Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET)

.Hi Sea Fans!

From one interesting place to the next!  I got to visit the Aquaculture Research Centre at IMET.  

Watching the European Sea Bass

The scientists at IMET study the ocean and environment to be able to protect and restore it, as well as make sure that people stay healthy and use the resources (something that is found in nature and can be used by people. Earth's natural resources = light, air, water, plants, animals, soil, stone, minerals, and fossil fuels.) in a way that makes sure that future generations (your children and their children) get to enjoy them too.

The research centre is 1 800 square metres of pumps, filters and tanks!  The scientists can change all of the conditions that the animals live in like: lighting; water temperature; water pH; water flow; etc.  This means that they can change the environment of the animal or plant that they are studying to suit any experiment.  They make their own sea water and use ozone to keep it clean and disease-free for the finfish and shellfish that they study.

I was checking out the Blue Crabs here.

Have a look at these links to see more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47s8FR2V6Oo 

http://imet.usmd.edu/research/sus_aqua.html

http://imet.usmd.edu/

Thanks so much to Steve Rogers for showing me around!!

Have a great weekend Sea Fans!

Cheers

Abby

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Gulf of Maine Research Institute Lab Venture Programme

Hi Sea Fans!

I have som uch of my trip to catch up on in this blog, it's unbelievable how much fun we've been having (and how little time I've had to sit down and write).  Here goes:

My next stop was in Maine at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) LabVenture! program. This program is for Maine's 5^th and 6^th grade students. Students pretend to be a scientist and do their own hands-on research in the interactive lab.

This week, I helped the educators with the LabVenture! program.

I waited with the staff for the students to arrive to hand out name tags so students could get to work as scientists.

Molly, Becca, and I led the students through the half-day hands-on interactive lab experience. Students were working to answer the question: “How are Cod, Lobsters, Herring, and Humans connected in the Gulf of Maine ecosystem?”

With Molly and Becca.

Students worked at interactive stations to collect data, make observations, use the tools of science, and create videos. I got a chance to try the stations as well. It was really fun to control the underwater cameras using the joystick!

I helped students use a caliper to measure the carapace of a lobster. The length of a lobster's carapace can help scientist understand how quickly lobsters are growing.

I even got to observe GMRI's large blue lobster in their large benthic tank and learned about how cod and lobsters interact. The lobster was bigger than me!

I also helped Molly and Becca listen to the videos students created at the stations and picked which work to share with the whole class.

The day went really quickly and the students were busy at the stations the whole time. It was great to see so many students having fun and doing science!  Thanks Meredyth and friends for showing me around!

So those of you living in Maine, go and join in!!

Have a great week Sea Fans!
Chat soon

Cheers
Abby
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Do you want to be a marine biologist?

Hi Sea Fans!

Those of you living in South Africa have an amazing opportunity...the Two Oceans Aquarium has started offering special courses to those interested in possibly following a career in the marine sciences.

Grade 6 - Junior Biologist - FREE!
Grade 7 - Junior Smart Living - FREE!
Grade 8 - Marine Science Discoverer
Grade 9 - Marine Science Explorer
Grade 10 - High School Volunteer Course
Grade 11 & 12 - Zoology & Oceanography (FET)

Check out all the details here:

http://www.aquarium.co.za/blog/entry/introducing-the-revamped-two-oceans-aquarium-marine-sciences-academy

Have a great week Sea Fans!
Chat soon

Cheers
Abby
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Why are Great White Sharks not on display in an aquarium?

Hi Sea Fans!

I often get asked all sorts of questions, but this one seems to pop up often, especially in the summer season or after Shark Week.  Luckily, I came across a video link today to explain:



Have a great week Sea Fans!

Chat soon
Abby
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Dubai

Hi Sea Fans!

I started travelling at the end of 2011 and now, 5 years later, I'm STILL visiting friends!  I've been really spoilt, it was only meant to be a year of travels....oh well, lots to see and so many people to chat to.

One of the interesting places that I have visited is Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, where Zila offered to show me around. (Thanks Zila!!)

When this aquarium was built, it had the largest main window (acrylic panel) in the world! 32.8 meters wide, 8.3 metres high, 750 mm thick and weighing 245,614 kg. It even got into the Guiness Book of Records.

They started with a HUGE tank filled with different fish and shark species and an "underwater zoo" section that housed otters, water rats, freshwater (including the massive arapaima) and marine fish as well as seals.  They have since got an Arabian nightlife section with insects and other animals, a gigantic croc, an octopus, penguins and a special shark section.  Let me take you on a bit of a tour of this place so that you can see what kind of things Zila (head aquarist) does in a day:

First, we get to see what the public get to see - the underwater observatory.  This is the big tank with that extra large window.  The public can also pay to dive in this tank...Zila gets paid to dive in this tank!  The aquarists take turns to feed the animals in this large exhibit and there are different feeds - shark feeds, scatter feeds that are more general and targeted feeds where animals like moray eels are fed.

The submarine tank exhibit where you can see cardinalfish and urchins and other interesting creatures.

You can also try your hand at sonar and find the turtles.

Then we go behind the scenes with Abby to check out the jelly lab where babies (polyps) are grown out for display.  It's quite amazing finding out that things like a temperature difference can make a jelly have babies...watch out climate change!

Every day, Ariel, the water quality aquarist, and Zila have to check the water quality of all the exhibits to mae sure that they are living in a clean home.  Too much poo would change the pH  - not good for their fish!

Who would have thought that you'd find fruit and verg in an aquarium?!  Well, this is the nutria (water rat) food.  I loved getting the food ready and loved meeting the rats even more...

These guys are big.

 I also got to meet the Asian small-clawed otters,

 and the HUmboldt penguins.

And then I got to meet Mango, the rescued Scarlet Macaw who is now a part of the Dubai Aquarium family.

What an adventure, thanks to everyone at Dubai Aquarium!!  Off I go to the next adventure ;)

Sea you soon!
Abby
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Aquarium Book Special!

Hi Sea Fans!

Long time no see!  This last year just seems to have been a blur!  Unfortunately, my book is no longer available through Amazon.com but if you would like a copy just mail the author at demaine2@gmail.com and she'll hook you up with one.  The first book is almost completely sold out but there are a bunch of book 2 left so get your order in now for Christmas stockings!

Sea you soon!
Abby
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Shark babies

Hi Sea Fans!

Just a quick one today..check this video out for more on how sharks are born:

http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/shark-week/videos/shark-birth-and-maturation/

Have a great week!

Cheers
Abby
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