

10:00 - 10:50 Brian Tissot
Experimental design - Problems or considerations pertinent to the design of marine ecological investigations will be discussed including data management, sample size, power analysis, and problems with replication.

11:00 - 11:50 Brian Tissot
Introduction to MINITAB - Students will be introduced to the MINITAB statistical analysis program. General procedures relating to data entry and verification, calculation of basic statistics, the normal distribution, and t-tests will be illustrated.

13:00 - 13:50 John Pye
Dive planning - Dive planning and its importance to diving safety will be discussed. Students will be introduced to the NAUI dive tables as a tool for planning safe repetitive dives and will demonstrate proficiency in their use. Special rules applicable to QUEST will also be discussed.

14:00 - 14:50 John Pye
Dive protocol - Diving protocol during QUEST will be discussed, including responsibilities of the dive team leaders, dive team members, the beachmaster, and the divemaster. Required record keeping responsibilities and proper techniques for completing dive logs and data sheets will also be discussed.

15:00 - 15:50 Dave Pence
UH Reseaach Diver Responsibilities - Diving activities associated with the University of Hawaii Research authorization will be discussed. Questions such as: "how to maintain your authorization", "how to fill out and submit dive logs", and "how not to get your dive plan application rejected", will be discussed. Also featuring "what's in it for me?"

19:00 - 20:50 Faculty/Staff
lecture examination - Students will be tested on general concepts covered during the lectures.

Friday

10:30 - 12:30 John Pye Puako
Reconnaissance dive - Student divers will survey the study area and review species list prior to beginning survey method exercises.

14:30 - 17:00 Walt Dudley Puako
Geomorphology dive - Student divers will lay out transect lines along selected compass bearings. Divers will then carry out systematic depth measurements at predetermined distances along transect lines. Data from all transects will be consolidated to prepare cross sections and a reef contour map.

Saturday

09:00 - 11:00 Brian Tissot Puako
Invertebrate surveying dive - Macro-invertebrates will be censused along 50 m transects using ten randomly selected 1 m2 quadrats at 12 m, 7.5 m, and 4 m bottom contours. Data recorded will include the number of individuals of each species within quadrats.

13:00 - 15:00 Karla McDermid Puako
Seaweed surveying dive - Seaweed cover and diversity will be surveyed along 50 m transects searched at 12, 7.5 and 4 m bottom contours. Ten 0.25 m² quadrats randomly positioned along each transect will be searched utilizing two methods: point-intersect and grid-section. Species of seaweeds under intersects or their percent cover within grid sections will be recorded. For taxonomic purposes, voucher specimens of all algal species will be collected.

Sunday

09:00 - 11:00 Steve Russell Puako
Photo/Video surveying dive - Utilizing Nikonos V cameras mounted on photo-quadrat stands, coral and seaweed cover will be estimated along a 50 m belt transect searched at the 12 m, 7.5 m, and 4 m bottom contours. Ten randomly selected 0.25 m2 quadrats will be photographed. At the time of the photo, the quadrats will be searched utilizing two methods; point intersect and percent cover. All species of coral, seaweed, and non-living substrate types falling under intersects or within the quadrats will be recorded. Later in lab, the photos will be similarly analyzed and the two sets of data will be compared. Students will also use underwater video recording equipment to document flora and fauna in reconnaissance surveys along selected transects on the reef. Data produced from the analysis of video tapes will later be compared to data from standard transect surveying techniques.

13:00 - 15:00 Steve Russell Puako
Coral surveying dive - Coral cover will be estimated along 50 m belt transects searched at 12 m, 7.5 m, and 4 m bottom contours. Ten randomly selected 0.25 m2 quadrats will be searched utilizing two methods: point intersect and percent cover. All species of coral and non-living substrate types falling under intersects or within the quadrats will be recorded.

Monday

09:00 - 11:00 Leon Hallacher Puako
Fish surveying dive - Fishes will be surveyed visually utilizing 50 x 10 m strip transects. Transects will be searched by different buddy pairs along the following bottom contours: 12 m, 7.5 m, and 4 m. Data recorded will include the number of individuals of each species seen and the estimated size of individuals for selected species.

13:00 - 15:00 Leon Hallacher Puako
Rapid visual transect dive - Fishes will be surveyed visually using the RVT (rapid visual transect) method. Fishes will be surveyed by each team member during swims down a 50 m transect line deployed along the 12, 7.5 and 4 m bottom contours.

18:00 - 19:00 Pete Hendricks Hapuna
Maritime history of Mahukona - The Kohala district has a significant maritime history, highlighted by the rededication of an existing heiau at Kawaihae by Kamehameha I, who proceeded from there to conquer all his rivals and rule the Hawaiian island chain. Mahukona, site of MAST ‘93, was a Hawaiian village long before it became a customs port of entry for the kingdom of Hawaii in 1881, and later a busy sugar port before closing to commerce in 1955. We will dive into history with sail and steam, sugar planters and opium smugglers, missionaries and the Merrie Monarch.

Tuesday

09:00 - 11:00 Brian Tissot Mahukona
Mahukona baseline survey - Students will search transects employing fish, coral, seaweed, and invertebrate sampling techniques learned on previous dives. Transects will be searched on two isobaths.

Wednesday

08:00 - 8:50 Brian Tissot
Orientation: MINITAB data analysis. Students will be briefed on their assigned topics and a brief overview of data management, statistical analysis, and graphing will be discussed.

08:50 - 11:50 Faculty/Staff
Data entry and verification - Students will enter data acquired in the field during the course, into the MINITAB program. Data will be saved, printed, verified, and edited; copies will be handed to the data manager for data security.

13:00 - 16:50 Faculty/Staff
Statistical and graphical analysis - Using MINITAB students will analyze their data using statistical procedures and graph their results.

Thursday

08:00 - 8:30 Brian Tissot
Clues to tackling the final report - Students will be briefed on the basic requirements for preparing a final report. Sections of the report and their relationships to the data analysis will be discussed.

08:30 - 11:50 Faculty/Staff
Finish data analysis/preparing reports - Under the supervision of the instructors, students will finish the data analysis and begin preparing final reports using the standard scientific format.

13:00 - 13:30 Karla McDermid
Secrets of scientific speechmaking. The basic requirements for preparing an oral presentation will be discussed. In addition, helpful hints, timely tips and enunciation exercises will be given to enhance students’ speaking style.

13:00 - 16:50 Faculty/Staff
Preparation of oral and written reports - Under the supervision of the instructors, students will begin preparing oral presentations and final reports. In conjunction with this, they will prepare graphic materials to be used in their presentations.

Friday

08:00 - 11:50 Faculty/Staff
Practice presentations - Students will practice giving oral presentations of the analysis of their field data. Instructors will critique student presenters on all aspects of their presentations from content to speaking style. Students will be instructed in best how to field questions from the audience.

13:00
Final reports due

13:00 - 16:50 Students
Symposium - An afternoon symposium will be held during which each student will give a formal presentation. Each student dive team presentation will be allotted 15 minutes with an additional 5 minutes for questions. University faculty, staff and administrators, as well as all Quest students will be in attendance. The symposium will also be open to the public.