The following is a wish list of equipment that is needed to assist in carrying out our goals and objectives of research and education. Your generous contribution of any of these items is greatly appreciated. Click here to contact the director and make a HAMER wish come true.
Satellite tags can provide much greater fine-scale resolution of habitat use with instantaneous results. Manta rays often travel just below the surface allowing a tethered satellite tag antennae to break the surface and transmit information about the manta rays location and dive profile independently of the location of the acoustic receivers. The data can be retrieved and analyzed immediately, providing high-resolution information about habitat use in a very short period of time.
The VR100 is a general-purpose ultrasonic receiver designed for manual tracking of aquatic animals from small boats or for recording laboratory data. This receiver will allow for real-time tracking of tagged manta rays. The ability to track an individual manta ray during a 24 hour period would enable the understanding of how the manta rays are utilizing particular habitats and feeding areas throughout the day and night. Click here to contact the director and make this HAMER wish come true.
These pinger tags together with the VR-2W receiver will be used to track individual manta rays to determine their temporal and geographical movements throughout the day and night. This will assist in understanding manta ray home ranges, habitat needs, and valuable feeding areas. Click here to contact the director and make this HAMER wish come true.
Cost per Item: $2,399
Number Needed: 1
Total Cost: $2,399 (new); $1,230 (used)
Source: Amazon
This digital camera used with the Subal CD5M2 underwater housing will enable research divers to continue the photo-identification of individual manta rays by photographing the unique markings on their ventral side as well as obtain high definition video to take behavioral recordings. Cataloguing new and resighted individuals will benefit the development of individual life histories. Click here to contact the director and make this HAMER wish come true.
Housing the Canon EOS 5D Mark II EOS digital camera within this underwater housing will enable research divers to continue the photo-identification of individual manta rays by photographing the unique markings on their ventral side and to record high definition underwater video in order to develop individual life histories and describe manta ray behavior. Click here to contact the director and make this HAMER wish come true.
Total Cost of Publishing: $1,900
Includes publication, professional editing, Amazon.com listing, wholesale price prints on demand, marketing package
Source: Booksurge
This children’s book is the first of a series of books about Noelani and her journeys through her underwater world. Written by Jill Kubatko and Mark Deakos, this book will introduce second and third graders to life within our oceans and make them aware of the impact human’s are having on our planet. Once published, this educational book will be distributed to elementary schools throughout Hawaii and made available to anyone on Amazon.com. Click here to contact the director and make this HAMER wish come true.
These receivers will be anchored to the sea floor in designated areas to allow passive tracking of radio tagged manta rays. This valuable equipment will help to map movements and home ranges of radio tagged manta rays, and most importantly will help to identify important nighttime feeding areas. Click here to contact the director and make this HAMER wish come true.
