Eric Brown, a marine ecologist for Kalaupapa National Historical Park, will give a talk on "Studying Moloka'i's Coral Reefs" as part of the Pacific Whale Foundation's monthly Making Waves Lecture Series.

His free talk will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21 at foundation's Discovery Center in the Harbor Shops at Ma'alaea, Maui.

Moloka'i's south shore contains the longest contiguous reef tract in the Hawaiian Islands. The reef is being threatened by sedimentation from upland erosion, and Brown will discuss the problem and potential solutions to preserving this ecosystem, according to a news release.

His research at Kalaupapa and in other Hawai'i waters is examining coral recruitment dynamics, long-term trends in coral community structure, and how watershed activities impact the marine environment.

The Making Waves Lecture Series is presented on the third Thursday of each month. For information, contact Brooke@pacificwhale.org or call 249-8811, ext. 1.