Before moving to Guam, I read about how Guam has the highest coral reef biodiversity of any US state or territory. So, getting the opportunity to be a Scientist in Park (SIP) Fellow at the War in the Pacific National Historical Park (WAPA) has been the highlight of my summer. My name is Motusaga Vaeoso, …
Tag Archives: national park service
From a head in the weeds to an eye on the conservation horizon
When we finally reached our campsite in Alaska Basin the sun had nearly dipped below the horizon, casting a blaze orange hue across the befittingly named Sunset Lake. As I sat on a rock outcropping overlooking the mirror-like water, I felt an intense flood of emotions- the bittersweet of a finished field season, the astonishment …
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Life Cycle of a Plant (Ecologist)
As a plant goes through its unique and miraculous lifecycle, it transforms from an embryonic seed to an organic machine capable of converting light to energy and finally to a fertilized fruit with the potential to provide nourishment either for hungry animals or for a new generation of seeds. But did you know that plant …
Assessing hawksbill sea turtle nesting populations at Buck Island Reef National Monument
What happens when endangered species recover into ecosystems that have been degraded by human activity? How should resource managers and scientists prepare the public for the impacts of species recovery on ecosystem services? These two questions are the core of my interests as an aspiring marine ecologist and resource manager. I am Alexandra Gulick, a …