Dr. Cynthia Hunter
Assistant Professor

University of Hawaii at Manoa
2450 Campus Road
Dean Hall Rm. 108
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone Number: (808) 956-4748
Email: cindyh@hawaii.edu

Assistant Professor, Biology Program, University of Hawaii.

Courses taught:

               Aina Mauliola: Hawaiian Ecosystems

               Natural Resource Issues and Ethics in Hawaii    

               Field Problems in Marine Biology

               Strategies in Hawaiian Natural Resource Use

               Hui Konohiki Internship: Applied Resource Management

               Advanced Topics in Marine Biology.

Research Interests:

•  conservation biology; coral reef ecology; biology and ecology of marine invertebrates (reproduction, genetics, population structure); physiology and molecular biology of cnidarian-algal symbioses; evolutionary genetics; invertebrate systematics; community processes and dynamics; natural history.

Current Research Grants:

Principal Investigator:  Origins and relationships of the keystone Hawaiian reef coral: Porites taxonomy, life history, endemicity, and population genetics. (NOAA-HI Coral Reef Initiative Research Project, Jan-Dec. 2005)

Principal Investigator:  Development of methods to control alien algae on Hawaii’s reefs. (NOAA, NFWF, through The Nature Conservancy-Hawaii; May 2004-May 2005).

Co-Principal Investigator:  Ho’o kahua hou: Replenishment of alien-dominated Hawaiian coasts—efforts to identify and remove alien biomass and replant native species. (UH Sea Grant Program, with Celia Smith; June 2004-June 2005).

Publications:  

(20) Smith, J.E., C.L. Hunter, E.J. Conklin, R. Most, T. Sauvage, C. Squair, and C.M. Smith. 2004. Ecology of the invasive red alga Gracilaria salicornia (Rhodophyta) on Oahu, Hawaii. Pacific Science. 58 (2): 325-343

(19) Vroom, P., Smith, C.M., Coyer, J.A., Walters, L.J., Hunter, C.L., Beach, K.L., Smith, J.E. in press. Field biology of Halimeda tuna (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) across a depth gradient: comparative growth, survivorship, recruitment, and reproduction. Hydrobiologia.

(18) Beach, K.L, Walters, L.J., Vroom, P., Smith, C.M., Coyer, J.A., Hunter, C.L. 2003. Variability in the ecophysiology of Halimeda spp. (Chlorophyta, Bryopsidales) on Conch Reef, Florida Keys. J. Phycology 39(4): 633-643.

(17)Walters, L.J., C.M. Smith, J.A. Coyer, C.L. Hunter, K.S. Beach, and P.S. Vroom. 2002. Asexual propagation in the coral reef macroalga Halimeda (Chlorophyta, Bryopsidales): production, dispersal and attachment of small fragments. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol.278:47-65.

(16)Smith, J.E., C.L. Hunter, and C.M. Smith. 2002. Distribution and reproductive characteristics of non-indigenous and invasive marine algae in the Hawaiian Islands. Pacific Science. 56(3):299-315.

(15)Kohn, A.J. and C.L. Hunter. 2001. The feeding process in Conus imperialis. Veliger 44:232-234.

(14)Smith, J.E., C.M. Smith, and C.L. Hunter. 2001. An experimental analysis of the effects of herbivory and nutrient enrichment on benthic community dynamics on a Hawaiian reef. Coral Reefs 19:332-342.

(13)Hunter, C.L. 1999. First records of coral diseases and tumors on Hawaiian reefs. Pp. 73-97 in Proc. Hawaii Coral Reef Monitoring Workshop, J.E. Maragos and R. Grober-Dunsmore, East West Center and Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Honolulu, HI.

(12)Hunter, C.L. and M.D. Stephenson. 1999. Pollution Impacts on Biodiversity in Coral Reef Ecosystems of Central Pacific Islands. pp. 419-440 in Marine and Coastal Biodiversity in the Tropical Island Pacific Region.  L.G. Eldredge, J.E. Maragos, P. F. Holthus, and H.F. Takeuchi (eds.), Pacific Science Association, Honolulu, HI.

(11)Hopper, D.R., C.L. Hunter, and R.H. Richmond. 1998. Sexual reproduction of the tropical sea cucumber, Actinopyga mauritiana (Echinodermata; Holothuroidea) in Guam. Bull. Mar. Sci. 63(1):1-9.

(10)Hunter, C.L., C.W. Morden, and C.M. Smith. 1997. The utility of ITS sequences in assessing relationships among zooxanthellae and corals.  Proc. Eighth International Coral Reef Symposium, Panama. 2:1599-1602.

(9)Hunter, C.L., M.D. Stephenson, G.S. Ichikawa, J.D. Goetzl, K.S. Paulson, D.B. Crane, D.G. Crosby, R.S. Tjeerdema, and J.W. Newman. 1995. Contaminants in oysters in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.  Mar. Poll. Bull. 30(10): 646-654.

(8)Hunter, C.L. and C.W. Evans. 1995. Coral Reefs in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii: Two centuries of western influence and two decades of data. Bull. Mar. Sci. 57(1):501-515.

(7)Hunter, C.L. 1993. Clonal diversity and population structure of scleractinian coral populations under different disturbance histories. Evolution, 47(4):1213-1228.

(6)Jokiel, P. L., C.L. Hunter, S. Taguchi, and L. Watarai. 1993. Ecological impact of a fresh-water "reef kill" in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii. Coral Reefs. 12 (3/4):177-184.

(5)Rice, S.A. and C.L. Hunter. 1992. Effects of suspended sediment and burial on scleractinian corals from west central Florida patch reefs. Bull. Mar. Sci. 51(3): 429-442.

(4)Richmond, R. H. and C.L. Hunter. 1990. Reproduction and recruitment of corals:  comparisons among the Caribbean, the tropical Pacific, and the Red Sea. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 60:185-203.

(3)Hunter, C.L. 1988. Environmental cues controlling spawning in two species of Hawaiian corals, Montipora verrucosa and M. dilatata. Proc. Sixth International Coral Reef Symposium, Townsville, Australia, Vol. 2:727-732.

(2)Hunter, C.L. 1986. Assessment of clonal diversity and population structure of the scleractinian coral, Porites compressa. Proc. Fifth International Coral Reef Symposium, Papeete, Tahiti. Vol. 6:69-74.

(1)Hunter, C.L. and C. C. Kehoe. 1985. Patchwork patchreefs:  the clonal diversity of the coral Porites compressa in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. In: Jokiel, P.L., Richmond, R.H., and Rogers, R.A.(eds.) Population biology of reefs. Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Technical Report No. 37, pp. 34-42. 

Technical Reports and Reviews 

Friedlander, A.M., G. Aeby, R. Brainard, R., E. Brown, A. Clark, S. Coles, E. Demartini, S. Dollar, S. Godwin, C. Hunter, P. Jokiel, J. Kenyon, R. Kosaki, J. Maragos, P. Vroom, B. Walsh, I. Williams, and W. Wiltse. 2004. Status of Coral Reefs in the Hawaiian Archipelago. In: Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2004.  C. Wilkinson (Ed.). Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Hunter, C.L. “Corals”. Grolier’s Scholastic-New Book of Knowledge, 2003 edition. pp.555-556. 

Brainard, R., A.M. Friedlander, D.A. Gulko, C.L. Hunter, R. Kelty and J.E. Maragos. Status of Coral Reefs in the Hawaiian Archipelago. In: Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2002.  C. Wilkinson (Ed.). Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Shigenaka, G. R. Yender, A. Mearns, and C. Hunter. 2001. Oil Spills in Coral Reefs: Planning and Response Considerations. R.Z. Hoff, Ed. NOAA Hazardous Materials Response Division, National Ocean Service. 78 pp.

Gulko, D.A., J.E. Maragos, A.M. Friedlander, C.L. Hunter, and R. Brainard. Status of Coral Reefs in the Hawaiian Archipelago. In: Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000.  C. Wilkinson (Ed.). pp. 219-238. Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Hunter, C.L., H.G. DeCouet, R.A. Kinzie and C.M. Smith. 1999.  Disease and Tumors in Corals:  Natural Agents of Change in Hawaiian Reef Ecosystems.  Final Report to University of Hawaii Sea Grant (EL-11) and Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, February, 1999. 

Green, A. and C.L. Hunter. 1998. Preliminary Survey of the Coral Reef Resources in the Tutuila Unit of the National Park of American Samoa. Prepared for the US National Park Service.

Hunter, C.L. 1995. Review of Coral Reefs around American Flag Pacific Islands and Assessment of Need, Value, and Feasibility of Establishing a Coral Reef Fishery Management Plan for the Western Pacific Region.  Prepared for Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, Honolulu.

Maragos, J.E., K.Z. Meier, and C.L. Hunter. 1995. Reef Mapping and Beach Monitoring Project of the Ofu Unit of the National Park of American Samoa and Adjacent Territorial Reef Park at Ofu Island. Final Report to the U.S. National Park Service, Honolulu.

Hunter, C.L. 1994. The Impact of Tissue Necroses and Tumors on Reef Corals at Hanauma Bay, Honolua Bay, and Puako, Hawaii: Long-Term Monitoring and Management Research on Coral Reefs. Prepared for the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources. Honolulu.

Maragos, J.E., C.L. Hunter, and K.Z. Meier. 1994. Reefs and Corals Observed during the 1991-1992 American Samoa Coastal Resources Inventory. Prepared for the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources, Pago Pago. 30 pp + 2 app.

Hunter, C.L. 1993.Habitat Evaluation, Living Resources of Kaneohe Bay, Main Hawaiian Islands Marine Resource Inventory. Prepared for the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources. Honolulu. 

Hunter, C.L., A.M. Friedlander, W.H. Magruder, and K.Z. Meier. 1993. Ofu Reef Survey: Baseline Assessment and Recommendations for Long-Term Monitoring of the Proposed National Park, Ofu, American Samoa. Final Report to the U.S. National Park Service, Pago Pago.  92 pp.