Watermarks Spring 2014

MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM • SPRING 2014

IN THE LAB THE SCIENCE BEHIND OUR JELLIES INVASION PAGE 18

SAVING ENDANGERED SPECIES 8 / A FRESH LOOK AT FRESHWATER 14 / AQUARIUM BABY STORIES 16

FOR OUR NEWEST IMMERSION TOUR JOIN US

DOLPHINS 101 THE ART OF TEACHING DOLPHINS

It’s art class for our dolphins, and you get a behind-the-scenes look! Take a front-row seat as we show you how we teach our dolphins to create fluke prints—and take a print home.

SPECIAL MEMBER PRICING

$39.95 adults; $36.95 child; $38.95 senior Learn more about all of our Immersion Tours and view tour policies and procedures at aqua.org/immersiontours.

Call 410-576-3833 for more information.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

8 ON T H IN ICE Learn what’s being done to protect endangered species—and find out how you can help.

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16 FEAT U RE S

14 D O W N T O T HE L A S T D R O P A fresh look at freshwater may change the way you think about this precious resource.

16 O N C E U P O N A TI M E It’s story time. Hear fascinating tales about some of the world’s most amazing animal births.

I N E V ERY IS S UE 2 F R OM T H E CEO Aquarium CEO John C. Racanelli shares a story of hope.

3 A NIM AL UP DAT ES Meet the newest members of the Aquarium family.

4 A QUARIUM NEWS Learn about the Aquarium’s new chief philanthropy officer.

6 CONSERVAT ION National Geographic explorer-inresidence Sylvia Earle shares her story with the Aquarium.

7 E DUCAT ION Aquarium students get their hands dirty while they learn about the Bay.

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B EH IND T H E SCENE S: A DEL ICAT E BAL ANC E Go inside the Aquarium’s jellies laboratory.

21 P H OT O FINISH See if you can spot the species hiding on the sandy bottom of the Atlantic Shelf exhibit.

ON T HE COVER

Lion’s mane jellies are among the species that are cultivated in the Aquarium’s jellies laboratory and eventually put on exhibit in Jellies Invasion: Oceans Out of Balance.

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FROM THE CEO

MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM

I believe hope is the world’s most powerful motivator, stronger than fear, security or comfort. The philosophy of hope has guided many important social and cultural movements, and one of those is the urgent mission of my colleague and friend, Dr. Sylvia Earle. Oceanographer, scientist and National Geographic explorer-in-residence, Sylvia has been a champion for our blue planet and coined the term “hope spots” to describe those remarkable oceanic places that are worthy of our lasting protection.

Dr. Earle spoke about hope earlier this year while kicking off the National Aquarium’s revitalized Marjorie Lynn Bank Lecture Series. She was in good company. Other speakers this spring include National Geographic photographer/explorer Brian Skerry, cinematographer and conservationist Bob Talbot and whale rescue expert Ed Lyman. (Find details on upcoming lectures and videos of previous lectures at aqua.org/lectures.)

These speakers all know what it means to carry hope in their hearts, yet they take it a step further. Like so many of our National Aquarium members, they have also seen the need to act, to channel their inspiration into something greater than themselves. Each of them recognizes the value and importance of our life-giving ocean, and they’ve found meaningful ways to express what they have learned—and to share it with others.

Working at the Aquarium, we find a good many reasons to be hopeful. Every day, we’re inspired by the animals we care for. One need only read the fascinating stories of animal births on page 16 to understand why we view them as treasures.

In fact, May is Endangered Species Month, and the article on page 8 not At the Aquarium, only addresses the challenges facing too we find a good many many species, it highlights the actions you can take to make a difference in reasons to be hopeful. your backyard and beyond. And, on page 14, the piece on freshwater may cause you to look at this astoundingly precious resource a little differently.

I encourage you to read on, and be inspired. Despite the many challenges our world faces, we have the capacity, knowledge and motivation to solve them. There’s just one other ingredient needed, and it’s inside each of us: hope.

— J ohn C. Racanelli Chief Executive Officer

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A copy of the National Aquarium’s financial statement is available upon written request.

Documents filed in accordance with the Maryland Charitable Organizations Solicitation Act may be obtained from the Maryland Secretary of State. © 2014 National Aquarium CFC # 11251 MCC # 4099 CCC # 4099 EDITOR AMANDA FORR WRITERS LAURA BANKEY, NABILA CHAMI, JENNIFER DITTMAR, AMANDA FORR, ASHLEY GOETZ, LESLIE HUBBARD, MELISSA VALLIANT DESIGNERS NATALIE CASTALDO, ASHLEY STEARNS PHOTOGRAPHERS J. BRYAN BARNES, GEORGE GRALL, BRIAN SKERRY COPY EDITORS ASHLEY GOETZ, CHRIS M. JUNIOR NATIONAL AQUARIUM INSTITUTE EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS ROBERT E. CARTER (CHAIR) JENNIFER W. REYNOLDS (IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR) TIMOTHY ADAMS NEAL D. BORDEN MARC BUNTING JANE W.I. DROPPA COLLEEN DILENSCHNEIDER MICHAEL DUNMYER ANDREW L. GOOD (SECRETARY) NANCY GRASMICK RANDALL M. GRIFFIN FRANK A. GUNTHER (LIFE DIRECTOR) MOHANNAD F. JISHI (TREASURER) KYLE MUEHLHAUSER MARK MULLIN JOSEPH NIGRO DONALD PETTIT J. SCOTT PLANK JOHN C. RACANELLI (CEO) DIANA RAMSAY THE HONORABLE STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE K. LEE RILEY, JR. THOMAS ROBINSON ANNA L. SMITH TAMIKA LANGLEY TREMAGLIO (VICE CHAIR) JAKI ULMAN C. ELIZABETH WAGNER

National Aquarium is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures. | aqua.org

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A N I M A L U P D AT E

LINNE’S TWO-TOED SLOTH BABY Born in our Upland Tropical Rain Forest at the end of 2013, Scout is the newest addition to the Aquarium’s sloth family.

Our group of adult sloths arrived in May 2007, and since then Howie, Xeno and Camden have been born in the exhibit.

Linne’s two-toed sloths are commonly found in South America’s rain forests, where they spend just about all of their time in trees. They are nocturnal by nature and, as a result, sleep for most of the day. Adult sloths are typically the size of a small dog, approximately 24 to 30 inches in length and about 12 to 20 pounds in weight. In the last couple of months, Scout has been experimenting with hanging upside down, close to mom, of course. Scout will be dependent on his mother for approximately one year.

NORTHERN SNAPPING TURTLES Staff is caring for eight northern snapping turtle hatchlings behind the scenes of the Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes exhibit. The National Aquarium is the only aquarium in the United States to display this turtle species. This occasion marks the first time any US facility has successfully bred this species. Eventually, these turtles will transition to exhibit habitats. Babies start at about 0.8 ounces and will eventually reach 11 pounds.

CALIFORNIA MORAY EEL A California moray has been added to our Kelp Forest exhibit. Native to southern California (from Santa Barbara to Baja), this species varies in coloration from dark brown to green and can grow to be up to 5 feet in length. California moray eels live in the crevices or holes along shallow reef areas. These eels feed mostly at night on crustaceans, octopuses, sea urchins and small fish.

BLUE LOBSTER Toby, the blue lobster, is one in 2 million —literally. This uniquely colored invertebrate was recently transitioned to his current home in Maryland: Mountains to the Sea in the Atlantic Shelf exhibit, which depicts the continental shelf habitat off the coast of Maryland, where lobsters often hide in caves and crevices.

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AQUARIUM NEWS

AQUARIUM HIRES CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER Marisa Wigglesworth joined Aquarium in Februar y.

THIS PAST FEBRUARY, the National Aquarium welcomed Marisa Wigglesworth in the role of Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer. She is responsible for all development functions, focusing on helping individuals and organizations share their commitment to conservation by investing in the Aquarium’s highly effective programs. In addition, she will play an integral role in setting long-term strategies for all aspects of the Aquarium’s operations and future.

Previously, Wigglesworth served as the Vice President for Development and External Affairs at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia since 2008. From 1998 to 2003, she served at the Franklin Institute in a number of development capacities. During both tenures, she helped the Institute raise almost $130 million through two capital campaigns while also generating significant annual funds.

Already, Wigglesworth has brought a new energy and enthusiasm to the National Aquarium and its community of supporters to make our vision to inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures a reality.

WATERSHED RESTORATION IN THE WORKS THE AQUARIUM CONSERVATION TEAM is taking the lead on creating a Small Watershed Action Plan (SWAP) for Masonville Cove.

A SWAP identifies strategies to bring a small watershed into compliance with water quality standards and goals by working with local businesses and volunteers.

The SWAP at Masonville Cove will include a watershed assessment to provide valuable baseline data and guide future protection and restoration projects that will lead to improved water quality.

In March of this year, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown came to our field station at Masonville Cove to participate in one of the first training sessions. He was joined by students from Benjamin Franklin High School, National Aquarium staff and community volunteers.

The National Aquarium has been involved in the Masonville Cove Project

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since 2003, providing opportunities for community-based restoration both within the cove and upstream in the watershed.

In partnership with the Maryland Port Administration, Maryland Environmental Service, The Living Classrooms Foundation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and community partners, the National Aquarium’s goal is to provide a thriving natural area in the heart of Baltimore City. In 2013, the National Aquarium’s Masonville Cove site was named the nation’s first Urban Wildlife Refuge System.

SEAL REHABILITATION AREA GETS UPGRADES NATIONAL AQUARIUM ANIMAL RESCUE recently received funding to support necessary upgrades to our seal rehabilitation facility, to include new enclosures with larger pools and the addition of life support equipment to help maintain water quality.

To prepare for the construction, the seal rehab area was temporarily closed and unable to admit long-term patients. Even while closed, however, the Animal Rescue team still responds to sightings and coordinates care of sick or injured seals.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) in Brigantine, New Jersey, recently stepped in to help us by admitting a harbor seal from Ocean City, Maryland, that was severely injured. The seal was the victim of a shark bite injury and required immediate medical attention.

Trained first responders collected the seal and transported it to the National Aquarium for initial care and stabilization. The following morning, the seal was transported from the Aquarium to MMSC for long-term rehabilitation. The seal has a long recovery ahead of him, but is receiving the medical care needed to restore him to good health.

AQUARIUM NEWS

GET READY FOR WORLD OCEANS DAY Eight ways to celebrate our aquatic places before and after World Oceans Day on June 8.

START AT HOME. What you do in your home

EAT LOCALLY. Locally grown food options cut down on transportation in the supply chain and are fresher alternatives.

and your yard has downstream effects on our rivers, bays and oceans. Fertilize less (or not at all), discontinue use of herbicides and pesticides, and don’t dump chemicals into your drains.

Starting with Earth Day DRIVE LESS. As distant as it seems, our greenhouse gas emissions on land are directly linked to ocean acidification. If we decrease the concentration of these gases in our atmosphere, we can help the oceans maintain a healthy balance.

on April 22, join us in celebrating 48 days of

an amazing array of plants and animals.

Slow down when boating near marine mammals and sea turtles, make sure you retrieve any cut or loose fishing line, and watch animals from a distance to ensure their safety and yours.

up to World Oceans Day

your part to help our blue planet. Take your pledge to help the world’s waters at 48daysofblue.com.

National Aquarium partners with Seacology for a trip to Fiji.

TRAVEL WITH SEACOLOGY and the National Aquarium to Fiji on an eco-adventure for the first-ever joint trip with these two nonprofit organizations. Led by John and Susan Racanelli, guests will connect with

DEFINITELY SKIP THE MICROPLASTICS. Mi-

croplastics are the tiny plastic particles that show up in popular personal care products, like face scrubs. These plastics are washed immediately down the drain and into our nearby rivers and streams after use—and are seriously damaging the health of our oceans.

PROTECT OCEAN HABITAT. Look for ways you can protect or restore vital aquatic ecosystems. Visit aqua.org/care to learn about upcoming conservation events, including cleanups and tree plantings.

EAT SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD. Seafood is a very healthy meal option, but make sure the fish you eat is caught or farmed responsibly.

TRAVEL THE WORLD WITH THE AQUARIUM

of the most visible threats facing our oceans. Find ways to reduce the amount of disposable plastics you use in your daily routine.

blue! In the days leading

on June 8, you can do LEARN TO SHARE. We share the ocean with

SKIP THE PLASTIC. Plastic pollution is one

island communities while experiencing the region’s breathtaking—and essential— natural resources. The trip will take place from August 16 to 23, 2014.

Located on the island of Vanua Levu on 17 acres of a coconut plantation, guests will stay at the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort overlooking the peaceful waters of Savusavu Bay.

While there, attendees will visit two nearby villages where Seacology projects— including a preschool, a kindergarten classroom and a plant nursery—have improved the lives of Fijians while protecting surrounding forests and coral reefs.

For information, contact Randy Gardner of the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort at 800-246-3454 or info@fijiresort.com.

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C O N S E R VA T I O N

HOPE FLOATS Hero for the Planet Sylvia Earle aims to save our oceans.

“YOU’RE ALL REASONS FOR HOPE,” said famed

oceanographer, explorer and author Sylvia Earle in her inspirational speech on February 27, which kicked off the National Aquarium’s 2014 Marjorie Lynn Bank Lecture Series. Her presentation, titled “Hope: A Plan for our Ocean,” provided an eye-opening glimpse of the state of the world’s water: About 12 percent of Earth’s land is protected through national parks, world heritage sites and monuments, yet less than 2 percent of the ocean is protected in any way. Considering that the ocean covers 71 percent of the planet, we have a long way to go.

But Earle—a TED prize winner and Time magazine’s first Hero for the Planet— said there’s still time for change: “This is the sweet spot in time—because never before could we know what we know now, and never again will there be a chance as good as what we have right now.” She places part of that hope in “hope spots,” marine protected areas that she’s helping to establish worldwide. In fact, she has identified 51 existing or potential hope spots.

In a storied career that includes leading more than 100 ocean science expeditions and logging more than 7,000 hours underwater, Earle knows the ocean as few do.

She believes that a global network of hope spots can support biodiversity, absorb our carbon, generate life-giving oxygen, preserve critical habitat, and allow lowimpact activities like adventure travel and artisanal fishing to thrive.

Earle was the first of many extraordinary guests in this year’s series. She was followed by National Geographic photojournalist Brian Skerry on March 18.

World-renowned marine photographer Bob Talbot will speak on April 22, and Ed Lyman of Hawaii’s Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary will speak on May 7. For information on these and other upcoming Marjorie Lynn Bank Lecture Series events, visit aqua.org/lecture.

—Melissa Valliant

FIVE MINUTES WITH B R I A N S K E R RY The National Geographic photojournalist and author of “Ocean Soul” has traveled the world's waters, from coral reefs to polar ice, photographing the sea.

NA: What first interested you in photographing marine wildlife?

BS: From a very young age, I was captivated by marine wildlife. There was something mysterious about the sea and the creatures that lived there.

If you had to pick one subject to photograph for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

A difficult question for sure, but I think I would say sharks. For me, these animals represent the perfect blend of grace and power.

What do you want your audience to take away from your photos?

That Earth’s ocean is a very special place, but it needs our help.

How have you seen your work change in recent years?

I began simply wanting to make beautiful pictures of animals or places that interested me. While I still have this desire, I have seen many problems occurring in our ocean and I feel compelled to tell these stories too, as a way of effecting positive change. — Nabila Chami

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E D U C AT I O N

BRINGING OYSTERS BACK Students learn about the Bay through hands-on experiences.

AQUARIUM ON WHEELS students got their hands dirty—literally—in an oyster restoration project that took them in and around the Chesapeake Bay. In addition to composing and performing a stage play, students collaborated with Phillips Wharf Environmental Center (PWEC) on Tilghman Island. Special oyster cages were suspended in the Bay on personal docks and piers on Tilghman Island for nine months in order to allow baby oysters to grow in a sheltered environment. The students then collected the cages and emptied the young oysters into large bushel baskets.

While collecting the oyster cages, students noticed the accumulation of other living organisms, including shrimp, barnacles and baby crabs on the cages, illustrating the importance of oysters to the habitat of the Chesapeake Bay. Later, the students traveled by boat to an oyster sanctuary in Harris Creek to “plant,” or empty, the bushels of healthy oysters into the Bay to continue to grow and thrive.

Volunteers are invited to help clean oyster cages at PWEC on Oyster Planting Day on May 31. Volunteers ride the Express Royale to Rabbit Island Bar in Harris Creek to witness the release of yearling oysters to their new home. For more information or to volunteer, email phillipswharfec@gmail.com.

Learn more about the Aquarium On Wheels program at aqua.org/aquarium-onwheels. — Asia McCallum, third-year Aquarium On Wheels student

STUDENTS HOST YOUTH OCEAN CONSERVATION SUMMIT THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM’S

Aquarium On Wheels Program is hosting a Youth Ocean Conservation Summit in Annapolis, Maryland, in partnership with the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA).

This summit, run for youth by youth, consists of sessions presented by guest speakers on topics including communications, art in conservation, fundraising, and marketing and branding. In addition, attendees will participate in an actionplanning workshop to create and implement their own conservation project. Mini grants for projects will also be available.

Aimed toward students in grades 9 to 12, the summit will take place July 22 from 10 am to 4 pm. The application deadline is May 16. Visit aqua.org/ student-programs to learn more.

GET A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON THE AQUARIUM THROUGH EXCLUSIVE ACCESS THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM has expanded its

behind-the-glass accessibility with the addition of two new Immersion Tours: Dolphins 101—The Art of Teaching Dolphins and a Veterinarian Tour.

In Dolphins 101, guests experience an exclusive teaching and play session as staff demonstrate how to work and play with the dolphins, plus shares the distinctive features that help tell the dolphins apart. Just like a person’s fingerprint, each dolphin has a unique fluke, or tail. Staff show—start to finish—how they teach the dolphins to create fluke prints, and attendees even get to take home a copy of a fluke print made by one of the Aquarium’s Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.

In the Veterinarian Tour, guests put on a surgical cap and mask and learn first-hand how the veterinary medicine staff take care of the 17,000 animals that call the Aquarium home. From taking the

heart rate of a jumpy frog to giving a turtle an X-ray, attendees get access to staff-only areas, including the animal hospital.

These tours join popular programs such as the Dolphin and Shark Sleepovers, our Gallery Tour and Sharks!

Behind the Scenes. For more information on all the Immersion Tours and to obtain special member-only pricing, visit aqua. org/immersiontours.

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ON THIN 8 WATERMARKS | SPRING 2014

ICE

The western black rhino, blacktherhino, Tasmanian the Tasmanian tigergolden and the golden tiger and the toad are toadlong maygone be gone this from from this world, world, but there’s hope for for the the but there’s still hope polar polarbear, bear,the theorangutan orangutanand and the bluefin tuna—if we act now.

B Y A SBHYL EA YS HGLOEEYT ZG O E T Z

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Extinction can be a natural part of the life cycle, but species are vanishing from the planet at an alarming rate, often from some not-so-natural causes.

“W

e live in a world that is physically changing all the time, and the natural course throughout the evolution of life on Earth is that extinction is the rule rather than the exception,” says Ken Howell, curator of the Upland Tropical Rain Forest exhibit at the National Aquarium. “It’s just that human activity has really accelerated that process.”

With overflowing landfills, the use of harmful chemicals in agriculture and a reliance on unsustainable energy sources, among other factors, the human population’s carbon footprint is everexpanding. From melting polar ice caps to ocean acidification, the environmental impact is becoming increasingly evident.

The implications of a species disappearing reach far beyond the loss of a single organism. Extinction occurs when the last individual of a species dies, and the disappearance of just one plant or animal can have a cascading effect on an ecosystem.

LEVERAGING LEGISLATION On December 28, 1973, Congress passed a monumental piece of legislation—the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the ESA was enacted to protect and restore populations threatened with extinction and their critical habitats.

More than 1,500 species are currently recognized as threatened or endangered by the ESA. The ESA prevents the “take” of those listed species from their habitat. It limits the trade of endangered species, which is why you may see a listed species that is not native to the US, such as the Panamanian golden frog.

While wildlife poaching may not be as prevalent here as it is in other countries, the US is still a hub for this trade that spans the globe. “The US is one of the biggest markets for the wildlife trade, so we’re part of the cause,” says National Aquarium Director of Conservation Laura Bankey. “But we’re taking this stand to say we will not support the death of endangered species by being the marketplace.”

The ESA is a federal law, but it has the benefit of trickling down to state level. “Putting the ESA in place has helped push a lot of other environmental gains,” says Bankey. The ESA has set a precedent where individual states are empowered to pass their own regulations. “A lot of it has to do with fishing and hunting regulations,” says Bankey. “Things that people can connect to on a daily basis.”

As mandated by the ESA, the FWS and NMFS must pass regulations that protect endangered and threatened species from extinction. State wildlife regulatory agencies are then required to implement these federal protective measures. In many cases, states create additional legislation to further the protection of species deemed to be endangered or threatened within their state boundaries.

In Maryland, for example, three salamander species are listed as state endangered species. All three—the eastern tiger salamander, hellbender and green salamander—have limited distributions within the state, but you won’t find them listed at the federal level.

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In fact, of all the known plant and animal species in Maryland, only five plants and 21 animals are considered endangered under federal law. An astounding 271 plant and 91 animal species are protected at the state level. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources works to safeguard the long-term survival of these native species, helping to recover their populations and to ensure they remain off the federal endangered species list.

SIMPLE CHANGES Too often the focus of the conversation around endangered species is the harm humans have on the environment. More important, however, is that simple behavioral changes can go a long way toward caring for and reviving the natural world.

Take palm oil. Through everyday purchases, many of us may be perpetuating the destruction of a habitat that boasts some of the greatest species diversity on Earth. Something as simple as checking the ingredients before purchase could help save a species thousands of miles away.

“Palm oil has crept into our food chain over the past 15 years,” says Howell. “With the knowledge that trans fats are bad, palm oil fits this really interesting little niche in a lot of processed food products.”

This vegetable oil, a substitute for the partially hydrogenated oils that contain trans fats, can be found in everything from cereals and canned soups to baby formula and cosmetics.

Palm oil plantations are popping up across Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries at the expense of tropical forests.

The land is being cleared and burned to meet a growing demand. The many species that depend on these forests, including endangered orangutans, face extreme peril.

“The average person really needs to be aware of their cause and effect in the world,” says Howell. A quick ingredient check—palmate, palm kernel oil, palmitate—can help ensure that cause and effect is a positive one.

A GLOBAL CONNECTION A healthy habitat is one of the most important factors when it comes to protecting endangered species. Under the ESA, regions can be designated as “critical habitat,” or areas essential to the survival of a species, but here is where it gets tricky.

Labeling an area critical habitat does not necessarily prevent the further development of that land. Essentially, the designation serves as a reminder to federal agencies to take extra precautions, even to modify projects, in order to minimize harm to these vital natural spaces.

“We forget that the natural world and the human world are interconnected,” says the Aquarium’s General Curator Jack Cover. “People have this idea that you have to choose one or the other, and that’s just not true.”

From the water we drink to the air we breathe, humans rely on healthy ecosystems, and every species contained in an ecosystem—from the microscopic bacteria to the apex predator—plays an integral role in the success of that network.

“You affect one animal in the food web, and it has all these ramifications down the chain,” explains Bankey.

Like the gray wolf, for example. Once prevalent in North America, the species was hunted almost to the brink of extinction. This predator’s population dropped so low that its role in the ecosystem was altered, influencing the behavior of the other animals in its web.

IN THE LINE OF FIRE The Endangered Species Act doesn’t just protect animals. Plants can appear on the endangered species list, too. When a plant starts to disappear from its natural environment, the animals that rely on it are at risk as well, and the entire ecosystem suffers.

So, what is being done to protect endangered plants? One method might surprise you—fire. Fire has a dangerous reputation, but is actually a natural part of the life cycle in many ecosystems. Some plant species are even fire-dependent. Prescribed fires, or controlled burns, are being employed to help revitalize landscapes.

The fire encourages native plants and wildlife to grow by recycling nutrients in the soil, eradicating invasive species and regulating hazards like disease and pests.

IF THEY’RE ALREADY ENDANGERED, THEN IT TAKES AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF RESOURCES TO BRING THEM BACK. AQUA.ORG 11

F E AT U R E : O N T H I N I C E

Without population control by predation, other species’ populations grew unchecked. They began to forage more frequently for food, and plants suffered from an increased demand on their resources.

With one species removed, or in this case playing a much smaller role, the entire landscape began to change.

Luckily, with the backing of the ESA, the gray wolf was successfully reintroduced and has made a significant comeback. And while it may never reach the extent of its historic range, there are populations thriving throughout North America.

A PROACTIVE APPROACH Not every species will be as lucky as the gray wolf, but it is not all doom and gloom. The diamondback terrapin, for example, though never listed as an endangered species in Maryland, has a history of exploitation. In the 19th century, terrapins were considered a delicacy and hunted for their use in stews.

The demand for the terrapin, combined with a loss of habitat, destruction of nesting beaches and other factors, caused their numbers to drop dangerously low.

Recognizing the risk, Maryland passed a law in 2007 ending the commercial harvest of terrapins in state waters. And while it is too soon to quantify the impact, alleviating pressure on a struggling population is a step in the right direction.

Bald eagles, American alligators, the Virginia northern flying squirrel, grizzly bears—there have been numerous success stories. In the best circumstances, a species will be “de-listed” from the ESA, meaning the population recovers to a point where it no longer requires protection under the law.

But the real triumph will be to reach a point of prevention versus reaction. “The trick in managing endangered species is to get to them before they’re on the list,” says Bankey. “If they’re already endangered, then it takes an extraordinary amount of resources to bring them back.”

DO YOUR PART Here are seven ways to show you care about the world’s endangered species, no matter where you live.

B E A CO N SCI O US CO N SUM E R Purchase products that are organic, locally grown or sustainably sourced.

Try Bird Friendly® coffee, certified by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, which is shade-grown to protect the winter habitats of migratory birds. Further, download Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch app on your phone for a guide to sustainable seafood.

F OC US YO UR AT T E N T I O N “For most people, it becomes overwhelming to take on the whole world as your cause,” says Howell.

Focusing on a single issue can be just as effective. The Golden Lion Tamarin Conservation Program, for example, is working to develop corridors between broken forests in Brazil. “Their goal is to link these disparate fragments of forest together, so they can basically function as one ecosystem,” explains Howell.

Reconnecting these scattered tamarin populations increases their likelihood of survival.

BACK L E GI SLAT I O N T HAT I MPACTS T HE E N V I RO N M E N T Every comment counts, so if there is an issue you support, call or write a letter to your representative. Learn more about the National Aquarium’s legislative priorities at aqua.org/legislation.

CO N T RI B UT E TO A CO N SE RVAT I O N O RGANIZATION Provide financial support if you can. If you don’t have money to give, donate your time. Participate in a local beach cleanup, tree planting or wetland restoration. Visit aqua.org/care to learn about opportunities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

START I N YO UR OWN BACKYARD Planting native plants in your garden will attract native wildlife, including invaluable pollinators that help to preserve the natural environment and the integrity of the ecosystem. Plant a tree or build a birdhouse to restore some of the habitat that may have been lost to make room for a house or lawn.

AVO I D CHE M I CALS Minimize the use of harmful pesticides, herbicides and insecticides that could have unintended, adverse effects on wildlife and contaminate local water sources.

RE D UCE , RE USE , RE CYCLE This popular mantra may be a bit worn out, but simple actions—from turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth to starting a composting bin—can still make a big difference in protecting our natural world.

LOOKS GOOD, RIGHT?

This meal took more than 1,000 gallons of water to make.

HOW DOES YOUR DINNER STACK UP? KNOW YOUR WATER FOOTPRINT.

Estimate based on: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/embedded-water/ AQUA.ORG 13

A fresh look at freshwater—and how you can help prevent this precious resource from fading away.

DOWN TO THE LAST DROP

BY LESLIE HUBBARD

14 WATERMARKS | SPRING 2014

I

t’s easy to take our supply of freshwater for granted. After all, for most of us, it is as simple as turning on a faucet and there it is, in seemingly abundant supply. Yet around the world, and yes, even in the United States, there are areas at risk of losing access to this essential resource.

The earth is 70 percent water, a staggering amount. Of that, 97.5 percent is salt water. The rest, just 2.5 percent, is freshwater. And of that, less than 1 per­­­cent of the world’s freshwater is available for use by people.

And it isn’t just people who need fres­h­­­water. Count­less species of plants and animals inhabit creeks, ponds, wetlands and rivers—ecosystems that are increasingly at risk due to stress on our freshwater resources.

A RESOURCE IN PERIL According to the United Nations’ water agency, UN Water, more than 40 percent of the world’s population is subject to water scarcity, and this number is rising.

Here in the United States, water shortages as a result of drought or environmental issues are also increasing.

In 2010, the Natural Resources Defense Council found that more than 1,100 U.S. counties—one-third of all the counties in the lower 48—now face higher risks of water shortages by 2050.

Even areas without an obvious water problem are at risk. After all, it’s not just access to water that is important—it is access to clean water. Contamination due to runoff, ineffective stormwater and sewer systems, the ever-increasing amount of impervious surfaces like roads and roofs…all of this runs downstream, making it more challenging to keep our water supply fresh and plentiful.

T H E D A I LY C O S T According to National Geographic’s blog, Water Currents, the average person in America uses nearly 2,000 gallons of water per day. About 100 gallons of those travel through our faucets or water our lawns.

The rest is used to get food on our tables and provide services we depend on. For

A RIVER STOPPED IN ITS TRACKS The Colorado River is a river in crisis. On its journey through the Southwest, winding through the Grand Canyon, it sustains more than 30 million people and provides wetlands and habitat for thousands of species of plants and animals. At least it should.

Today, the Colorado River basin is a battleground. There’s not enough water to meet the needs of the area…or even make it to the sea. In fact, the river stops flowing about 90 miles before its ultimate destination.

Environmental advocates and concerned citizens are trying to bring the river back from the brink, one gallon at a time, through education, research and fundraising, in the hopes that the great river will flow to the sea once again.

Learn more about the work being done to save the Colorado River at savethecolorado.org.

pool now serves as a cistern that collects water to be used in sprinkler systems for the Waterfront Plaza in front of the MAKING THE MOST Aquarium. Unless there is extreme O F O U R S U P P LY drought, the Aquarium does not use The good news is that individual actions municipal water to maintain this exhibit really can make a difference, and one of space, saving about 40,000 gallons a year. the goals at the National Aquarium is to Homeowners can install rain gardens empower our guests to learn how, as well, which is a water-conscious way to including leading by example. care for lawns. And going meatless and Jennifer Hamilton, guest services dairy-free just once a week can reduce the manager at the National Aquarium and tremendous water cost of meat and dairy products.

To help consumers make ONE-THIRD OF ALL THE water-friendly choices, the Environmental Protection COUNTIES IN THE LOWER 48 Agency (EPA) established WaterSense, a program that N O W FA C E H I G H E R R I S K S O F certifies products and WA T E R S H O R T A G E S B Y 2 0 5 0 . services that meet waterconservation standards.

Consumers can look for the head of the Internal Conservation WaterSense label on products like faucets, Committee, reports, “If we want to be shower heads and toilets and know they an organization that inspires guests to meet performance standards and are 20 conserve, we need to lead the way. Staff percent more water efficient than average have embraced the challenge and are fixtures. The EPA estimates that if one in always finding ways to reduce our water every 10 homes in the US were to install consumption, from fixing leaks to WaterSense-labeled faucets, we could save installing water-efficient fixtures to smart 6 billion gallons of water per year. filtration of seawater in our exhibits.”

Of course, people need water to She points to innovative water-saving support the many activities in their lives, initiatives that the Aquarium built into its but a few simple steps can make a big physical plant design. The main building difference, not only in gallons but in the is equipped with a green roof that absorbs health of our planet’s finite supply of clean and filters rainwater, and an upcycled seal freshwater and all who rely on it. example, it takes 880 gallons of water to produce a single gallon of milk.

AQUA.ORG 15

nce upon a time ... ...one dolphin, two birds, a pair of sharks, nine frogs, hundreds of fish and a thousand seahorses were born.

The ways these animals start their lives are not only great stories, they’re 100 percent nonfiction.

By Amanda Forr

A N U N LI KELY N E ST Perched precariously on a branch, screaming piha nests would be easy to overlook. They are small and often crafted of thin twigs and vines. It seems impossible that any egg could remain successfully on this unconventional spot…yet they can.

In the Upland Tropical Rain Forest in the National Aquarium, a screaming piha nest yielded a successful chick. Just 2 inches by 2 inches, the nest was constructed of curling vines and twigs collected by the screaming piha from around the exhibit. Staff added two branches to help the meager nest stay secure. The female is a single parent and, once the chick hatches, has to leave the nest often to gather food. The chick camouflages itself, lying motionless, not making a sound.

A TA LE OF T E AM WOR K Dolphin females and calves live together in a pod, forging connections with each other. These social groups are meaningful to the individual members of the pod, and this connection is demonstrated in many ways, such as when a dolphin gives birth.

After a dolphin calf is born, other experienced females in the pod will sometimes step in to help teach the new mother how to be a proper parent. Adult females have even been known to produce milk and help nurse a new calf. Marine Mammal staff at the National Aquarium got to see this incredible behavior up close when Aquarium dolphin Jade had her first calf, and other members of our dolphin colony helped her parent. This display from his “foster” moms is how Foster earned his unique name.

TH E PER FECT PAI R Puffins take parenting pretty seriously. They mate for life, then have one puffin chick each spring. The diligent parents work together to dig a burrow about 3 feet long in the soft earth along sea cliffs, then lay a single egg. They create a toilet area in front of the nest so the chick can stay clean, a survival strategy for when the chick eventually leaves the nest.

Parenting responsibilities are shared, with both parents participating in the maintenance of the nest, protecting the egg from predators, incubating the egg for approximately 45 days and then feeding the chick fish once it hatches. The puffin only stays in the nesting burrow for about six weeks before making its way to the sea and swimming off in the night. The puffin will not return to land for several years, at which time it will find a mate and start having chicks of its own.

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WH AT A MOUTH FU L For the Australian freshwater fish, the mouth almighty, a large mouth isn’t just used to ambush unsuspecting prey that happen to wander a bit too close. In fact, when breeding, the male actually stops eating and will instead carry the female’s sack of eggs in its mouth and incubate them for approximately two weeks.

Once hatched, the fry will stay in the male’s mouth for another week or so.

Mouth almighties, a species of cardinalfish, aren’t alone in using this survival strategy. In fact, other members of the cardinalfish family mouthbrood as well. In doing so, these fish can produce fewer numbers of offspring with a higher survival rate.

SU RVI VA L OF TH E FIT T E ST

TH E M E A L’S ON MOM (A N D DA D) Discus aren’t your typical fish parents. Together, the male and female choose and clean a location to lay eggs. The female lays between 80 and 400 eggs, the male fertilizes them and they take turns guarding the eggs until they hatch.

In a behavior that is pretty unusual for fish species, the fry don’t leave their parents to fend for themselves upon hatching.

In fact, they stay close. Really close. The fry will eat mucus off of their parents’ skin until they’re old enough to eat larger bits of food. Parents share this responsibility, trading feeding time between them. After about three weeks, the parents start to leave their young for short periods of time, commencing the weaning process, which culminates in the fourth week when the discus fry are finding food from alternate sources on their own.

PR EGNA NT PA PA Seahorse males are pretty much made to have babies. Lots and lots of babies. Equipped with a pouch, a seahorse dad signals to the female that he is ready for her eggs by filling his pouch with water. She deposits the eggs in the pouch, ranging from five to more than 1,000 depending on the species. Then, the male carries the eggs for approximately two to four weeks.

When the seahorses are fully developed, the male will expel the tiny seahorses into the water, and from there the babies are on their own. By the next morning, the male is ready for another batch of eggs.

Sand tiger sharks make their way into the world in a pretty remarkable way—they have to fight for it. Females have two uteri that each have hundreds of eggs. When it comes time to give birth, however, just two sharks are born, one from each uterus.

In her wombs, female sand tiger sharks usually have multiple offspring. The unborn pups will consume each other and the remaining unfertilized eggs until one offspring remains in each uterus. Sand tiger pups are about 3 feet long at birth and have already had to hone their survival instincts, helping to prepare them for life in the open sea.

SI NGLED OUT Strawberry poison dart frogs may be tiny (less than 1 inch), but they are mighty. This species inhabits Atlantic low-elevation rain forests in Central America. Females lay up to nine eggs at a time under leaves on the forest floor. Both male and female frogs care for the clutch, with the male emptying his bladder over them to ensure the clutch stays hydrated. Once the eggs hatch, the female carries each tadpole one by one to its own individual pool of water in the leaf axil of a bromeliad, sometimes climbing as high as 100 feet from the rain forest floor to reach the right plant. Mom will return at regular intervals to lay unfertilized eggs for her young to eat until metamorphosis is complete.

BEHIND THE SCENES

A D E L I C AT E BALANCE Find out how the National Aquarium keeps our Jellies Invasion under control as we go inside the jellies laboratory.

J

BY LESLIE HUBBARD

ellies are a sight to see. Described polyps (resembling small sea anemones) located on Pier 5 in the Institute of as mesmerizing, strange, beautithat attach to the inside of their exhibits.

Marine and Environmental Technology, ful, even otherworldly, jellies are The full life cycle of these incredible and Jellies Invasion: Oceans Out of Balance unique in the animal kingdom. animals actually takes place at the on Pier 4 inside the National Aquarium.

Not technically fish, they have Aquarium, as baby jellies grow up and Janssen and her team of aquarists are no heart, brain, blood or bones are cultured by skilled aquarists in what responsible for many species, includand are 95 percent water. Most closely is referred to as the jellies lab. ing moon jellies, lion’s mane jellies and related to corals and anemones, Atlantic sea nettles. their pulsing translucent bodJanssen says that her JELLY CULTURING AND EXHIBITION CAN ies drift an unchoreographed office occasionally gets calls B E C H A L L E N G I N G A S WA T E R F L O W , dance based mostly on water from the newspaper or currents, not choice. concerned visitors reporting T E M P E R AT U R E A N D S A L I N I T Y M U S T B E During a visit to Jellies jellies in the Inner Harbor, EXACTLY RIGHT FOR EACH SPECIES. Invasion: Oceans Out of sure that they are Aquarium Balance, guests can sometimes escapees. In fact, they are see what look like baby jellies wild jellies that usually show B R I N G I N G U P J E L LY pulsing alongside the adults, but in fact up in Harbor waters at the end of the they are more like teenagers. Jelly babies summer and early fall.

Jennie Janssen, Manager of Changing are extremely small, developing from tiny In the lab, though, the Jellies team is Exhibits, is in charge of the jellies lab,

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ABOVE: Aquarist Daria Battaglia prepares

brine shrimp that are cultured behind the scenes to feed the jellies.

LEFT: Senior aquarist Mark Caltagirone

examines Atlantic sea nettles during morning rounds.

caring for a community of jellies, raising them until they are large enough to go on exhibit. Breeding happens in bouts, depending on the species. Sometimes there are hundreds of babies being cultured, at other times as few as five or six.

Polyps are collected from exhibit walls and viewing windows and allowed to attach to petri dishes in the lab. There, they are fed, kept clean and encouraged to strobilate, releasing free-swimming ephyrae. At just 2 millimeters, these ephyrae are easy to miss, except by those with a trained eye.

Once the ephyrae are released, they ride the water flow into a larger container where they grow until they are big enough to be put on exhibit. How big is big enough? That depends on the size of the

exhibit space and the particular filtration of that system. Further, staff consider the number of jellies already in the exhibit and what would be most visually interesting for guests.

A JELLY IS BORN

A D AY I N T H E L I F E

When eggs and sperm from adult jellies sexually reproduce, the result is tiny larvae.

In some species, larvae hitch a ride with their parents before they become freeswimming to look for a place to attach. Once the larvae find a spot to settle, they turn into sessile polyps that look similar to sea anemones, a jelly relative.

Before long, they grow and begin producing and releasing free-swimming ephyrae.

Through asexual reproduction, a single polyp can produce numerous ephyrae as well as additional polyps by spreading and budding. Young ephyrae pulse and swim like their adult counterparts, but look nothing like them, making ephyrae hard to identify as a particular species.

While specific jelly species have different exhibit needs, they are generally cared for in the same ways. Jellies eat zooplankton, small fish and other jellies in the wild.

Jellies at the Aquarium eat brine shrimp, grown by the Jellies team, two or three times per day. As the jellies grow, their food gets larger as well.

Some species of jellies are easier to culture than others. The upside-down jellies are bred regularly in the exhibit.

Moon jellies are another species that are relatively easy to reproduce. Other species can be much more challenging, and some have yet to be bred in captivity. A precise balance of water flow, salinity and temperature is critical to a viable jelly-breeding program, and sophisticated water measurement technology allows aquarists to keep careful watch over the conditions.

While the aquarists wear gloves and take necessary precautions, they are sometimes stung. Antihistamines and anti-itch creams help lessen the effects.

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME Janssen says jelly exhibits are specially designed for the species that live there.

The size and shape of the tank, in addition to the direction and speed of water flow, are important in ensuring the jellies don’t rub against the walls or become tangled. The aquarists on staff are constantly tweaking the instruments and engineering the tanks to make sure that flow is perfect for these drifters.

In fact, Janssen says that getting that water flow rate just right is one of the hallmarks of a great jelly aquarist. And the National Aquarium Jellies team is among the best. Not only do aquarium-raised jellies appear on exhibit at the National Aquarium, but many are sent to other aquariums for their exhibits…kind of like a jellies invasion.

Closeup of moon jelly polyps attached to the rim of a glass petri dish.

AQUA.ORG 19

M A R J O R I E LY N N B A N K

LECTURE SERIES

HEAR IT FIRST!

JOIN US FOR UPCOMING LECTURES

BOB TALBOT APRIL 22

The Power of Film: Inspiring Action for Monterey Bay

ED LYMAN M AY 7

Humpback Whale Rescue in the Hawaiian Islands Please visit aqua.org/lectures for ticket information and details on these lectures, as well as the continuation of our lecture series this fall.

Be a social

butterflyfish.

20 WATERMARKS | SPRING 2014

Get the latest on what’s happening at the Aquarium!

Email members@aqua.org to get on our mailing list.

PHOTO FINISH

Summer Flounder Paralichthys dentatus A summer flounder isn’t easy to spot. Its camouflaging capabilities make it a savvy predator as it lays on the sea floor partially covered by sand and adjusts its coloration to match the environment. When unsuspecting prey swim by, a flounder ambushes its meal. This flatfish has both eyes on one side of its body, helping it to see from the sea floor. The eyes don’t start like this, though. In fact, the right eye moves to the left as larvae develop into juveniles. These fish live along the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean and in coastal waters and estuaries. They can also be found at the Aquarium in the Atlantic Shelf exhibit in Maryland: Mountains to the Sea gallery…if you can find them.

AQUA.ORG 21

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JOIN US IN CELEBRATING

OCEAN LOVE

ON WORLD OCEANS DAY In celebration of our amazing blue planet, the National Aquarium will be celebrating World Oceans Day all weekend. The public can experience aquatic stilt performances, workshops and more on Waterfront Plaza. Guests can enjoy ocean-themed games, crafts and performances throughout the Aquarium. On Sunday, a mermaid guest will be visiting us for a very special story time.

TAKE THE

PLEDGE

During the 48 days between Earth Day on April 22 and World Oceans Day on June 8, take a pledge to help the world’s waters at 48daysofblue.com.