Helping to preserve the cultural and natural values of the Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon's World War II underwater sites Over the next three years (2006-2009), Earthwatch volunteers will help to conduct a series of holistic surveys of Truk (Chuuk) Lagoon's World War II submerged historic sites, which have been described as "one of the great undersea wonders of the world". Detailed archaeological examination of some of the wrecked planes and ships will be implemented in conjunction with marine flora and fauna surveys and in-situ corrosion surveys to determine their past and current rates of decay. After a review of the biological, chemical and corrosion micro-environmental data, appropriate management strategies will be developed that will result in long term preservation of the range of heritage values of the sites.

Principal Investigators

• Bill Jeffery, Maritime Archaeologist with many years experience in Australia, China, Sri Lanka and Micronesia; william.jeffery1@jcu.edu.au;

• Maria Beger, Marine Ecologist; scientific leader of previous biological surveys in Australia, PNG, Marshall Islands, Philippines and Malaysia; mbeger@zen.uq.edu.au;

• Dr. Ian MacLeod, Materials Scientist; leading world authority on the corrosion of submerged heritage sites; ian.macleod@museum.wa.gov.au

Project timetable 2006

Team 1: 3rd July to 15th July 2006
Team 2: 17th July to 29th July 2006
Team 3: 13th November to 25th November, 2006
Team 4: 27th November to 9th December, 2006

Further details

http://www.earthwatch.org  :
look for the Truk (Chuuk) Lagoon project in the Asia region

Research :

Methods for Biological Surveys - by Maria Beger  ( mbeger@zen.uq.edu.au )

Biological methods per site, so at minimum one site per wreck and reef:

• Reef Check - volunteer method (www.reefcheck.org) this involves laying 4x20m transects, assessing benthic cover, and fish, method is on internet so volunteers can prepare easily. (2 - 4 vols) (only one site per month)

• 50m transects fish (3 replicates per site, PI, 1 vol as buddy)

• 50m benthic point intercept transects (3 replicates per site, 1 vol as surveyor, depending on skills, buddied with invertebrates and algae)

• 50m macro-invertebrate transects (3 replicates per site, 1 vol as surveyor, depending on skills, buddied with fish and algae)

• 10m coral transects - diversity and size (3 replicates per site, 1 vol as coral size measurer, coral div by PI)

• Fish biodiversity swim (1 swim per site, 1 vol as buddy)

• Settlement plates - for coral settlement: July 2006: installation of plates. (need one or two vols with practical skills such as lifting/ carrying plates, using pliers, a screwdriver and the like). The plates are about 300x200x5mm. Sorry I cant do inches.

Species Lists and Forms
(please download and print yourself one and learn all the species for immediate qualification for the job!)

Fishes: PI will survey ALL species, but keen fish observers can collect baseline data using the volunteer fishform
FISH SHEET PDF

Benthic data: Includes hard corals, soft corals, sponges and substratum, anything attached to the reef/wreck.
BENTHIC SHEET PDF
Lectures and pictures of target species
Line Intersect Transect - Bethic Survey - (Black and White) 2.3meg PDF
Benthic Life Forms - W Jeffery (colour) 1.5 meg PDF

Macro-invertebrates: Includes invertebrates that move around.
INVERTEBRATE SHEET PDF

For general info about reefs and reef conservation issues, check
out: www.reefbase.org and www.icri.org

Download your volunteer information sheets here -  pdf format
Fishes: FISH SHEET PDF
Benthic data: BENTHIC SHEET PDF
Macro-invertebrates: INVERTEBRATE SHEET PDF

Links for volunteers and potential volunteers to check out:

www.reefcheck.org
for globally used basic volunteer coral reef monitoring method (we will use this in Chuuk)
www.nras-conservation.org
for coral reef monitoring method that requires substantial training, but can be learned by keen volunteers (our Chuuk species lists will be similar)
and also for other conservation action in the region
www.nature.org
The Nature Conservancy has a Micronesia programme. Read about it here.

© Chuuk Historic Preservation Office - 2006