Register

Abstracts

“Surveillance Tools for Detecting and Monitoring Invasive Marine Species” by Dr. Jonathan Whitney (RC25-0097) 

Invasive species pose increasing risks to coral reef ecosystems and military installations, particularly in regions where highly biodiverse habitats overlap with areas of strategic importance. This presentation highlights a novel approach that integrates environmental DNA, rapid genetic approaches, AI-assisted image analysis, and field-based reef surveys to improve early detection and monitoring. Development and testing are centered in Pearl Harbor, Hawai‘i, where invasive octocorals are already established, with the goal of transferring these tools to installations across the Indo-Pacific. This work provides resource managers with practical tools to support surveillance, early warning, and informed decision-making for managing invasive species threats to DoW installations and surrounding ecosystems. 

“RNA Interference for Species-Specific Invasive Ant Control” by Dr. Neil Tsutsui (RC25-4645/RC21-1028) 

Invasive ants threaten ecosystems, infrastructure, and military readiness by infesting facilities, disrupting operations, and spreading to new locations. This presentation features insights about the development of double-stranded RNA constructs designed to target essential genes in invasive ants while avoiding non-target species. This work provides DoW with a more selective and environmentally compatible alternative to conventional insecticides, reducing risks to non-target organisms, and improving flexibility in invasive species management. The webinar will describe progress toward field-ready RNA interference bait systems and their potential benefits for protecting installations and surrounding ecosystems. 

Speaker Biographies

Dr. Jonathan Whitney is a research ecologist at NOAA’s Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, where he leads the Center’s genetics research program. His work integrates coral reef ecology, genomics, imaging technologies, and environmental DNA to support biodiversity monitoring, invasive species detection, and ecosystem assessment across marine environments. Jonathan applies cross-disciplinary approaches to better measure marine life, understand ecosystem change, and connect science with resource management and communities. Jonathan received his doctoral degree in marine biology from the University of Hawai‘i.

Dr. Neil Tsutsui is a professor and Michelbacher Chair of Systematic Entomology in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on the behavior, genetics, genomics, and chemical ecology of social insects, particularly ants, with an emphasis on how species communicate, organize, invade new environments, and adapt to ecological challenges. Neil’s research supports improved management of invasive species and informs strategies for protecting ecosystems and infrastructure. He has served as principal investigator on projects funded by SERDP, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the State of California, and private foundations. Neil received his bachelor’s degree in biology, with a specialization in marine science, from Boston University, and his doctoral degree in biology from the University of California, San Diego.