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Shark Gets New Digs 3 Underwater Gardener 8 Edge of the Sea 9 New Tankmate 15 inside A Q U A R I U M WINTER 2008/09 N E W S M A G A Z I N E O F T H E N O R T H C A R O L I N A A Q U A R I U M S NEWS In the last issue of Aquarium News, we announced several new initiatives to learn more about a group that’s very special to us: our members! Through focus groups, and from responses to our online survey, we attempted to get a feel for who our members are and what they like – or don’t like – about the Aquariums. The findings have been interesting and will allow us to fine-tune our organization, as we attempt to offer the best possible services to our supporters. When asked what you liked best about the Aquariums, the overwhelming answer was touch tanks and hands-on activities, especially those directed toward children. The next most frequent response was the overall condition and cleanliness of the Aquariums, followed by the friendly and knowledgeable staff. Asked to rank the various member benefits, the hands-down favorite was free year-round admission to all three Aquariums, fol-lowed closely by free admission to 150 other zoos and aquariums around the country. Nearly half our members had taken advan-tage of this reciprocal benefit to visit other institutions such as the NC Zoo in Asheboro. Eighty percent indicated an interest in more “Members-Only” programs, and the same number asked for communications by email of coming events. We’re working now to put together a monthly e-newsletter, with timely informa-tion on everything from coming Aquarium programs and field trips to signing up for kids camps. If you’d like to receive these notifications, just email us at societymail @ncaquariums.com. From all of us at the Aquariums, thanks for your continued inter-est and support! Soundings Let Us Hear from You! Do you have comments about … • Exhibits? • The Web site? • Aquarium programs? • Aquarium News articles? We welcome your suggestions and ideas! ncaquariums.com or 919-877-5500 Aquarium News is published twice yearly by the NC Aquarium Society 3125 Poplarwood Ct., Suite 160 Raleigh, NC 27604 919-877-5500 1-800-832-FISH Managing Editor: Sherry White Contributors: Mark Joyner, Julie Powers, Meredith Owens, Amy Kilgore, Buster Nunemaker, Dia Hitt, Scott Taylor, Kitty Dough, Lori Watkins, Claire Aubel, Joe Malat, Jacob Rudolph, William Davis, Heather Broadhurst, Chris Carlin, Pat McNeese, Laurie Streble, Stefanie Misner, Barbara Buchanan, Kimberly Sams, Wayne Justice, John Mauser, Brian Dorn, Emmett Westbrook, John Thompson, Andrea Bell, Kelley Rodill, Shannon Kemp/ Carteret News-Times, Rick Eller, UNCW Marine Mammal Program, Mike Spencer/Star News, MSA, Nate Bacheler, Ansley Nurkin, Chelsea Finical, Jan Fahlbusch, Randy Newman, NC Divison of Parks and Recreation, Kevin Geraghty, Emily Fisher, John Morillo, MSA, John Thompson, Paul Gray, Vlad Pambucol, Ricki Lipscomb Design by Sally Johns Design, Raleigh, NC Printing by Hickory Printing Group Renew Your Membership! Is your membership about to expire? Three EASY ways to renew! 1. Call 1-800-832-FISH 2. Check ncaquariums.com and click on "Join the Aquarium" 3. Complete the membership form on pg. 17. Write RENEWAL at the top, then clip and mail! N.C. AQUARIUM ON ROANOKE ISLAND N.C. AQUARIUM AT PINE KNOLL SHORES N.C. AQUARIUM AT FORT FISHER Behind-the-Scenes tours are one of the Aquariums’ most popular indoor programs. Mark Joyner, Executive Vice President NC Aquarium Society Photo by Claire Aubel Into blogging? Log onto the Aquarium at Fort Fisher’s new blog, “WaterLogged,” at . Get more Aquarium news, information on conservation and environmental issues, and even recent activities and events. And, visitors are invited to comment. The new blog is one of many ways the Aquariums are reaching out to the online community. Logo design by Amy Kilgore 2 Three’s Company 4 Gators in Training 6 Sea Shell Secrets 7 Winter at the Aquariums 10 Diamonds in the Rough 12 Show Us Your Fish Face 16 Name That Fish Contents for Winter 2008/09 A Q U A R I U M N E W S M A G A Z I N E O F T H E N O R T H C A R O L I N A A Q U A R I U M S NEWS On the Cover: While diving the U-352 southeast of Beaufort Inlet, Emily Fisher of Marquette, MI, came across this brittle star ambling across a cluster of coral. Cover Inset: John Morillo found this alligator lounging comfortably in its exhibit in the Cape Fear Conservatory at the Aquarium at Fort Fisher. 1 Photo by John Mauser Photo by Emmett Westbrook Territory is worth defending, as these two white grunts demonstrate in the Living Shipwreck at the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. Photo by Scott Taylor Photo by Barbara Buchanan Photo by Brian Dorn Photo by Claire Aubel Photo by John Thompson The Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores was delighted to introduce another furry face to its River Otter exhibit this summer. Eno, a young North American river otter, was found near White Lake, NC, in late April, orphaned by a car accident that killed his mother. Like the Aquarium’s two adult otters, Neuse and Pungo, Eno was named for a North Carolina River. Eno arrived at the Aquarium at the tender age of one month. Because otters don’t usually leave their den until at least two months of age, Eno still needed a lot of care. Weighing only about two pounds, the baby otter was bottle-fed every four hours around the clock until he was old enough to begin eat-ing fish. Eno’s care was not limited to feeding. Much of an otter’s behavior is taught by its mother, so the hus-bandry staff began the lengthy process of teach-ing Eno important otter skills, such as swimming, clim bing and hunting fish. As Eno grew, so did the depth of his practice pool and his seemingly endless appetite. Following the veterinary seal of appro - val, Eno was introduced to the 16,000-gallon otter exhibit. Initially, because of his small size, he was put on display by himself and quickly be gan chasing goldfish in the exhibit’s chilly pools. River otters demonstrate do minance within their social groups, so introduc-ing Eno to Neuse and Pungo was a delicate process. Introductions took place over many weeks, starting with allowing the otters to hear and smell each other, then gradually allowing them to meet visually through a pro-tective window. When Eno was finally big enough to keep up with the active playtime sessions of the full-grown otters, they were slowly introduced one by one. After several days of closely moni-tored interaction, Eno was able to join his counterparts in the exhibit. Today, all three can be seen frolicking, wrestling and napping daily! 2 Photo by Pat McNeese Photo by Julie Powers Photo by Julie Powers Aquarist Meredith Owens was Eno’s main caretaker. Initially, the young orphan had to be fed around the clock. Eno learns to swim. Upon his arrival, Eno was esti-mated to be about a month old. Three s By Meredith Owens, Aquarist 3 Thanks to a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Southeastern North Carolina and the NC Aquarium Society, the Aquarium at Fort Fisher has a new set of wheels. The founda-tion’s $15,000 donation, along with $55,000 raised by the Society, helped purchase a new Outreach Program vehicle. Outreach Programs present hands-on activities to schools, libraries, camps and community groups around the state. The programs highlight aquatic animals found in North Carolina waters. However, unlike loading up your pet for a trip to the in-laws, the Aquarium transports animals such as sea stars, hermit crabs, sea turtles and alligators. This tends to complicate road trips a bit. The new vehicle will make traveling much easier and safer for the animals and their caretakers. The new vehicle contains a life support system and a ramp for loading and unloading. It can also operate on diesel or biodiesel fuel. These modifications will allow Aquarium educators to travel longer distances and introduce more students and com-munities to our state’s many fascinating aquatic animals. There’s a new kid on the block at the Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Ginglymostoma cirratum, a nurse shark, outgrew its comfort zone at the Virginia Living Museum. Thanks to a national exchange network among zoos and aquariums, the shark was transferred to the Aquarium, where it would reside with relatives more its own size, such as sand tiger and sandbar sharks. After the standard quarantine and veterinary check-up, the 6-foot shark was introduced into the 285,000-gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic exhibit. Monitoring of the new addition was under the watchful eye of Aquarist Heather White. “He’s extremely smart,” said White, “and he had to learn how to be target fed, a process using a long pole to place food in front of the shark to make sure everyone gets a fair share.” The 2008 NC Aquariums’ Amateur Underwater Photo Contest is under way. Amateur and non-professional photographers are encouraged to enter their best shots in the annual contest. No entry fee is required. Deadline for this year’s entries is Dec. 31, 2008. Winners will be announced on or before March 31, 2009. The contest is sponsored by East Carolina Bank. The Aquariums stage the contest to highlight the state’s rich aquatic resources, and to recog-nize excellence in amateur pho-tography. Cash prizes are awarded in three categories, including Aquatic Life in the NC Aquariums. Entries by divers must be taken in waters off North Carolina, or within the state’s freshwater systems. Winning photos are published here in Aquarium News and posted on the Aquariums’ website. For complete contest rules and entry application, or to view last year’s winning entries, visit ncaquariums.com. Photo by Paul Gray Steve Dillon of the Community Foundation of Southeastern North Carolina presents a check to Aquarium Director Donna Moffitt (center) and Outreach Coordinator Dee Rudolph. Photo by Buster Nunemaker Aquarium Gets New Ride Through the Lens Shark Gets New Digs By Buster Nunemaker, Public Relations Coordinator By Amy Kilgore, Public Relations Coordinator Photo by Amy Kilgore 4 Who would think that the American alligator (Alligator mississippen-sis), with a brain the size of a lima bean, would have the ability to learn, or better yet be trainable? At the Aquarium on Roanoke Island, alligators have been trained to ensure both animal and keeper safety. “Target” training, in which the alligator follows a target pole to a desired location, has proved to be very effective. It’s used to direct the animals to individual feeding stations, or to specific areas when the staff needs to enter the exhibit for maintenance. It’s also the technique used to direct the alligators onto scales to be weighed. Hand signals and verbal cues are another training technique. This process begins with a command such as “hold” or “open,” to instruct the alligators to maintain a position, or to open their mouths for feeding. This is followed by the verbal cue "bridge." This lets the ani-mal know it followed the command correctly. Its reward is a tasty treat. Such training techniques are especially important when the alligators require examination by keepers or veterinarians. Since the Aquarium staff began training these large reptiles, aggres-sion between exhibit animals has been eliminated, and aggression toward keepers has become almost non-existent. Weekly public feeding programs demonstrate to visitors that reptiles do have the In the wild, alligators may eat only once or twice a week during ability to learn! hot weather. Photo by Andrea Bell Photo by Kelley Rodill By Lori Watkins, Aquarist/Herpetologist Alligator training helps ensure the safety of both animals and caretakers. Reptiles and amphibians were the stars of the show during “Scales and Tales” at the Aquarium at Fort Fisher. The popularity of the day-long event calls for an encore performance in March 2009. During this year’s slithery spectacular, specially designed programs allowed visitors to get a feel for dozens of species of reptiles and amphibians, as well as talk to experts about these fascinating but sometimes frightening cold-blooded creatures. “By interacting with live specimens and experts in the field, we hope visitors will gain a bet-ter appreciation and understanding of these animals, and be inspired to take steps to protect them,” said Peggy Sloan, education curator. Reptiles and amphibians are important links in maintaining a healthy environment, because their diets include insects and small mammals such as rodents. Youngsters get a feel for a docile cornsnake. By Amy Kilgore, Public Relations Coordinator Gators in Training Photo by Claire Aubel 5 For years, the modest fossil exhibit at the Aquarium on Roanoke Island consist-ed of a small depression tucked away on the soundside. Today, after an extreme makeover, the exhibit commands a much more prominent position. The new Fossil Hunt measures 16 feet in diameter and is surrounded by an attrac-tive circular wall. Its centerpiece is a tow-ering, 5½-foot tall, fiberglass Megalodon shark tooth. Handy trowels are available for digging through the 20-million year old fill materi-al. The fill is supplied by PCS Phosphate in Aurora, NC. Eye-catching graphic panels feature fun facts, photographs and illustra-tions. Be sure to allow time to do some fossil sleuthing on your next Aquarium visit! Twelve-year-old David Wilcox knows a thing or two about fossilized shark teeth. He has hundreds of them in his collection. David is part of the Aquarium family on Roanoke Island. His parents, Beth and Tony Wilcox, work at the Aquarium. When David heard the Aquarium was going to redesign its outdoor fossil exhibit, he offered to loan his marine fossil collection to help develop the exhibit’s new graphic panels. He carefully sorted and organized his specimens, and assisted the exhibit staff in photographing several items. The photographs will help other fossil enthusiasts identify the treasures they unearth in the new hands-on Fossil Hunt. Fossil hunters get to keep their finds. FossilExhibitRevamped By Kitty Dough, Media Technician, and Buster Nunemaker, Public Relations Coordinator Logan Headington, one of the Aquarium Society’s younger members, recently caused quite a frenzy over sharks. The 6-year-old says his love of sharks started as a toddler with visits to the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, and he plans to someday become a shark scientist. While watching Discovery Channel’s 2008 “Shark Week,” Logan learned of a program called Adoptashark. The Adoptashark initiative is part of Iemanya Oceanica, a nonprofit shark conservation organization. Wanting to raise awareness of the number of shark species in peril, Logan put together an educational poster and hit the road on a campaign to adopt one shark: price tag $50. He visited surf shops and fishing charter businesses in Atlantic Beach. By the end of his first day, he had collect-ed enough money to adopt three sharks. The next morn-ing, Logan awoke to find donations left on his doorstep anonymously. He eventually raised more than $250 – enough funds for five adoptions. Unfortunately, Logan’s fundraising had to come to a halt. He had to put his campaign on hold to enroll in first grade. Logan Headington raised more than $250 for shark conservation. Funds for Fins By Claire Aubel, Public Relations Assistant Helping Hand Photo by Shannon Kemp, courtesy Carteret County News-Times Photo by Buster Nunemaker Photo by Buster Nunemaker By Kitty Dough, Media Technician 6 What could be more beckoning than a stretch of beach littered with sea shells cast up by a storm? The beachcomber in each of us delights at the thought, knowing that among the seaweed and driftwood may well be a few of the ocean’s real treasures – perfect shells from the ocean’s depths. They’ve been admired and eagerly collected throughout history, yet even today most of us know little about the animals that create these wonders of nature. These are the mollusks, the word itself meaning “soft bod-ied,” and suggesting why a hard covering is needed for protec-tion. Most, but not all, live in the sea, and their blood is rich in dis-solved calcium. Excess calcium is crystallized into the hard shell that grows layer by layer throughout the animal’s life. The two largest classes of mollusks are the bivalves, like clams with two hinged shells, and the univalves with one shell, such as whelks and moon snails. Between the two exists a never-ending battle of predator and prey. The clam for instance leads a settled life filtering plankton from seawater, while the whelk is busily hunting him. Once contact is made, the clam is doomed, as the whelk uses its own shell like a knife blade to open and feed upon its victim. Not all bivalves are as helpless. Scallops swim well enough to be considered the only migra-tory bivalve. All that exercise produces the very delicious, prized muscle on your dinner plate. Unfortunately, scallop populations have been seri-ously diminished by the overfishing of sharks. Sharks feed heavily on rays, which are a major predator of scallops. With shark populations in decline, rays have been free to nearly decimate scallop beds. The moon snail has perfected a feeding technique of its own – drilling a hole through the shell of its catch with the help of a drop or two of acid. This could take hours, but what’s time to a snail? Their success rate is indicated by all the washed up shells bearing a single round hole. And don’t overlook the carnivorous habits of the beautiful lettered olives that feast on the colorful coquina clams at the surf’s edge. Their secret weapon is a paralyzing mucus. Mollusks demonstrate a vari-ety of life forms, perfectly adapted to their watery domain. They’ve evolved tac-tics for survival in the seas over hundreds of millions of years, making them one of the largest groups of animals on Earth, second only to insects. We’re far from knowing all there is to know about sea shell secrets and what lives in the uncharted depths of the world’s oceans, but a great place to start might be a storm-tossed winter beach. Photo by John Mauser Whelks, often misidentified as conchs, are relentless hunters. Clams are a favorite prey. Sea Shell Secrets By Mark Joyner, NC Aquarium Society Clams - quahog (left), sunray Venus (center), lucine Lettered olives Coquinas feeding Moon snail, also called shark eye Carnivorous snail victims Photo by Sherry White Photo by Wayne Justice Photo by Wayne Justice Photo by Sherry White (The original and lengthier version of this article appeared in the August 2008 issue of Wildlife in North Carolina.) 7 With the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday weeks, visitor attendance slows at the Aquariums in winter. Off-season opportunities give visitors a chance to take part in hands-on programs that often fill quickly during summer months. In-house programs, such as live animal presen-tations, discovery classroom activities, live dives, and animal feedings, are offered year round, and are free with paid admission. Special Activity programs, such as birding trips, craft programs, seafood cooking classes, surf fishing workshops and winter camps for kids are also available, and require advance registra-tion and a fee. To take part in a Special Activity at your favorite Aquarium, visit ncaquariums.com and check the interactive calendar. It lists details about each activity, and more information is available on the Programs and Events page. Register as far in advance as possible. For questions and to register, call your selected Aquarium: Roanoke Island 252-473-3493 or 1-866-332- 3475; Pine Knoll Shores 252-247-4003 or 1-866-294- 3477; Fort Fisher 910-458-8259 or 1-866-301-3476. Photo by Sherry White Photo by Buster Nunemaker Photo by Beth Wilcox Photo by Wayne Justice Winter at the Aquariums 8 For Aquarist Mike Suchy, gardening is a passion. It’s not surpris-ing, then, that his love for growing things, combined with his strong interest in coral reefs, spawned an intriguing project at the Aquarium at Fort Fisher. By snipping fragments of existing corals, mounting them on small disks and submerging them under water with a light source, Suchy began “growing” coral. “It’s much like taking a cutting from a plant and potting it up,” said Suchy. “Light is of paramount importance to corals, and a moving light source is more natural.” Coral growth rates vary, depending on variety, but tend to be slow, sometimes only a few inches a year. Reef-building corals contain symbiotic algae within their tissues that convert light energy into a food source. This helps provide sustenance for the coral colony. Temperature, pH, and salinity need to be constant. “Sometimes it’s difficult to explain why one colony thrives and another withers in what appears to be identical conditions,” said Suchy. Live coral reefs are among the most popular attractions in public aquariums and offer an important educational opportunity. In today’s world, climate change is a hot topic and coral reefs are one of the habitats most greatly threatened. “We received many coral colonies from other institutions when we first started out, so it would be nice to return the favor,” said Suchy. “If our efforts work, we can potentially supply coral to other aquari-ums, and by sharing cultured colonies we can reduce the removal of colonies from wild stocks.” Overhead lights reflect off Aquarist Mike Suchy’s coral garden. Temperature, pH, salinity and dedication are key elements to cultivating this temperamental marine life. Underwater Gardener By Amy Kilgore, Public Relations Coordinator The Aquarium on Roanoke Island received a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for the new exhibit, Science on a Sphere: Bringing the Oceans to You. The innovative display features a 5-foot, spherical interactive Earth, with a focus on storms, oceans, and how humans impact the planet. Visitors will see the oceans in an entirely new light, as they dive to the sea floor, track hurricanes and ride ocean currents. Aquarium staff attended the "Science on a Sphere" conference, where they viewed two spheres in action. They returned with many ideas on how to make the new exhibit a special experience for Aquarium visitors. Be sure to check out our Earth on your next visit! Science on a Sphere By Dia Hitt, Educator Photo by Amy Kilgore Photo by Rick Eller 9 The cast net flew from my hand, flared open and settled over the tar-get. Seconds later, as I slid the net up on the beach, the catch was revealed: a handful of small silvery mullet, some eelgrass and a tiny blue crab. When the net was opened, the mullet flipped wildly on the sand, but the crab scurried quickly on a sideways run for freedom. No worries, we had our prizes. My granddaughter Blaize and I responded immediately. I scooped up water in a small bucket and she carefully put each of the fish into their temporary home. We watched the fish and the other residents of our on-the-beach aquarium. A few minutes earlier, at the edge of the surf, we had excavated three mole crabs and a dozen coquina clams from the damp sand. They were now living together in the bottom of a card-board coffee cup. While Blaize gazed intently into the containers and held one of the mole crabs in her tiny hand, I shared a bit of information about each of our specimens. Blaize listened and learned, and while I was talk-ing she put the crab down on the beach. Digging furiously, it disap-peared into the sand. Suddenly her five-year-old attention span waned and she blurted, “Papo, let’s let them go and look for shells.” Okay, it was time to move on. This is what the Aquariums do – every day – for so many people. Whether it’s on the beach, in the salt marsh, in a classroom or in front of a massive exhibit, Aquarium staff members bring animals and people together. They capture the interest and imagination of those who may not have had the opportunity to experience what Blaize and I have come to take for granted. The Aquarium staffs have a special gift and I appreciate their talents, dedication and enthusi-asm for what they do so very well. A mole crab is one of Blaize's finds at the edge of the sea. A right whale passes near shore off Bogue Banks during an “Onboard Collection Cruise.” Edge of the Sea By Joe Malat, Director, Aquarium on Roanoke Island Photo by Joe Malat Photo by Wayne Justice Why are marine mammal strandings common events along our beaches? The Aquarium at Fort Fisher teamed up with the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science in Wilmington to address this question in the informative series, “Ocean Perspectives.” The series was designed to explore aspects of our local ocean from unique viewpoints. The final program, “North Carolina’s Endangered Whales,” is set for Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the museum’s Williston Auditorium. UNC-Wilmington researchers and marine mammal experts, Ann Pabst and Bill McLellan, will discuss whale migration and why our coastal waters are a critical habitat for these threatened and endangered species. The Dec. 9 program is free and open to the public. For reservations or more information, call 910.798.4362. Ocean Perspectives 10 Things were hopping at the Aquariums this summer – literally. The Aquariums joined the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in 2008 in celebrating “Year of the Frog.” The stars of the festivities were frogs, toads and salamanders. To spice things up, the Aquariums included habitat neighbors, such as alligators, snakes and lizards. More than 200 programs, including films, games, contests, live animal programs and outdoor activities brought to light the antics and interesting facts about these elusive animals. In the science community, amphibians are known as an “indicator species” and have been compared to canaries in the coal mine. Just as miners used sensitive canaries to warn them of toxic gases in the mines, the absence or presence of amphibians tells us much about the health of our environment. Possible extinc-tion threatens many of the world’s 6,000 known amphibian species. Turtles are some of the most popular animals at the Aquariums, and the lesser known diamondback terrapin is no exception. Smaller than sea turtles, terrapins are the only aquatic turtles in North America to live in brackish marsh waters found in coastal habitats along the East Coast. Two of the seven subspecies of terra-pins are found in North Carolina – the Northern and the Carolina diamondback. Diamondbacks are well known for the beautiful markings on their shells and skin. Their unique appearance makes them appealing as possible pets, however, diamondbacks don't make good pets for many reasons. They have specific needs, and more importantly, state laws protect them as a “species of special concern.” The exact number of terrapins in North Carolina is unknown. They were once highly prized for their meat, and overharvesting caused a severe decline in their numbers. Today, these charismatic animals face new challenges. Many females are injured each year while attempting to cross roads to lay eggs, and habitat destruction and pollution are even greater threats. Commercial and recreational crab pots are also serious problems. Attracted by the bait, terrapins crawl into the pots. Because they are Photo courtesy Emmett Westbrook, FotoFX Photo by Claire Aubel Year of the Frog Diamondback terrapins were nearly brought to extinction a century ago, when they sold for nearly a dollar an inch. Their sweet meat was made into exotic soup. Diamonds in the Rough By Heather Broadhurst, Aquarist air breathers, they drown when they are unable to get out. Researchers are studying the effectiveness of Terrapin Excluder Devices (TEDS) that can be added to crab pots to decrease terrapin mortalities. If you find a terrapin crossing a highway, relocate it to a marsh area, which is probably nearby. And remember, helping keep waterways and shorelines free of litter and pollution helps all coastal marine life. 11 The Aquariums’ efforts toward oyster habitat conservation is going strong. At the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, the under-dock oyster gardening proj-ect continues. It now serves as a live education exhibit for Special Activities, and as a support resource for university researchers and citizen gardeners. The project saw significant expansion in June. Several staff members came out for a morning of fun in the sun to create a backyard oyster reef near the Aquarium dock. Clean oyster shell was deposited on shade cloth to make an unsinkable sub-strate. Live cultch – shell ma - terial with live oysters attached – was placed atop the clean shells. Staff checked the reef in July and found baby oysters, called spat, had landed. “The reef, along with our ‘portable oys-ter reef in a basket’ hanging off the dock, provides instant opportunities for field education,” said Pat McNeese, Aquarium conservation and research coordinator. “We’re continuing to build up the reef by depositing live oyster clusters culled from our shellfish cages.” Staff members also came together to create the first-ever artificial eco-disk oyster reefs. Four eco-disks, which are large, cement disks embedded with cleaned oyster shells, were placed along the rock sill near the dock just in time for spatfall. With assistance from Discovery Diving and Bogue Banks Marine Con struction, the reefs were created using cement and clean oyster shell. Last spring, the Aquarium at Fort Fisher helped kick off an unusual pilot program – “Amphibians in the Classroom.” The program involved seven area schools and was designed to foster a sense of environmental stewardship while creating a better understanding of amphibians and the environment. Southern toad eggs were collected in Watha, NC, and delivered to classrooms. Aquarium education and aquariology staffs set up small aquariums and talked with youngsters about the life cycles of toads and how to care for the devel-oping young. With assistance from their teachers, plus an extensive fact sheet from the Aquarium, students monitored the development of their toady charges. It wasn’t long before they were watching tanks filled with wiggling tadpoles! Eight weeks later, students released their Southern toads in the area where the eggs were collected. ”Collaboration and support among Aquarium staff, classroom teachers, and state fish hatchery personnel in Watha made the pilot program a success,” said Peggy Sloan, education curator at the Aquarium. Plans are under way to offer the program again next year, with partial support from the Cherbec Advancement Foundation. Reef Relief ! A ‘Toad-al’ Success By Amy Kilgore, Public Relations Coordinator Staff members Erica Alvarado (left) and Tia Reigner shucked their uniforms to help cre-ate an oyster reef in Bogue Sound. Photo by Pat McNeese Photos by Mike Spencer, courtesy of Star-News Teacher Meghann Crow and students of Rachel Freeman School of Engineering prepare to release their baby toads. Tiny toads were returned to their native habitat. This summer, more than 70 middle school girls explored various careers in marine arts and sciences in a day designed especially for them. The Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores partnered with the NC Maritime Museum in Beaufort to sponsor “Ocean Girls’ Day,” filling the agenda with programs to introduce girls ages 10 to 12 to marine careers. Aquarium instructors, volun-teers and women mentors from the local community led a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities for the participants and their chaperones. The morning commenced with a career panel of women scientists, educators and business owners, who gave first-hand accounts of their jobs in the field. The girls also interacted with mentors from the local marine community at career exhibit booths set up throughout the Aquarium. In the afternoon, out-door activities included barrier island explorations and kayaking led by Pirate Queen Paddling. The event was sponsored in part by a grant from the Carteret Community Foundation, and modeled after the “Girls in Science Day” held at the South Carolina State Museum. The day was designed to introduce young women to marine-related careers and promote the Aquarium’s mission of inspiring appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments. 12 An Ocean of Experience By Laurie Streble, Outreach Coordinator ‘Show Us Your Fish Face’ Girls ages 10 to 12 got their feet wet in a series of activities during “Ocean Girls’ Day.” The Aquariums recently launched a new cam-paign – ShowUsYourFishFace.com, a fun, dynamic Web site created in partnership with MSA, an ad agency based in Research Triangle Park. Show Us Your Fish Face serves as a memorable, self-perpetuating means of directing fans to the hub of Aquarium news and information. The site invites viewers to submit photos of their best fish faces, which are then rated by other Web site visitors, for a chance to win prizes sponsored by the Aquariums. Participants will receive a Fish Face ID card that can be redeemed for a prize at any Aquarium. The site’s highest, most frequent-ly- rated fish faces will be entered into judg-ing for a monthly prize: an Aquarium gift basket worth $25. Once a year, a Web site visitor will win a beach vacation and free family membership to the Aquarium of his or her choice. The goal of Show Us Your Fish Face is to pro-mote the Aquariums in a unique and inter-active way. Members may choose to receive updates and e-newsletters, and will be encouraged to invite others to the site by emailing their own fish face creations. We encourage you to check out the new site and join the fun! To submit your own fish face and spread the word about this exciting new promotion, visit ShowUsYourFishFace.com. Photo by Nate Bacheler 13 A $5,000 grant will fund new interpretative signs on the Hoffman and Roosevelt Trails at the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. The NC Trails Committee awarded the Aquarium Society the grant from the NC Division of Parks and Recreation Adopt-A-Trail Program. The Aquarium requested the funding to provide visitors with trail signs that promote understanding of the local environ-ment, relationships to Aquarium exhibits, and the relationship to other state and local trail units. Both the Hoffman and Roosevelt trails are stops on the NC Birding Trail. Durable new signage will highlight habitat features of the maritime forest and marshes, as well as sights, sounds and individual species visitors may encounter. The signs will also replace hand-carried guides to the Hoffman Trail, reducing waste and litter. “The Aquarium Society’s willingness to act as grant applicant for conservation projects has really helped our ability to stretch precious conservation dollars and create effective projects,” said Georgia Minnich, exhibits curator. Happy Trails Thanks to a grant, visitors will learn more about maritime forests on walks along nature trails at the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. Chelsea Finical, age 17 Jan Fahlbusch, age 14 Photo by Wayne Justice As a member of Coastal America, the Aquarium at Fort Fisher was delighted to accept submis-sions for Coastal America’s recent Ocean Art Contest. Some twelve other facilities collected entries, totaling approximately 1,500 pieces overall. The Aquarium at Fort Fisher alone accepted 121 pieces of students’ work. Of the 1,500 entries, three North Carolina students were se - lected as national finalists. Winners were 14-year-old Jan Fahlbusch of New Bern; 17-year-old Chelsea Finical of Grimesland; and 8-year-old Ansley Nurkin of Charlotte. Their work will be displayed at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Open to students from kindergarten through university levels, the contest encouraged participants to use their creativity and artistic talent to express the importance of our oceans, both personally and globally. Guidelines required that artwork reflect one of seven established “essential principles of ocean literacy,” and include a narrative explaining the piece. Categories were defined by grade levels, and regional winners were sent to Washington, D.C., to compete nationally. Young at Art Ansley Nurkin, age 8 By Pat McNeese, Conservation and Research Coordinator When it comes to research, you can’t just wing it. When an unusual butterfly species inspired a scientific study, staff members at the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores took to nearby dunes with nets and notebooks. They joined NC State University (NCSU) researcher Allison Leidner in con-ducting a “mark and recapture” study that could provide clues about how beach development affects the movements of a seldom-seen skip-per (Atryptonopsis) butterfly. Leidner has been studying a species she calls the “crystal skipper” (Atryptonopsis loammi), because it appears to be unique to the Crystal Coast. She’s been charting the distribution and habits of this skipper in its preferred habitat on Bogue Banks, including on Aquarium property. Aquarium employees volunteered their time and joined NCSU stu-dents to catch butterflies, label them with location numbers, and record recapture locations during two spring weekends. The butter-flies appear for about 30 days from mid-April to mid-May, and again for about 30 days from mid-July to mid-August. During initial observations, the crystal skippers seemed to move across intact habitat and low-intensity development areas more often than through areas of high-intensity development. Properties with intact dune vegetation appeared to provide excel-lent habitat for the skipper and its primary host plant, seaside little bluestem (Schizachyrium littorale). This plant is currently being cul-tivated from seed at the Aquarium for dune restoration projects planned for the near future. 14 A special surprise awaited visitors dur-ing Family Night at the Aquarium on Roanoke Island this summer – particu-larly if you were a baseball aficionado. Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry made a guest appearance and, to the delight of fans, happily autographed baseballs, bats and baseball cards. In support of his friend of more than 50 years, Al Foreman, former major league umpire, was also present. Perry and Foreman exchanged verbal jabs, as Perry complained that his strike zone should have been bigger during their playing days in the major leagues. Perry won 314 games, pitched 3,534 strikeouts – and a no-hitter in 1968 against Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals. He also won two Cy Young awards, one in the National League, the other in the American League. Foreman said of Perry, “He’s been a great friend, and he’s one of the best players I ever had the pleasure to work with.” Perry was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. Celebrity Pays a Visit By Buster Nunemaker, Public Relations Coordinator Gaylord Perry (left) and Al Foreman enjoyed verbal jousting during Family Night at the Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Photo Buster Nunemaker Aquarium staff members helped track the movements of a butterfly that might be unique to the island of Bogue Banks, home of the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. If It’s Not Habitat, Just Skip It! By Pat McNeese, Conservation and Research Coordinator Photo by Randy Newman, courtesy of NC Division of Parks and Recreation A new addition to the Seahorse exhibit at the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores has piqued the curiosity of visitors. The new tankmate is a sargassum fish (Histrio histrio), named for the seaweed in which it hides. Sargassum beds trail in large masses in the Gulf Stream. This floating habitat is an important refuge for many kinds of juve-nile animals, including hatchling sea tur-tles, and provides shelter and feeding opportunities for many other creatures. Sections of yellowish-rubbery sargassum, complete with marine communities, are occasionally blown into inshore waters. These dislodged weed clusters sometimes wash onto beaches, carrying their resi-dents – marine snails, starfish, seahorses, pipefish and even sargassum fish. Sargassum fish are masters of camou-flage. Their coloring and fleshy tabs blend with the seaweed, allowing them to ambush their food. These frilly fish meas-ure on average a mere four-and-a-half inches in length, but can reach as much as eight inches in length. They are ambitious hunters and sometimes try to consume animals equal to their own size! As part of the anglerfish family, sargassum fish have an extra frilly appendage on their head, called an illium, that can be used to attract or lure prey. They also have prehensile fins that help them anchor themselves to the strands of sargassum. Volunteers at the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores leaped into action for a Year of the Frog Amphibian Photo Contest. Recognizing the wealth of talented pho-tographers among its ranks, the volunteer office sponsored the competition. Volunteers waded through ponds, hiked woods and followed the chorus of croak-ing creatures in pursuit of a winning shot. While the salamanders and newts eluded them, several species of frogs and toads were captured in beautiful photographs. Kevin Geraghty of Emerald Isle took first place with his Southern toad. Dick Barmore of Arapahoe took second with his green tree frog. Barmore also scored an honorable mention for a pinewoods tree frog, and Alex Houston of Beaufort won an honorable mention for a cricket frog at sunset. Sometimes it’s hard to make heads or tails of marine creatures. This new sargassum fish (right) faces its resident tankmate – a seahorse. Can you find the fish's eye? Volunteer Coordinator Chris Carlin (left) congratulates volunteer Kevin Geraghty. New Tankmate By Heather Broadhurst, Aquarist 15 Photos by Bob Griffin Focus on Amphibians Tinker’s Butterfly fish Bartlett’s Anthias Kevin Geraghty captured a great shot of a Southern toad. Photo by Emmett Westbrook, Foto FX By Chris Carlin, Volunteer Coordinator Photo by Claire Aubel Papahānaumokuākea National Monument, designated in 2006, is one of the world’s largest protected marine areas. The Aquarium at Fort Fisher recently created a new exhibit showcasing reef fishes from these remote waters. Stretching 1,200 miles north of Hawaii, Papa hānaumok - uākea contains 140,000 square miles of pristine islands and reefs. More than half the fish species found among the atolls exist nowhere else. Hawaii’s Fishes 16 The ocean is filled with fascinating creatures, and new species continue to be discovered around the world. See how much marine animal trivia you know by taking the quick quiz below. Answers are at the bottom of the quiz. 1. This fish: • is popular in aquariums because of its beautiful colors • uses a long, sharp spine on its head to wedge itself into crevices • is strong and aggressive, with well-developed teeth and powerful jaws • feeds on mollusks, crustaceans and other ocean-floor animals 2. This fish: • is named for its bovine facial features • has a mouth on the underside of its body • migrates long distances in huge schools • has a venomous barb on its tail 3. This fish: • is also called “convict” fish • is known for stealing fishermen’s bait • is often found around piers and docks • has strong teeth for grinding and scraping barnacles from rocks and pilings 4. This fish: • was first discovered off our coast 2000, far from its native Indo-Pacific waters • has spines in its fins that carry painful venom • lives at depths of 80-300 feet • uses lightning-fast suction to inhale and swallow its prey whole 5. This fish: • uses its tail to anchor onto sea grasses and permanent objects • uses its small mouth to suck up minute crustaceans, such as tiny shrimp • is much used in traditional Chinese medicine, depleting its wild populations • transfers its eggs from female to male, which gives birth to the young Answers: 1. Triggerfish Photo by Julie Powers 2. Cownose stingray Photo by Jim Lanier 3. Sheepshead Photo by Ricki Lipscomb 4. Lionfish Photo by Vlad Pambucol 5. Seahorse Photo by Emmett Westbrook Name That Fish! 17 I. Choose a Member Category ❏ Individual (Benefits for one person) ___________________$30 ❏ Family (Benefits for two adults and their children or grandchildren under age 18) ___________________________$50 ❏ Donor (Benefits with 4 guest passes and exclusive MEMBER tote bag)__________________________$100 ❏ Patron (Donor benefits with 6 guest passes and 10% discount on Aquarium rentals) _______________________$300 ❏ Director (Donor benefits with 8 guest passes and 10% discount on Aquarium rentals) _______________________$500 ❏Benefactor (Donor benefits with 10 guest passes and 10% discount on Aquarium rentals)_______________________$1,000 II. Member Information ____________________________________________________ Name of 1st Adult ____________________________________________________ Name of 2nd Adult Address: _______________________________________________ City: _____________________ State: _____ Zip: ______________ Phone: ( ) ________________________________________ Email Address: ___________________________________________ ❏ Please check here if you wish to receive Aquarium updates by Email Number of children or grandchildren under age 18: ____________________ I / We primarily visit the Aquarium at: ❏ Roanoke Island ❏ Pine Knoll Shores ❏ Fort Fisher III. Payment Information Total Payment: $__________ Method: ❏ Check ❏ Visa ❏ Mastercard (Please make checks payable to NC Aquarium Society) Card Number: ___________________________________________ Exp. Date: _______________ Signature: _____________________________________________ Thank you for your support of the North Carolina Aquariums! This application can be turned in at the Aquariums when you visit or mailed to the NC Aquarium Society, 3125 Poplarwood Ct., Suite 160, Raleigh, NC 27604. Join the NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM Family! Membership Application Your membership provides crucial operational support to the North Carolina Aquariums. All three Aquariums have now completed exciting expansions with the additions of new exhibits, huge ocean tanks, and indoor habitats for aquatic wildlife ranging from otters to alligators. More than ONE MILLION VISITORS will enjoy the unique educational experiences offered by the Aquariums this year. It doesn’t hurt that Aquarium membership is also the best deal around. Families can enjoy UNLIMITED FREE ADMISSION at the Aquariums, as well as at the NC Zoo for just $50 a year! What’s more, our Aquarium members receive free admission at more than one hundred other zoos and aquariums all around the country. Members also receive a free subscription to the award-winning Aquarium News magazine, as well as 10% discounts on Aquarium gift shop purchases and educational programs. Add in com plimen tary guest passes to share with friends, and an exclusive MEMBER tote bag for Donor level and above, and it’s clear that membership definitely has its advantages. Photo by Sandy Smith ✃ 3125 Poplarwood Ct., Suite 160 Raleigh, NC 27604 Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 212 Hickory, NC 28601 N O R T H C A R O L I N A AQUARIUM SOCIETY This issue of The Aquarium News is made possible through a grant from Landfall Foundation. At the Aquarium at Fort Fisher, a cuttlefish flashes its vibrant colors for Kimberly Sams. The photo was a front-runner in the NC Aquariums’ 2007 Amateur Underwater Photography Contest.
Object Description
Description
Title | Aquarium news : news magazine of the North Carolina Aquariums |
Other Title | Aquarium news (Raleigh, N.C.); News magazine of the North Carolina Aquariums |
Date | 2009 |
Description | winter 2008/2009 |
Digital Characteristics-A | 2997 KB; 20 p. |
Digital Format | application/pdf |
Pres File Name-M | pubs_serial_aquariumnewsdenr20082009winter.pdf |
Pres Local File Path-M | \Preservation_content\StatePubs\pubs_borndigital\images_master\ |
Full Text | Shark Gets New Digs 3 Underwater Gardener 8 Edge of the Sea 9 New Tankmate 15 inside A Q U A R I U M WINTER 2008/09 N E W S M A G A Z I N E O F T H E N O R T H C A R O L I N A A Q U A R I U M S NEWS In the last issue of Aquarium News, we announced several new initiatives to learn more about a group that’s very special to us: our members! Through focus groups, and from responses to our online survey, we attempted to get a feel for who our members are and what they like – or don’t like – about the Aquariums. The findings have been interesting and will allow us to fine-tune our organization, as we attempt to offer the best possible services to our supporters. When asked what you liked best about the Aquariums, the overwhelming answer was touch tanks and hands-on activities, especially those directed toward children. The next most frequent response was the overall condition and cleanliness of the Aquariums, followed by the friendly and knowledgeable staff. Asked to rank the various member benefits, the hands-down favorite was free year-round admission to all three Aquariums, fol-lowed closely by free admission to 150 other zoos and aquariums around the country. Nearly half our members had taken advan-tage of this reciprocal benefit to visit other institutions such as the NC Zoo in Asheboro. Eighty percent indicated an interest in more “Members-Only” programs, and the same number asked for communications by email of coming events. We’re working now to put together a monthly e-newsletter, with timely informa-tion on everything from coming Aquarium programs and field trips to signing up for kids camps. If you’d like to receive these notifications, just email us at societymail @ncaquariums.com. From all of us at the Aquariums, thanks for your continued inter-est and support! Soundings Let Us Hear from You! Do you have comments about … • Exhibits? • The Web site? • Aquarium programs? • Aquarium News articles? We welcome your suggestions and ideas! ncaquariums.com or 919-877-5500 Aquarium News is published twice yearly by the NC Aquarium Society 3125 Poplarwood Ct., Suite 160 Raleigh, NC 27604 919-877-5500 1-800-832-FISH Managing Editor: Sherry White Contributors: Mark Joyner, Julie Powers, Meredith Owens, Amy Kilgore, Buster Nunemaker, Dia Hitt, Scott Taylor, Kitty Dough, Lori Watkins, Claire Aubel, Joe Malat, Jacob Rudolph, William Davis, Heather Broadhurst, Chris Carlin, Pat McNeese, Laurie Streble, Stefanie Misner, Barbara Buchanan, Kimberly Sams, Wayne Justice, John Mauser, Brian Dorn, Emmett Westbrook, John Thompson, Andrea Bell, Kelley Rodill, Shannon Kemp/ Carteret News-Times, Rick Eller, UNCW Marine Mammal Program, Mike Spencer/Star News, MSA, Nate Bacheler, Ansley Nurkin, Chelsea Finical, Jan Fahlbusch, Randy Newman, NC Divison of Parks and Recreation, Kevin Geraghty, Emily Fisher, John Morillo, MSA, John Thompson, Paul Gray, Vlad Pambucol, Ricki Lipscomb Design by Sally Johns Design, Raleigh, NC Printing by Hickory Printing Group Renew Your Membership! Is your membership about to expire? Three EASY ways to renew! 1. Call 1-800-832-FISH 2. Check ncaquariums.com and click on "Join the Aquarium" 3. Complete the membership form on pg. 17. Write RENEWAL at the top, then clip and mail! N.C. AQUARIUM ON ROANOKE ISLAND N.C. AQUARIUM AT PINE KNOLL SHORES N.C. AQUARIUM AT FORT FISHER Behind-the-Scenes tours are one of the Aquariums’ most popular indoor programs. Mark Joyner, Executive Vice President NC Aquarium Society Photo by Claire Aubel Into blogging? Log onto the Aquarium at Fort Fisher’s new blog, “WaterLogged,” at . Get more Aquarium news, information on conservation and environmental issues, and even recent activities and events. And, visitors are invited to comment. The new blog is one of many ways the Aquariums are reaching out to the online community. Logo design by Amy Kilgore 2 Three’s Company 4 Gators in Training 6 Sea Shell Secrets 7 Winter at the Aquariums 10 Diamonds in the Rough 12 Show Us Your Fish Face 16 Name That Fish Contents for Winter 2008/09 A Q U A R I U M N E W S M A G A Z I N E O F T H E N O R T H C A R O L I N A A Q U A R I U M S NEWS On the Cover: While diving the U-352 southeast of Beaufort Inlet, Emily Fisher of Marquette, MI, came across this brittle star ambling across a cluster of coral. Cover Inset: John Morillo found this alligator lounging comfortably in its exhibit in the Cape Fear Conservatory at the Aquarium at Fort Fisher. 1 Photo by John Mauser Photo by Emmett Westbrook Territory is worth defending, as these two white grunts demonstrate in the Living Shipwreck at the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. Photo by Scott Taylor Photo by Barbara Buchanan Photo by Brian Dorn Photo by Claire Aubel Photo by John Thompson The Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores was delighted to introduce another furry face to its River Otter exhibit this summer. Eno, a young North American river otter, was found near White Lake, NC, in late April, orphaned by a car accident that killed his mother. Like the Aquarium’s two adult otters, Neuse and Pungo, Eno was named for a North Carolina River. Eno arrived at the Aquarium at the tender age of one month. Because otters don’t usually leave their den until at least two months of age, Eno still needed a lot of care. Weighing only about two pounds, the baby otter was bottle-fed every four hours around the clock until he was old enough to begin eat-ing fish. Eno’s care was not limited to feeding. Much of an otter’s behavior is taught by its mother, so the hus-bandry staff began the lengthy process of teach-ing Eno important otter skills, such as swimming, clim bing and hunting fish. As Eno grew, so did the depth of his practice pool and his seemingly endless appetite. Following the veterinary seal of appro - val, Eno was introduced to the 16,000-gallon otter exhibit. Initially, because of his small size, he was put on display by himself and quickly be gan chasing goldfish in the exhibit’s chilly pools. River otters demonstrate do minance within their social groups, so introduc-ing Eno to Neuse and Pungo was a delicate process. Introductions took place over many weeks, starting with allowing the otters to hear and smell each other, then gradually allowing them to meet visually through a pro-tective window. When Eno was finally big enough to keep up with the active playtime sessions of the full-grown otters, they were slowly introduced one by one. After several days of closely moni-tored interaction, Eno was able to join his counterparts in the exhibit. Today, all three can be seen frolicking, wrestling and napping daily! 2 Photo by Pat McNeese Photo by Julie Powers Photo by Julie Powers Aquarist Meredith Owens was Eno’s main caretaker. Initially, the young orphan had to be fed around the clock. Eno learns to swim. Upon his arrival, Eno was esti-mated to be about a month old. Three s By Meredith Owens, Aquarist 3 Thanks to a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Southeastern North Carolina and the NC Aquarium Society, the Aquarium at Fort Fisher has a new set of wheels. The founda-tion’s $15,000 donation, along with $55,000 raised by the Society, helped purchase a new Outreach Program vehicle. Outreach Programs present hands-on activities to schools, libraries, camps and community groups around the state. The programs highlight aquatic animals found in North Carolina waters. However, unlike loading up your pet for a trip to the in-laws, the Aquarium transports animals such as sea stars, hermit crabs, sea turtles and alligators. This tends to complicate road trips a bit. The new vehicle will make traveling much easier and safer for the animals and their caretakers. The new vehicle contains a life support system and a ramp for loading and unloading. It can also operate on diesel or biodiesel fuel. These modifications will allow Aquarium educators to travel longer distances and introduce more students and com-munities to our state’s many fascinating aquatic animals. There’s a new kid on the block at the Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Ginglymostoma cirratum, a nurse shark, outgrew its comfort zone at the Virginia Living Museum. Thanks to a national exchange network among zoos and aquariums, the shark was transferred to the Aquarium, where it would reside with relatives more its own size, such as sand tiger and sandbar sharks. After the standard quarantine and veterinary check-up, the 6-foot shark was introduced into the 285,000-gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic exhibit. Monitoring of the new addition was under the watchful eye of Aquarist Heather White. “He’s extremely smart,” said White, “and he had to learn how to be target fed, a process using a long pole to place food in front of the shark to make sure everyone gets a fair share.” The 2008 NC Aquariums’ Amateur Underwater Photo Contest is under way. Amateur and non-professional photographers are encouraged to enter their best shots in the annual contest. No entry fee is required. Deadline for this year’s entries is Dec. 31, 2008. Winners will be announced on or before March 31, 2009. The contest is sponsored by East Carolina Bank. The Aquariums stage the contest to highlight the state’s rich aquatic resources, and to recog-nize excellence in amateur pho-tography. Cash prizes are awarded in three categories, including Aquatic Life in the NC Aquariums. Entries by divers must be taken in waters off North Carolina, or within the state’s freshwater systems. Winning photos are published here in Aquarium News and posted on the Aquariums’ website. For complete contest rules and entry application, or to view last year’s winning entries, visit ncaquariums.com. Photo by Paul Gray Steve Dillon of the Community Foundation of Southeastern North Carolina presents a check to Aquarium Director Donna Moffitt (center) and Outreach Coordinator Dee Rudolph. Photo by Buster Nunemaker Aquarium Gets New Ride Through the Lens Shark Gets New Digs By Buster Nunemaker, Public Relations Coordinator By Amy Kilgore, Public Relations Coordinator Photo by Amy Kilgore 4 Who would think that the American alligator (Alligator mississippen-sis), with a brain the size of a lima bean, would have the ability to learn, or better yet be trainable? At the Aquarium on Roanoke Island, alligators have been trained to ensure both animal and keeper safety. “Target” training, in which the alligator follows a target pole to a desired location, has proved to be very effective. It’s used to direct the animals to individual feeding stations, or to specific areas when the staff needs to enter the exhibit for maintenance. It’s also the technique used to direct the alligators onto scales to be weighed. Hand signals and verbal cues are another training technique. This process begins with a command such as “hold” or “open,” to instruct the alligators to maintain a position, or to open their mouths for feeding. This is followed by the verbal cue "bridge." This lets the ani-mal know it followed the command correctly. Its reward is a tasty treat. Such training techniques are especially important when the alligators require examination by keepers or veterinarians. Since the Aquarium staff began training these large reptiles, aggres-sion between exhibit animals has been eliminated, and aggression toward keepers has become almost non-existent. Weekly public feeding programs demonstrate to visitors that reptiles do have the In the wild, alligators may eat only once or twice a week during ability to learn! hot weather. Photo by Andrea Bell Photo by Kelley Rodill By Lori Watkins, Aquarist/Herpetologist Alligator training helps ensure the safety of both animals and caretakers. Reptiles and amphibians were the stars of the show during “Scales and Tales” at the Aquarium at Fort Fisher. The popularity of the day-long event calls for an encore performance in March 2009. During this year’s slithery spectacular, specially designed programs allowed visitors to get a feel for dozens of species of reptiles and amphibians, as well as talk to experts about these fascinating but sometimes frightening cold-blooded creatures. “By interacting with live specimens and experts in the field, we hope visitors will gain a bet-ter appreciation and understanding of these animals, and be inspired to take steps to protect them,” said Peggy Sloan, education curator. Reptiles and amphibians are important links in maintaining a healthy environment, because their diets include insects and small mammals such as rodents. Youngsters get a feel for a docile cornsnake. By Amy Kilgore, Public Relations Coordinator Gators in Training Photo by Claire Aubel 5 For years, the modest fossil exhibit at the Aquarium on Roanoke Island consist-ed of a small depression tucked away on the soundside. Today, after an extreme makeover, the exhibit commands a much more prominent position. The new Fossil Hunt measures 16 feet in diameter and is surrounded by an attrac-tive circular wall. Its centerpiece is a tow-ering, 5½-foot tall, fiberglass Megalodon shark tooth. Handy trowels are available for digging through the 20-million year old fill materi-al. The fill is supplied by PCS Phosphate in Aurora, NC. Eye-catching graphic panels feature fun facts, photographs and illustra-tions. Be sure to allow time to do some fossil sleuthing on your next Aquarium visit! Twelve-year-old David Wilcox knows a thing or two about fossilized shark teeth. He has hundreds of them in his collection. David is part of the Aquarium family on Roanoke Island. His parents, Beth and Tony Wilcox, work at the Aquarium. When David heard the Aquarium was going to redesign its outdoor fossil exhibit, he offered to loan his marine fossil collection to help develop the exhibit’s new graphic panels. He carefully sorted and organized his specimens, and assisted the exhibit staff in photographing several items. The photographs will help other fossil enthusiasts identify the treasures they unearth in the new hands-on Fossil Hunt. Fossil hunters get to keep their finds. FossilExhibitRevamped By Kitty Dough, Media Technician, and Buster Nunemaker, Public Relations Coordinator Logan Headington, one of the Aquarium Society’s younger members, recently caused quite a frenzy over sharks. The 6-year-old says his love of sharks started as a toddler with visits to the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, and he plans to someday become a shark scientist. While watching Discovery Channel’s 2008 “Shark Week,” Logan learned of a program called Adoptashark. The Adoptashark initiative is part of Iemanya Oceanica, a nonprofit shark conservation organization. Wanting to raise awareness of the number of shark species in peril, Logan put together an educational poster and hit the road on a campaign to adopt one shark: price tag $50. He visited surf shops and fishing charter businesses in Atlantic Beach. By the end of his first day, he had collect-ed enough money to adopt three sharks. The next morn-ing, Logan awoke to find donations left on his doorstep anonymously. He eventually raised more than $250 – enough funds for five adoptions. Unfortunately, Logan’s fundraising had to come to a halt. He had to put his campaign on hold to enroll in first grade. Logan Headington raised more than $250 for shark conservation. Funds for Fins By Claire Aubel, Public Relations Assistant Helping Hand Photo by Shannon Kemp, courtesy Carteret County News-Times Photo by Buster Nunemaker Photo by Buster Nunemaker By Kitty Dough, Media Technician 6 What could be more beckoning than a stretch of beach littered with sea shells cast up by a storm? The beachcomber in each of us delights at the thought, knowing that among the seaweed and driftwood may well be a few of the ocean’s real treasures – perfect shells from the ocean’s depths. They’ve been admired and eagerly collected throughout history, yet even today most of us know little about the animals that create these wonders of nature. These are the mollusks, the word itself meaning “soft bod-ied,” and suggesting why a hard covering is needed for protec-tion. Most, but not all, live in the sea, and their blood is rich in dis-solved calcium. Excess calcium is crystallized into the hard shell that grows layer by layer throughout the animal’s life. The two largest classes of mollusks are the bivalves, like clams with two hinged shells, and the univalves with one shell, such as whelks and moon snails. Between the two exists a never-ending battle of predator and prey. The clam for instance leads a settled life filtering plankton from seawater, while the whelk is busily hunting him. Once contact is made, the clam is doomed, as the whelk uses its own shell like a knife blade to open and feed upon its victim. Not all bivalves are as helpless. Scallops swim well enough to be considered the only migra-tory bivalve. All that exercise produces the very delicious, prized muscle on your dinner plate. Unfortunately, scallop populations have been seri-ously diminished by the overfishing of sharks. Sharks feed heavily on rays, which are a major predator of scallops. With shark populations in decline, rays have been free to nearly decimate scallop beds. The moon snail has perfected a feeding technique of its own – drilling a hole through the shell of its catch with the help of a drop or two of acid. This could take hours, but what’s time to a snail? Their success rate is indicated by all the washed up shells bearing a single round hole. And don’t overlook the carnivorous habits of the beautiful lettered olives that feast on the colorful coquina clams at the surf’s edge. Their secret weapon is a paralyzing mucus. Mollusks demonstrate a vari-ety of life forms, perfectly adapted to their watery domain. They’ve evolved tac-tics for survival in the seas over hundreds of millions of years, making them one of the largest groups of animals on Earth, second only to insects. We’re far from knowing all there is to know about sea shell secrets and what lives in the uncharted depths of the world’s oceans, but a great place to start might be a storm-tossed winter beach. Photo by John Mauser Whelks, often misidentified as conchs, are relentless hunters. Clams are a favorite prey. Sea Shell Secrets By Mark Joyner, NC Aquarium Society Clams - quahog (left), sunray Venus (center), lucine Lettered olives Coquinas feeding Moon snail, also called shark eye Carnivorous snail victims Photo by Sherry White Photo by Wayne Justice Photo by Wayne Justice Photo by Sherry White (The original and lengthier version of this article appeared in the August 2008 issue of Wildlife in North Carolina.) 7 With the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday weeks, visitor attendance slows at the Aquariums in winter. Off-season opportunities give visitors a chance to take part in hands-on programs that often fill quickly during summer months. In-house programs, such as live animal presen-tations, discovery classroom activities, live dives, and animal feedings, are offered year round, and are free with paid admission. Special Activity programs, such as birding trips, craft programs, seafood cooking classes, surf fishing workshops and winter camps for kids are also available, and require advance registra-tion and a fee. To take part in a Special Activity at your favorite Aquarium, visit ncaquariums.com and check the interactive calendar. It lists details about each activity, and more information is available on the Programs and Events page. Register as far in advance as possible. For questions and to register, call your selected Aquarium: Roanoke Island 252-473-3493 or 1-866-332- 3475; Pine Knoll Shores 252-247-4003 or 1-866-294- 3477; Fort Fisher 910-458-8259 or 1-866-301-3476. Photo by Sherry White Photo by Buster Nunemaker Photo by Beth Wilcox Photo by Wayne Justice Winter at the Aquariums 8 For Aquarist Mike Suchy, gardening is a passion. It’s not surpris-ing, then, that his love for growing things, combined with his strong interest in coral reefs, spawned an intriguing project at the Aquarium at Fort Fisher. By snipping fragments of existing corals, mounting them on small disks and submerging them under water with a light source, Suchy began “growing” coral. “It’s much like taking a cutting from a plant and potting it up,” said Suchy. “Light is of paramount importance to corals, and a moving light source is more natural.” Coral growth rates vary, depending on variety, but tend to be slow, sometimes only a few inches a year. Reef-building corals contain symbiotic algae within their tissues that convert light energy into a food source. This helps provide sustenance for the coral colony. Temperature, pH, and salinity need to be constant. “Sometimes it’s difficult to explain why one colony thrives and another withers in what appears to be identical conditions,” said Suchy. Live coral reefs are among the most popular attractions in public aquariums and offer an important educational opportunity. In today’s world, climate change is a hot topic and coral reefs are one of the habitats most greatly threatened. “We received many coral colonies from other institutions when we first started out, so it would be nice to return the favor,” said Suchy. “If our efforts work, we can potentially supply coral to other aquari-ums, and by sharing cultured colonies we can reduce the removal of colonies from wild stocks.” Overhead lights reflect off Aquarist Mike Suchy’s coral garden. Temperature, pH, salinity and dedication are key elements to cultivating this temperamental marine life. Underwater Gardener By Amy Kilgore, Public Relations Coordinator The Aquarium on Roanoke Island received a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for the new exhibit, Science on a Sphere: Bringing the Oceans to You. The innovative display features a 5-foot, spherical interactive Earth, with a focus on storms, oceans, and how humans impact the planet. Visitors will see the oceans in an entirely new light, as they dive to the sea floor, track hurricanes and ride ocean currents. Aquarium staff attended the "Science on a Sphere" conference, where they viewed two spheres in action. They returned with many ideas on how to make the new exhibit a special experience for Aquarium visitors. Be sure to check out our Earth on your next visit! Science on a Sphere By Dia Hitt, Educator Photo by Amy Kilgore Photo by Rick Eller 9 The cast net flew from my hand, flared open and settled over the tar-get. Seconds later, as I slid the net up on the beach, the catch was revealed: a handful of small silvery mullet, some eelgrass and a tiny blue crab. When the net was opened, the mullet flipped wildly on the sand, but the crab scurried quickly on a sideways run for freedom. No worries, we had our prizes. My granddaughter Blaize and I responded immediately. I scooped up water in a small bucket and she carefully put each of the fish into their temporary home. We watched the fish and the other residents of our on-the-beach aquarium. A few minutes earlier, at the edge of the surf, we had excavated three mole crabs and a dozen coquina clams from the damp sand. They were now living together in the bottom of a card-board coffee cup. While Blaize gazed intently into the containers and held one of the mole crabs in her tiny hand, I shared a bit of information about each of our specimens. Blaize listened and learned, and while I was talk-ing she put the crab down on the beach. Digging furiously, it disap-peared into the sand. Suddenly her five-year-old attention span waned and she blurted, “Papo, let’s let them go and look for shells.” Okay, it was time to move on. This is what the Aquariums do – every day – for so many people. Whether it’s on the beach, in the salt marsh, in a classroom or in front of a massive exhibit, Aquarium staff members bring animals and people together. They capture the interest and imagination of those who may not have had the opportunity to experience what Blaize and I have come to take for granted. The Aquarium staffs have a special gift and I appreciate their talents, dedication and enthusi-asm for what they do so very well. A mole crab is one of Blaize's finds at the edge of the sea. A right whale passes near shore off Bogue Banks during an “Onboard Collection Cruise.” Edge of the Sea By Joe Malat, Director, Aquarium on Roanoke Island Photo by Joe Malat Photo by Wayne Justice Why are marine mammal strandings common events along our beaches? The Aquarium at Fort Fisher teamed up with the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science in Wilmington to address this question in the informative series, “Ocean Perspectives.” The series was designed to explore aspects of our local ocean from unique viewpoints. The final program, “North Carolina’s Endangered Whales,” is set for Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the museum’s Williston Auditorium. UNC-Wilmington researchers and marine mammal experts, Ann Pabst and Bill McLellan, will discuss whale migration and why our coastal waters are a critical habitat for these threatened and endangered species. The Dec. 9 program is free and open to the public. For reservations or more information, call 910.798.4362. Ocean Perspectives 10 Things were hopping at the Aquariums this summer – literally. The Aquariums joined the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in 2008 in celebrating “Year of the Frog.” The stars of the festivities were frogs, toads and salamanders. To spice things up, the Aquariums included habitat neighbors, such as alligators, snakes and lizards. More than 200 programs, including films, games, contests, live animal programs and outdoor activities brought to light the antics and interesting facts about these elusive animals. In the science community, amphibians are known as an “indicator species” and have been compared to canaries in the coal mine. Just as miners used sensitive canaries to warn them of toxic gases in the mines, the absence or presence of amphibians tells us much about the health of our environment. Possible extinc-tion threatens many of the world’s 6,000 known amphibian species. Turtles are some of the most popular animals at the Aquariums, and the lesser known diamondback terrapin is no exception. Smaller than sea turtles, terrapins are the only aquatic turtles in North America to live in brackish marsh waters found in coastal habitats along the East Coast. Two of the seven subspecies of terra-pins are found in North Carolina – the Northern and the Carolina diamondback. Diamondbacks are well known for the beautiful markings on their shells and skin. Their unique appearance makes them appealing as possible pets, however, diamondbacks don't make good pets for many reasons. They have specific needs, and more importantly, state laws protect them as a “species of special concern.” The exact number of terrapins in North Carolina is unknown. They were once highly prized for their meat, and overharvesting caused a severe decline in their numbers. Today, these charismatic animals face new challenges. Many females are injured each year while attempting to cross roads to lay eggs, and habitat destruction and pollution are even greater threats. Commercial and recreational crab pots are also serious problems. Attracted by the bait, terrapins crawl into the pots. Because they are Photo courtesy Emmett Westbrook, FotoFX Photo by Claire Aubel Year of the Frog Diamondback terrapins were nearly brought to extinction a century ago, when they sold for nearly a dollar an inch. Their sweet meat was made into exotic soup. Diamonds in the Rough By Heather Broadhurst, Aquarist air breathers, they drown when they are unable to get out. Researchers are studying the effectiveness of Terrapin Excluder Devices (TEDS) that can be added to crab pots to decrease terrapin mortalities. If you find a terrapin crossing a highway, relocate it to a marsh area, which is probably nearby. And remember, helping keep waterways and shorelines free of litter and pollution helps all coastal marine life. 11 The Aquariums’ efforts toward oyster habitat conservation is going strong. At the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, the under-dock oyster gardening proj-ect continues. It now serves as a live education exhibit for Special Activities, and as a support resource for university researchers and citizen gardeners. The project saw significant expansion in June. Several staff members came out for a morning of fun in the sun to create a backyard oyster reef near the Aquarium dock. Clean oyster shell was deposited on shade cloth to make an unsinkable sub-strate. Live cultch – shell ma - terial with live oysters attached – was placed atop the clean shells. Staff checked the reef in July and found baby oysters, called spat, had landed. “The reef, along with our ‘portable oys-ter reef in a basket’ hanging off the dock, provides instant opportunities for field education,” said Pat McNeese, Aquarium conservation and research coordinator. “We’re continuing to build up the reef by depositing live oyster clusters culled from our shellfish cages.” Staff members also came together to create the first-ever artificial eco-disk oyster reefs. Four eco-disks, which are large, cement disks embedded with cleaned oyster shells, were placed along the rock sill near the dock just in time for spatfall. With assistance from Discovery Diving and Bogue Banks Marine Con struction, the reefs were created using cement and clean oyster shell. Last spring, the Aquarium at Fort Fisher helped kick off an unusual pilot program – “Amphibians in the Classroom.” The program involved seven area schools and was designed to foster a sense of environmental stewardship while creating a better understanding of amphibians and the environment. Southern toad eggs were collected in Watha, NC, and delivered to classrooms. Aquarium education and aquariology staffs set up small aquariums and talked with youngsters about the life cycles of toads and how to care for the devel-oping young. With assistance from their teachers, plus an extensive fact sheet from the Aquarium, students monitored the development of their toady charges. It wasn’t long before they were watching tanks filled with wiggling tadpoles! Eight weeks later, students released their Southern toads in the area where the eggs were collected. ”Collaboration and support among Aquarium staff, classroom teachers, and state fish hatchery personnel in Watha made the pilot program a success,” said Peggy Sloan, education curator at the Aquarium. Plans are under way to offer the program again next year, with partial support from the Cherbec Advancement Foundation. Reef Relief ! A ‘Toad-al’ Success By Amy Kilgore, Public Relations Coordinator Staff members Erica Alvarado (left) and Tia Reigner shucked their uniforms to help cre-ate an oyster reef in Bogue Sound. Photo by Pat McNeese Photos by Mike Spencer, courtesy of Star-News Teacher Meghann Crow and students of Rachel Freeman School of Engineering prepare to release their baby toads. Tiny toads were returned to their native habitat. This summer, more than 70 middle school girls explored various careers in marine arts and sciences in a day designed especially for them. The Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores partnered with the NC Maritime Museum in Beaufort to sponsor “Ocean Girls’ Day,” filling the agenda with programs to introduce girls ages 10 to 12 to marine careers. Aquarium instructors, volun-teers and women mentors from the local community led a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities for the participants and their chaperones. The morning commenced with a career panel of women scientists, educators and business owners, who gave first-hand accounts of their jobs in the field. The girls also interacted with mentors from the local marine community at career exhibit booths set up throughout the Aquarium. In the afternoon, out-door activities included barrier island explorations and kayaking led by Pirate Queen Paddling. The event was sponsored in part by a grant from the Carteret Community Foundation, and modeled after the “Girls in Science Day” held at the South Carolina State Museum. The day was designed to introduce young women to marine-related careers and promote the Aquarium’s mission of inspiring appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments. 12 An Ocean of Experience By Laurie Streble, Outreach Coordinator ‘Show Us Your Fish Face’ Girls ages 10 to 12 got their feet wet in a series of activities during “Ocean Girls’ Day.” The Aquariums recently launched a new cam-paign – ShowUsYourFishFace.com, a fun, dynamic Web site created in partnership with MSA, an ad agency based in Research Triangle Park. Show Us Your Fish Face serves as a memorable, self-perpetuating means of directing fans to the hub of Aquarium news and information. The site invites viewers to submit photos of their best fish faces, which are then rated by other Web site visitors, for a chance to win prizes sponsored by the Aquariums. Participants will receive a Fish Face ID card that can be redeemed for a prize at any Aquarium. The site’s highest, most frequent-ly- rated fish faces will be entered into judg-ing for a monthly prize: an Aquarium gift basket worth $25. Once a year, a Web site visitor will win a beach vacation and free family membership to the Aquarium of his or her choice. The goal of Show Us Your Fish Face is to pro-mote the Aquariums in a unique and inter-active way. Members may choose to receive updates and e-newsletters, and will be encouraged to invite others to the site by emailing their own fish face creations. We encourage you to check out the new site and join the fun! To submit your own fish face and spread the word about this exciting new promotion, visit ShowUsYourFishFace.com. Photo by Nate Bacheler 13 A $5,000 grant will fund new interpretative signs on the Hoffman and Roosevelt Trails at the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. The NC Trails Committee awarded the Aquarium Society the grant from the NC Division of Parks and Recreation Adopt-A-Trail Program. The Aquarium requested the funding to provide visitors with trail signs that promote understanding of the local environ-ment, relationships to Aquarium exhibits, and the relationship to other state and local trail units. Both the Hoffman and Roosevelt trails are stops on the NC Birding Trail. Durable new signage will highlight habitat features of the maritime forest and marshes, as well as sights, sounds and individual species visitors may encounter. The signs will also replace hand-carried guides to the Hoffman Trail, reducing waste and litter. “The Aquarium Society’s willingness to act as grant applicant for conservation projects has really helped our ability to stretch precious conservation dollars and create effective projects,” said Georgia Minnich, exhibits curator. Happy Trails Thanks to a grant, visitors will learn more about maritime forests on walks along nature trails at the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. Chelsea Finical, age 17 Jan Fahlbusch, age 14 Photo by Wayne Justice As a member of Coastal America, the Aquarium at Fort Fisher was delighted to accept submis-sions for Coastal America’s recent Ocean Art Contest. Some twelve other facilities collected entries, totaling approximately 1,500 pieces overall. The Aquarium at Fort Fisher alone accepted 121 pieces of students’ work. Of the 1,500 entries, three North Carolina students were se - lected as national finalists. Winners were 14-year-old Jan Fahlbusch of New Bern; 17-year-old Chelsea Finical of Grimesland; and 8-year-old Ansley Nurkin of Charlotte. Their work will be displayed at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Open to students from kindergarten through university levels, the contest encouraged participants to use their creativity and artistic talent to express the importance of our oceans, both personally and globally. Guidelines required that artwork reflect one of seven established “essential principles of ocean literacy,” and include a narrative explaining the piece. Categories were defined by grade levels, and regional winners were sent to Washington, D.C., to compete nationally. Young at Art Ansley Nurkin, age 8 By Pat McNeese, Conservation and Research Coordinator When it comes to research, you can’t just wing it. When an unusual butterfly species inspired a scientific study, staff members at the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores took to nearby dunes with nets and notebooks. They joined NC State University (NCSU) researcher Allison Leidner in con-ducting a “mark and recapture” study that could provide clues about how beach development affects the movements of a seldom-seen skip-per (Atryptonopsis) butterfly. Leidner has been studying a species she calls the “crystal skipper” (Atryptonopsis loammi), because it appears to be unique to the Crystal Coast. She’s been charting the distribution and habits of this skipper in its preferred habitat on Bogue Banks, including on Aquarium property. Aquarium employees volunteered their time and joined NCSU stu-dents to catch butterflies, label them with location numbers, and record recapture locations during two spring weekends. The butter-flies appear for about 30 days from mid-April to mid-May, and again for about 30 days from mid-July to mid-August. During initial observations, the crystal skippers seemed to move across intact habitat and low-intensity development areas more often than through areas of high-intensity development. Properties with intact dune vegetation appeared to provide excel-lent habitat for the skipper and its primary host plant, seaside little bluestem (Schizachyrium littorale). This plant is currently being cul-tivated from seed at the Aquarium for dune restoration projects planned for the near future. 14 A special surprise awaited visitors dur-ing Family Night at the Aquarium on Roanoke Island this summer – particu-larly if you were a baseball aficionado. Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry made a guest appearance and, to the delight of fans, happily autographed baseballs, bats and baseball cards. In support of his friend of more than 50 years, Al Foreman, former major league umpire, was also present. Perry and Foreman exchanged verbal jabs, as Perry complained that his strike zone should have been bigger during their playing days in the major leagues. Perry won 314 games, pitched 3,534 strikeouts – and a no-hitter in 1968 against Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals. He also won two Cy Young awards, one in the National League, the other in the American League. Foreman said of Perry, “He’s been a great friend, and he’s one of the best players I ever had the pleasure to work with.” Perry was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. Celebrity Pays a Visit By Buster Nunemaker, Public Relations Coordinator Gaylord Perry (left) and Al Foreman enjoyed verbal jousting during Family Night at the Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Photo Buster Nunemaker Aquarium staff members helped track the movements of a butterfly that might be unique to the island of Bogue Banks, home of the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. If It’s Not Habitat, Just Skip It! By Pat McNeese, Conservation and Research Coordinator Photo by Randy Newman, courtesy of NC Division of Parks and Recreation A new addition to the Seahorse exhibit at the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores has piqued the curiosity of visitors. The new tankmate is a sargassum fish (Histrio histrio), named for the seaweed in which it hides. Sargassum beds trail in large masses in the Gulf Stream. This floating habitat is an important refuge for many kinds of juve-nile animals, including hatchling sea tur-tles, and provides shelter and feeding opportunities for many other creatures. Sections of yellowish-rubbery sargassum, complete with marine communities, are occasionally blown into inshore waters. These dislodged weed clusters sometimes wash onto beaches, carrying their resi-dents – marine snails, starfish, seahorses, pipefish and even sargassum fish. Sargassum fish are masters of camou-flage. Their coloring and fleshy tabs blend with the seaweed, allowing them to ambush their food. These frilly fish meas-ure on average a mere four-and-a-half inches in length, but can reach as much as eight inches in length. They are ambitious hunters and sometimes try to consume animals equal to their own size! As part of the anglerfish family, sargassum fish have an extra frilly appendage on their head, called an illium, that can be used to attract or lure prey. They also have prehensile fins that help them anchor themselves to the strands of sargassum. Volunteers at the Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores leaped into action for a Year of the Frog Amphibian Photo Contest. Recognizing the wealth of talented pho-tographers among its ranks, the volunteer office sponsored the competition. Volunteers waded through ponds, hiked woods and followed the chorus of croak-ing creatures in pursuit of a winning shot. While the salamanders and newts eluded them, several species of frogs and toads were captured in beautiful photographs. Kevin Geraghty of Emerald Isle took first place with his Southern toad. Dick Barmore of Arapahoe took second with his green tree frog. Barmore also scored an honorable mention for a pinewoods tree frog, and Alex Houston of Beaufort won an honorable mention for a cricket frog at sunset. Sometimes it’s hard to make heads or tails of marine creatures. This new sargassum fish (right) faces its resident tankmate – a seahorse. Can you find the fish's eye? Volunteer Coordinator Chris Carlin (left) congratulates volunteer Kevin Geraghty. New Tankmate By Heather Broadhurst, Aquarist 15 Photos by Bob Griffin Focus on Amphibians Tinker’s Butterfly fish Bartlett’s Anthias Kevin Geraghty captured a great shot of a Southern toad. Photo by Emmett Westbrook, Foto FX By Chris Carlin, Volunteer Coordinator Photo by Claire Aubel Papahānaumokuākea National Monument, designated in 2006, is one of the world’s largest protected marine areas. The Aquarium at Fort Fisher recently created a new exhibit showcasing reef fishes from these remote waters. Stretching 1,200 miles north of Hawaii, Papa hānaumok - uākea contains 140,000 square miles of pristine islands and reefs. More than half the fish species found among the atolls exist nowhere else. Hawaii’s Fishes 16 The ocean is filled with fascinating creatures, and new species continue to be discovered around the world. See how much marine animal trivia you know by taking the quick quiz below. Answers are at the bottom of the quiz. 1. This fish: • is popular in aquariums because of its beautiful colors • uses a long, sharp spine on its head to wedge itself into crevices • is strong and aggressive, with well-developed teeth and powerful jaws • feeds on mollusks, crustaceans and other ocean-floor animals 2. This fish: • is named for its bovine facial features • has a mouth on the underside of its body • migrates long distances in huge schools • has a venomous barb on its tail 3. This fish: • is also called “convict” fish • is known for stealing fishermen’s bait • is often found around piers and docks • has strong teeth for grinding and scraping barnacles from rocks and pilings 4. This fish: • was first discovered off our coast 2000, far from its native Indo-Pacific waters • has spines in its fins that carry painful venom • lives at depths of 80-300 feet • uses lightning-fast suction to inhale and swallow its prey whole 5. This fish: • uses its tail to anchor onto sea grasses and permanent objects • uses its small mouth to suck up minute crustaceans, such as tiny shrimp • is much used in traditional Chinese medicine, depleting its wild populations • transfers its eggs from female to male, which gives birth to the young Answers: 1. Triggerfish Photo by Julie Powers 2. Cownose stingray Photo by Jim Lanier 3. Sheepshead Photo by Ricki Lipscomb 4. Lionfish Photo by Vlad Pambucol 5. Seahorse Photo by Emmett Westbrook Name That Fish! 17 I. Choose a Member Category ❏ Individual (Benefits for one person) ___________________$30 ❏ Family (Benefits for two adults and their children or grandchildren under age 18) ___________________________$50 ❏ Donor (Benefits with 4 guest passes and exclusive MEMBER tote bag)__________________________$100 ❏ Patron (Donor benefits with 6 guest passes and 10% discount on Aquarium rentals) _______________________$300 ❏ Director (Donor benefits with 8 guest passes and 10% discount on Aquarium rentals) _______________________$500 ❏Benefactor (Donor benefits with 10 guest passes and 10% discount on Aquarium rentals)_______________________$1,000 II. Member Information ____________________________________________________ Name of 1st Adult ____________________________________________________ Name of 2nd Adult Address: _______________________________________________ City: _____________________ State: _____ Zip: ______________ Phone: ( ) ________________________________________ Email Address: ___________________________________________ ❏ Please check here if you wish to receive Aquarium updates by Email Number of children or grandchildren under age 18: ____________________ I / We primarily visit the Aquarium at: ❏ Roanoke Island ❏ Pine Knoll Shores ❏ Fort Fisher III. Payment Information Total Payment: $__________ Method: ❏ Check ❏ Visa ❏ Mastercard (Please make checks payable to NC Aquarium Society) Card Number: ___________________________________________ Exp. Date: _______________ Signature: _____________________________________________ Thank you for your support of the North Carolina Aquariums! This application can be turned in at the Aquariums when you visit or mailed to the NC Aquarium Society, 3125 Poplarwood Ct., Suite 160, Raleigh, NC 27604. Join the NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM Family! Membership Application Your membership provides crucial operational support to the North Carolina Aquariums. All three Aquariums have now completed exciting expansions with the additions of new exhibits, huge ocean tanks, and indoor habitats for aquatic wildlife ranging from otters to alligators. More than ONE MILLION VISITORS will enjoy the unique educational experiences offered by the Aquariums this year. It doesn’t hurt that Aquarium membership is also the best deal around. Families can enjoy UNLIMITED FREE ADMISSION at the Aquariums, as well as at the NC Zoo for just $50 a year! What’s more, our Aquarium members receive free admission at more than one hundred other zoos and aquariums all around the country. Members also receive a free subscription to the award-winning Aquarium News magazine, as well as 10% discounts on Aquarium gift shop purchases and educational programs. Add in com plimen tary guest passes to share with friends, and an exclusive MEMBER tote bag for Donor level and above, and it’s clear that membership definitely has its advantages. Photo by Sandy Smith ✃ 3125 Poplarwood Ct., Suite 160 Raleigh, NC 27604 Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 212 Hickory, NC 28601 N O R T H C A R O L I N A AQUARIUM SOCIETY This issue of The Aquarium News is made possible through a grant from Landfall Foundation. At the Aquarium at Fort Fisher, a cuttlefish flashes its vibrant colors for Kimberly Sams. The photo was a front-runner in the NC Aquariums’ 2007 Amateur Underwater Photography Contest. |
OCLC number | 649742060 |