Call for 2012 TNACI Intern Applications!

Interns will help with restoration work
at Colvard Springs on the Conasauga River.

It’s that time of year again when TNACI is looking for the few, the brave, the interns! The students will work at least 10 weeks with our staff, primarily working with the Lake Sturgeon reintroduction project by assisting us with the acquisition, feeding, cleaning, and eventually releasing the 2012 year class. In addition to husbandry work, they will spend time in the field helping with spring restoration projects, snorkeling, collecting fish, surveying and learning to use underwater photography equipment.

Baby Lake Sturgeon! They are very small at the beginning of the summer
and the primary responsibility of our interns is to help them grow up.

Throughout the course of the summer, each intern will develop their own research project related to Lake Sturgeon or other imperiled southeastern freshwater fish. Sarah Candler, a 2011 intern, told us, “My favorite part of interning with TNACI was the variety of experiences I got to have. By working with fish in an aquarium setting and also in the field, I learned alot of new things.” This program offers no shortage of opportunities for students to gain skills and knowledge to help them develop into the fishheads of tomorrow!

Sarah (2011) holding a Lake Sturgeon that was collected
during the annual survey. This fish was from the 2008
year class.

This is not an internship for the desk jockey. We like to get our interns in the water and their hands dirty, and we want students who really enjoy that sort of thing. “The hands-on learning was my favorite part of the internship. I learn best by doing so it was right up my alley.” (Evan Collins, 2009 intern). Check our website for more details and the application. All forms are due by March 15, 2012, and offers will be made by March 30, 2012.

Apply HERE!

On a mission for the Barrens Topminnow

Matt (TNAQUA) and Ashford (TNACI) pulling a seine net.

As many of you probably know, the Tennessee Aquarium is part of the Barrens Topminnow Working Group (BTMWG), in partnership with U.S. Fish& Wildlife Service, Conservation Fisheries, Inc., TennesseeTechnological University and Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. Through the work of the BTMWG and cooperative landowners, the range of Barrens Topminnows has been expanded, and the species has not been listed as federally endangered. Our primary focus at the Aquarium has been to generate babies to be released back into the wild, but each winter we get to be a part of the monitoring as well. Every year the BTMWG surveys as many of the ~30 populations as possible to check on the health of that group. There are three basic types of populations: 1) wild populations that have never received fish from the captive propagation program 2) populations where past reintroduction efforts have been successful, and we now see wild reproduction and 3) sites where reintroduced fish are still struggling. The information we gather during these surveys allows us to make better decisions about what leads to a successful reintroduction and what work to do next.

Kathlina (TNACI), Pat (CFI), Brad, James and John (USFWS)
pulling a seine at Pond Springs.

Every BTM is measured and their lengths recorded as an
indicator of how many year classes are living at each site.
This lets us know if they are successfully reproducing.

On January 25^th and February 2^nd the BTMWG convened in middle Tennessee and got to work. We sampled six sites over the course of the two days using seines and dip nets. Every topminnow that is collected is measured for total length, and 10 from each site are fin clipped for genetic analysis. We were able to have good conversations with several land owners and found lots of Barrens Topminnows too! This project is only possible through the cooperation of landowners so communicating with them is vital. Most of them enjoy seeing the science in action as well, so it is fun for everyone. Of course, in addition to the topminnows, several sites are overloaded with Western Mosquitofish. This invasive species is one other of the worst threats to Barrens Topminnows so we also quantify their density at each site as an indicator of site health.

Matt (TNAQUA), Pat and Rebeckah (CFI)
sort through the fish and debris collected
while seining.

This site is the type locality site and has no mosquitofish
to pester the Barrens Topminnows. Brood stock are
collected each year from here.

The last thing that we are able to accomplish during these site visits each year is the collection of brood stock for the following breeding season. Both CFI and the Tennessee Aquarium have to make sure that their breeding stock is healthy, not too old and that they have the proper sex ratios to get optimal genetic diversity as well as production numbers. Breeding tanks are usually stocked with 2 males and 3 females and the fish are swapped around every couple of weeks. This process is tedious and rearing the babies is very time consuming but the efforts pay off in the end. Since 2001, well over 16,000 Barrens Topminnow have been released into the wild! 

Brood stock collected for the Tennessee Aquarium.

It's the small fish in life that keep us going!

Flame Chubs on exhibit at the Tennessee Aquarium
(Photo courtesy of Todd Stailey)

While many people view small fish simply as bait, to aquatic biologists they can be important indicators of water quality in our streams.  In August 2011, two Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) biologists made an unexpected find of some beautiful “bait” near Franklin, KY… a group of bright red Flame Chubs! This small minnow, found in clear springs and streams in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee, had not been seen in Kentucky waters since the 1880s. This exciting discovery for Dr. Matt Thomas and Stephanie Brandt came at the end of a day of creek surveys in western Kentucky.  “We were not expecting to find anything very interesting in this creek, much less Flame Chubs, so we were pretty excited when we collected a group of 9 that day!”, says Thomas, an Ichthyologist for KDFWR. 


Spring Creek, Simpson County, Kentucky

Stephanie Brandt & Dr. Matt Thomas (KDFWR)

Because we biologists get as excited about these 3-inch fish as fishermen would a trophy bass, news of the rediscovery of Flame Chubs in Kentucky was quickly passed on to scientists at the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute (TNACI).  We have been studying the population status and genetics of the species since 2009.  Because Flame Chubs are only found in high-quality water, their presence in a stream indicates a generally good environmental health. Examining their DNA helps us fine-tune this prediction.  The amount of genetic variation in the individuals tells us which populations are the healthiest, and which could use a little additional help to grow bigger.

Dr. Matt Thomas takes photographs
of the Flame Chubs we collected

In January, I was able to meet Matt and Stephanie for another survey of the creek.  We captured eleven fish that were transported back to TNACI for genetic analysis.  Because this population is currently very isolated from others in this species, it’s especially important that we determine how much genetic variation they have. It’s always encouraging to find rare species in new locations, and we hope to learn more about what Flame Chubs need to thrive.  In addition to the genetic analysis I have also begun studying how much Flame Chubs move from smaller springs and streams into larger creeks during different times of the year. Besides being beautifully colored, this species is interesting from a behavioral perspecitive as well.



We got em'! Kathlina is so happy!



A Date with Medusa

Our morning today was a little different from most mornings at the office.  Kathlina and I decided to walk over to Ocean Journey, the marine-focused building at the Tennessee Aquarium.  We were going to help our aquarist friends feed Medusa, the Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini). 

  

Medusa the Pacific Giant Octopus in the corner of her tank.

When we first arrived at her enclosure, she was curled up in the corner of the tank furthest from us, and was not being particularly social.  We decided to let her stay in her corner and threw a pan of shrimp toward her, which she quickly began to explore with on of her eight tentacles.

  

Medusa putting a tentacle into the pan of shrimp.

Once she was finished with her shrimp and playing with the pan, we served her the next course of breakfast.  Octopi are very intelligent, so staff at the Aquarium provide enrichment activities for Medusa to prevent her from getting bored.  One enrichment activity is making her work for her food.  Shrimp and squid are placed into a closed container that has a screw top, and the whole container thrown into the tank. It was entertaining to watch her try to open the container. 

  

Medusa curled up around the container full of shrimp and squid.

As she worked on getting to her breakfast, she slowly moved closer to Kathlina and me, providing a great photo opportunity that highlights some of the interesting traits octopi possess.

An underwater view.

Cephalopods are the class of invertebrates that include the octopus, squid, cuttlefish, and nautilus.  This is a very unique group of mollusks (yes, they are related to clams and oysters!).  Probably the most noticeable feature of cephalopods is their tentacles. They are lined with suction cups and assist with locomotion, eating, and anchoring the animal down.  To see a video of these amazing appendages in action, check out TNACI's Facebook page.

  



Close-up of Medusa's tentacle.

Some of the more remarkable traits about cephalopods is their developed senses, large brains and their ability to change color.  While other mollusks do not have eyes, cephalopod eyesight is very keen and is the main sense they use to hunt.  The intelligence of octopi is highly debated, but they do possess a brain larger than other invertebrates and experiments have shown an ability to solve mazes.

The group of cephalopods that includes squid, octopus, and cuttlefish (subclass Coleoidea) possess pigmented cells called chromatophores. Contracting and relaxing small mussels around the chromatophores causes the animal to change color, and they can do so very quickly.  Color change occurs during reproductive activities, times of stress, or in an attempts to camouflage with the surrounding environment.  Octopi can also change the texture of their skin.  We were lucky enough to catch Medusa in the middle of a color change.

Chromatophores allow octopi to change color.

Eventually, Medusa did get to the squid in the container we threw to her.  All-in-all it was a fun morning and a nice change in routine. 



I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Can you believe that the holidays are right around the corner?  I know TNACI hasn’t accepted it mostly because of the weather.  Usually by now it is cold and crisp in eastern Tennessee.  Instead, it has been in the 50s and raining.  Despite the warm(ish) weather, we did have a wonderful holiday party last week, full of laughs and funny (some quite strange) White Elephant gifts.

Many of us have our own way of being green during the holidays, and we decided to share some of these ideas with you.  How are you eco-conscious during this time of year?  Please feel free to share in the comments section below.

Dr. Anna George, Director of TNACI

For a few years now, our family has been celebrating “Homemade Christmas.”  With so many talents among us—knitting, drawing, pottery, baking—it just made sense that we should celebrate with our time instead of our wallets.  One year, my husband drew a set of fish coloring books for all of our nieces and nephews, and last year I sewed nine pairs of flannel pajama pants for all of the family!  What’s really great is seeing what the kids are inspired to make for us—my niece has learned how to knit fabulous scarves, and the boys have made us flour dough sea creatures.  Though we still spend some money on our supplies, it’s wonderful not to have a pile of plastic packaging to throw away when Christmas is over.  And never underestimate the value of giving away experiences instead of things—taking my husband out for a nice dinner together is much more memorable—and greener—than buying him a new TV.

Kathlina Alford, Conservation Associate

I love to make things for people for Christmas so I try to use items that I find at yard sales, thrift stores or even the trash and turn them into something new. It’s a different kind of recycling! I also like to be creative with wrapping gifts. This year I bought re-usable grocery bags each time I found a cute one and used those in place of gift bags. I also like to wrap gifts in fabric for those of my friends and family who like to sew! For decorating I use clippings from fir trees and holly bushes in my neighborhood to make the house smell good and look festive. We don’t put up a big tree but instead decorate one of my indoor plants. This year we had a Christmas avocado tree!

Ashford Rosenberg, Sustainability Coordinator

The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year!  But they can also be the most wasteful.  In my family we try to decrease our footprint this time of year.  I keep gift bags from the year before and reuse them.  I also do a lot of holiday shopping at a used book store here in town.  Everyone in my family has strange enough tastes that I can always find a unique, gently used book that will interest them.  I have also moved more toward e-cards than paper cards.  We either re-use wrapping paper, try to find fun materials to wrap gifts in, or purchase paper made from recycled materials.  This year at a Christmas party, instead of buying disposable cups for everyone, we bought red and green plastic tumblers and sharpies so people could personalize their cup and take it home as a party favor.

Sarah Candler, Husbandry Intern

This holiday season, I have downsized the number of lights used in my decorating. Instead of buying all commercial gifts, I have made some of my own as well as purchased many locally made items. Most were wrapped using bows and bags from the previous year. Any bows and ribbons that can be salvaged after opening gifts this year, I will save for reuse next year. I also recycle my Christmas tree every year by mulching it.

Evan Collins, Research Intern

Christmas with my family is a pretty modest affair.  A small Christmas tree comprises the extent of our decorations.  This helps save time and energy.  The main course for the holiday dinner consists of local food, usually a chicken we raised and butchered at home, or locally caught fish for something a little different.  Gifts are packaged with boxes and wrapping paper from previous years and saved if possible.

TNACI Takes Serve & Protect to Chattanooga High Schools

TNACI's mission is to conserve native aquatic animals and their habitats through scientific research, ecosystem restoration, education programs, and public outreach. Historically, TNACI's focus has been on freshwater conservation. However, with the help of celebrity chef Alton Brown, TNACI and the Tennessee Aquarium are moving downstream into the realm of marine conservation through sustainable seafood education.
You may have heard all the buzz when Alton was in town during September. He delivered an engaging presentation to a sold out IMAX Theater, highlighting the importance of environmentally responsible, healthy seafood choices. He definitely brought down the house! But the journey for sustainable seafood education doesn't stop there. Our goal is for the message and actions to spread into the Chattanooga community and beyond.



To continue spreading the message, TNACI now offers a new outreach program called Serve & Protect: a new way to SEEfood. As our Sustainability Coordinator, I get to visit area high schools to educate students about the impacts commercial fishing can have on our ocean, the advantages and drawbacks of fish farming, and ways teenagers and their families can be active in ocean conservation through seafood choices.

Our first group of high schoolers to take part in this program was the students and Girls Preparatory School here in Chattanooga. I spoke to the marine science class at GPS at the start of this week, and had a blast. The students learned what characteristics make a certain species more vulnerable to overfishing, what popular seafood species are in trouble due to overexploitation, and sustainable alternatives. Check out our Facebook page , or GPS's website for more pictures from the program.

If you are interested in TNACI coming to your school to talk about sustainable seafood, contact Ashford Rosenberg.

Logperch, Ashys, and Sunfish, Oh My!

The transition from our hatchery facility in Cohutta, GA, to our recirculating facility in Chattanooga, TN, has been quite the adjustment for TNACI this year. As the Lake Sturgeon project is winding down for the year, we are expanding the number of species we work with and taking on new projects. A greenhouse onsite has been converted into fish grow-out and propagation space. Currently there are three species living there with more to come soon.

The new TNACI fish propagation area, currently housing six separate recirculating systems making up 19 fish enclosures.

:Conasauga Logperch in the Conasauga River during the collection trip for the brood stock for the breeding project. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Calhoon)

In partnership with Conservation Fisheries Inc. (CFI), we are housing Conasauga Logperch and Ashy Darters! The Conasauga Logperch are part of a cooperative effort (also with US Fish and Wildlife Service and Georgia Department of Natural Resources) to assist the wild population of this species by developing techniques for a captive propagation and reintroduction program. In 2010, we helped CFI collect a group of broodstock. Amazingly, CFI produced a bumper crop (over 700!) of little guys in the first year of the program. So 120 of them are growing strong at TNACI until they can be released.

As for the Ashy Darters, they were part of a different program to learn to breed this species - which was obviously also successful! These darters will be held through the winter until they go to the Tennessee Aquarium for exhibit.

Two young Ashy Darters.

The three species in the genus Enneacanthus are another group we’re starting to work with in the new greenhouse facility. Blackbanded Sunfish are being held in a heavily planted system in hopes that the natural sunlight, temperature fluctuations and vegetation will optimize breeding for this species. There are many more plans for this space in the works. It is exciting to plan for the future and have the facilities to accomodate new conservation opportunities that will benefit freshwater species in the Southeast!

Blackbanded Sunfish in our breeding tank.

See a video of the Blackbanded Sunfish eating on our Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Tennessee-Aquarium-Conservation-Institute/151884801512568