Labels: Biology of Fishes, Chris, cownose ray, Nurse Shark, sand tiger shark, southern sting ray

Recently the Aquarium launched the Live Blue Initiative, an online tool that allows people from all over the world to share their commitment to protect the blue planet. The divers are sharing their own live blue profiles describing how they care for the oceans. Here's a look at Senior Aquarist/Expedition Leader Sherrie Floyd's Live Blue profile.



Sherrie Floyd
Senior Aquarist/Expedition Leader

Complete the Sentence:
I am passionate about all things aquatic. Working at the New England Aquarium has allowed me to take my love for the ocean to a whole new level. Every day I care for hundreds of marine animals including sharks, sea turtles, moray eels and stingrays. I couldn't look them in the eye, if I didn’t live blue!

Why do you care about the environment?
I care about the environment because it is what sustains all of us as well as the animals I love so much.

How has your environment affected your career/education decisions?
Two words: scuba diving! In addition to diving in the Aquarium’s Giant Ocean Tank, I lead Bahamas collecting expeditions every year. Can't do that without the ocean!

What are some things you do in your life to live blue and protect the environment?
I take great pride in our Bahamas collecting expeditions, as we use only the most conservative collecting practices. Our techniques are gentle on the fish we collect, as well as the habitat in which they live. We carefully choose fish that acclimate well to our exhibits and that showcase the diversity and beauty of a Bahamian coral reef. Not only do these trips provide us with a unique opportunity to teach individuals how to collect aquatics without impacting critical habitat, but they also allow us a receptive audience for marine conservation education.

Other ways I live blue are low energy bulbs, recycling, phasing out plastics, and making sustainable food choices. And last but not least, in an effort to help educate my friends and family, I had a "Live Blue" party!

Read more here and follow this link to see Sherrie's plot of ocean in the Phoenix Islands.

Labels: live blue, live blue profile, SCUBA, Sherrie

I need to add a footnote, of sorts, to my 2009 Things To Remember post. I realized this weekend that I managed to forget one of the biggest things that happened during '09 in the micro-universe that is the GOT. And how could I?

Labels: John Hanzl

It's hard to believe that 2009 has already retired, heralding in not only a new year but the exciting prospect of an entirely new decade. How time flies, it seems as if it was just last week that I sat down and wrote about the Best of 2008. If there's one thing's for sure, there's never a dull moment when working in the Giant Ocean Tank. So take a break, grab a snack (I'm currently munching down a fantastically tasty spicy turkey panini from the Aquarium's cafe), and let's cheers to 2009, GOT-style...

The Best of 2009

2009 saw us entering into an exciting partnership with Roger Williams University that includes a larval fish program. This program has already yielded results, including the little guy below - a juvenile Queen triggerfish. Queen triggerfish have not been reared in captivity, until now, so we are very pleased with this achievement.

The GOT is nothing without its inhabitants. In 2009, we had the good fortune of adding some very interesting animals to the already diverse exhibit...

• In March we introduced a new green moray eel into the tank. He had a rather interesting history prior to making the GOT his new home and I'm happy to say he is doing extremely well!
  


• In July we added a second barracuda, a juvenile that was MUCH smaller than the big guy we already had. However no one told him he was small and, like the new moray, has adjusted to his new home with ease.
  


• Finally, we recently we added Ari, a Kemp's ridley turtle that had been rehabilitating down at the Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans after sustaining serious wounds from an unfortunate encounter with a boat's propeller. What an amazing story, and what an amazing turtle. We all love Ari!
  
  

In the fall, we temporarily removed all four of the GOT's resident sharks (three sand tigers and one nurse) for physicals. That equates to 32 feet, 878 lbs of shark (!). The dive staff is very skilled at this process and the sharks were all pronounced quite healthy.

2009 brought us Big Blue, a brand new SCUBA air compressor. GOT divers use a lot of air, about 215,000 cubic feet of it for 2009, so we need a hard working compressor to meet the demand, and I know Big Blue is up for the task. (By the way, that amount of air would fill over seven GOTs!)

Speaking of large numbers and hardworking equipment, in 2009 the pumps for the GOT pushed over 1,168,000,000 gallons of clean water through the tank (yes - that's over one billion gallons).

Of course, the GOT couldn't exist without the hard working staff, co-ops, interns, and volunteers that work so diligently at making the GOT such a fantastic, diverse, and healthy exhibit.

• 2009 saw a surge in diving interns. All told, we had seven: Franco, Linda, Suzanne, Alex, Lizzie, Samantha, and Kristen.
  
  
• We had four fantastic teen interns: Isaiah, Nick, Oriana, and Tizzy.


• Six new volunteers were added to the ranks of GOT volunteers: Rob, Daire, Ashley, Doris, Alfredo, and Simone.
  


• DVIT volunteer (Dive Volunteer In Training) Don converted to a full blown Dive Volunteer in 2009 (Congrats Don!).


• A testament to how much they enjoyed working in the GOT, we had eleven former co-ops and interns return to volunteer their services in 2009.


• Finally, though we are all extremely busy with our jobs, the dive staff is a rather diverse and energetic bunch, and we all manage to pursue unique interests outside of the GOT. By way of example, here are two activities that were blogged about during 2009:


• Chris and his wife Emily (who also works for the Aquarium!) hiked over 2,600 miles from Mexico to Canada along the Pacific Crest Trail.
  


• I finally fulfilled a life-long dream (well, a very long-standing one anyway) and dove the wreck of the Andrea Doria in July.
  



Well, since there's always something interesting happening when it comes to the GOT, I know I've missed a bunch, but it was fun looking back on the exciting year 2009 turned out to be. And I've no doubt 2010 will be anything but boring. As a matter of fact, right now I have to get ready to help pull one of our turtles for a veterinary procedure, and it's not good to keep the vets waiting. So 'til next time...



Safe diving.

- John

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Labels: Andrea Doria, barracuda, Best of, GOT, green moray eel, John Hanzl, Kemp's ridley, Queen triggerfish, sharks

It's that time of the year again - our annual census of the Giant Ocean Tank critters. Some species are harder to count than others, for example the smallmouth grunts. Check out this video of the school, and see if you can count them yourself. A smallmouth grunt has 5 or 6 yellow stripes on its elongated cylindrical body, and yellow fins.

Look for a future post to see our final count.

-Chris

Labels: Census, Chris, smallmouth grunt, What's Happening

Hi Blue and Happy Friends!

So we are seeing our last days as interns at the most wonderful and colorful organization in both of our whole worlds! Although, we will be back as volunteers for as long as we can. How could one go from hanging out with little burrfish and being caressed by Mystic, to then not? We remember our first days diving (Kristen was a good thirty minutes late to her check out dive ...), and how we were absolutely nervous to get into the Giant Ocean Tank (GOT) for the first time. We thought our ears would never adjust to the almighty twenty-three-foot depth. However, they eventually did! From then on, everything was 100% awesome.


(Click photos to enlarge.)

We had so many exciting experiences in and out of the GOT. For example, we saw necropsies of lookdown fish, trunkfish, porcupine fish and a little baby fresh water turtle. Sam went herring net collecting and handled the anacondas and Athena the octopus (who gave her cute little hickies). We also went to offsite holding tanks where we cared for young sharks and rays. Yet, one of our most memorable experiences was when we greeted over twenty juvenile green and Kemp's ridley sea turtles, who arrived at the Aquarium after beaching themselves on the Cape.


(Click photos to enlarge.)

You could say we never have an average, boring day here. Our favorite part of the day was obviously diving in the miniature ocean. Sometimes it was weird to see rain and snow outside right before we jumped into the 76-degree water.

Labels: Dive Buddies, interns, kristen, sammy

Our female nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) is named Bimini after an island in the Bahamas. She's about 9 years old and is 7.5 feet long. She weighs 175 lbs. (You can read more posts that mention her here, here and at the very end of this one.)

Bimini is a strikingly beautiful shark and one of my favorite animals in the exhibit. Without anthropomorphizing her (that means giving her human features) too much, she's got spunk. I remember one time when I was sitting at the bottom of the tank just watching her be her sharky self. When she got tired of being stared at, she knocked my mask off my head and swam away. Gotta love that attitude!

I decided to take some photos of Bimini so our blog readers could see her up close too. I hope you enjoy them.

Here are two photos of her snout.


These are her long barbels (used to find food).


Here you can see her broad, sub-terminal mouth.
(If you're interested in shark teeth, check out this earlier post.)


Here's an eye and tiny spiracle (small upside-down U shape to the right).


You can see inside her gills in this one.


Here's a close up of her dermal denticles which protect her skin (this is why she feels sandpapery to the touch).

-Sarah

Labels: Bimini, Nurse Shark, Our Reef Residents, Sarah

Recently the Aquarium launched the Live Blue Initiative, an online tool that allows people from all over the world to share their commitment to protect the blue planet. The divers are sharing their own live blue profiles describing how they care for the oceans. Here's a look at Dive Safety Officer John Hanzl's Live Blue profile.



John Hanzl
Dive Safety Officer

Complete the Sentence:
I live blue because the ocean is both my passion and my second home.

Why do you care about the environment?
The question really should be "How can you NOT care about the environment." It is what makes life possible. Without it our planet is nothing but an airless, lifeless hunk of rock.

How has your environment affected your career/education decisions?
My love of nature in general, and of the aquatic world in specific, is what led me to make a drastic change in careers many years ago. I transitioned from career in electrical engineering to being a diver for the New England Aquarium and is a decision I've been grateful for ever since.

Read more here and follow this link to see John's plot of ocean in the Phoenix Islands.

Labels: conservation, John Hanzl, live blue, live blue profile

A wonderful spread was prepared by Kimmie...


... and fed to her from her own special platform by Deb.

Myrtle doesn't miss too many meals!

Happy Thanksgiving from Myrtle and the Giant Ocean Tank staff.

-Chris

Labels: Chris, feeding, myrtle, Thanksgiving, What's Happening

As you know from this previous post, the Giant Ocean Tank was a big part of the Aquarium's Halloween fun this year. Not only do we have some amazing still photos, but (just like last year) we also have some great underwater footage of our costumed divers.


Click play on the embedded movies below to see the hot dog jump into the Giant Ocean Tank (left) and an underwater pirate battle (right).

Labels: costumes, fish, fright, fun, halloween, SCUBA, video, What's Happening

On October 23rd the Giant Ocean Tank (GOT) staff and volunteers took part in our annual event called "Fish, Fun, and Fright." (See photos and videos from last year's event.) We opened up the Aquarium for our members after scheduled hours for an evening of tricks, treats and, most notably, our costumed divers in the GOT.

Labels: costumes, fish, fright, fun, halloween, What's Happening

I am back from my leave, and so very lucky to be here for Ari's first swim in the Giant Ocean Tank. It was a long road to recovery for her--almost 2 1/2 years from the time she was found on a beach in Louisiana to now.








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Labels: Ari, Chris, Kemp's ridley, Our Reef Residents, sea turtle

Today Ari the Kemp's ridley sea turtle made her successful debut in the Giant Ocean Tank (GOT)! Thanks to all of the hundreds of people who submitted names and the thousands of you who voted for their favorite name.


Ari in her new home at the Aquarium

Ari's name has a great conservation message, because it is short for "arribada," which is the massive arrival of female sea turtles to nest. This mostly happens on the beaches of Rancho Nuevo, Mexico, and protecting these nesting areas is extremely important for the protection of the species. Now every time someone asks what Ari's name is, our educators will be able to tell that story!



Ari is such a good name, that a lot of people suggested it. Since we could only have one winner, we selected the person who gave the best description of what an arribada is. That was Sharon B., but some of the other contestants who entered this name include Jenny T., Cathy F., Carole S., Michael N., Ryan B., Helen Z., Dominika, Sam P., Melissa V., Julia, Jack and Alison P., Alex S., Aaron P., Romy M., Jake S., Jenn G., Danielle D., Cindy S., Ashlee D., Norma R., Judi O., Connie B., Junior G. and Steph. Great work, everyone!



We also received some great entries from families who came together to think of great turtle names. Thanks to Molly, Rob, Bo, Callie, Ned and Colin for sending us your entries, and we hope you have fun seeing all the turtles in the GOT during your next visit!



In the meantime, Ari is getting used to her new home, and we'll be keeping you updated on other GOT happenings.

Labels: Ari, contest winner, names, sea turtle, What's Happening

The Aquarium's new Kemp's ridley sea turtle needs a name, and we're having a contest to name her! Last week we asked turtle fans to submit their favorite sea turtle names, and this week you get to vote on which name is the best! Here's some more information about each of the names you have to choose from.


The submission box gets another name idea last week.

Ari -Vote for this name now!
Ari, short for Arribada, refers to the mass nesting reproductive strategy that is unique to this species. Every year between April and June, thousands of female Kemp's ridley sea turtles arrive at the same beach in Mexico to lay their eggs. Why they synchronize their emergence is largely unknown, but it may serve as a form of predator saturation or swamping.


An Olive ridley arribada (Photo: Michael P. Jensen / NOAA)

Cara -Vote for this name now!
Short for carapace, which is the word for the upper shell of sea turtles. The name Cara can also be linked to the late Archie Carr, whose contributions to sea turtle conservation are unsurpassed. You can learn more about the wildlife refuge named for Archie Carr here.


This photo displays the new turtle's carapace

Lulu -Vote for this name now!
Short for Louisiana, the location where this turtle stranded and was rehabilitated. Learn more about this turtle's long road to recovery here.


A Kemp's ridley distribution map showing how the range includes the Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana, where the new turtle was rescued (credit: Pinpin, wikimedia commons)

Lora -Vote for this name now!
Aside from a modest number of nests in Texas, The entire population of Kemp's ridley sea turtles next on beaches in Mexico. The people of Mexico refer to these turtles as "parrot turtles" or "Tortuga Lora", for their parrot like beaks. Their beaks allow them to crack open crabs and other shell fish, which are a major component of their diet.


This photo of the new turtle show's off her beak-like head

Sunny -Vote for this name now!
Kemp's ridley sea turtles are the only species of sea turtles that nest during the day light hours.


A nesting sea turtle in south Padre Island (Photo: Jessica Lavash)

Richelle -Vote for this name now!
The Kemp's ridley sea turtle was named after Richard Kemp, a fisherman from Key West Florida who was interested in natural history. Mr. Kemp submitted the first specimen of this species for identification. "Richelle" is the feminine version of "Richard."


The new Kemp's ridley sea turtle gets a checkup at the Aquarium.

Labels: contest winner, Kemp's ridley, names, sea turtle, What's Happening

Last week we introduced you to the Giant Ocean Tank's newest Kemp's ridley sea turtle. Now you can help us name her! Enter your best turtle name on this contest page.

Labels: Kemp's ridley, names, sea turtle, What's Happening