Personnel, LSS, and Exhibits Abstracts
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Developing a Professional Team: Ideas from the Aquarium of the Pacific Sandy Trautwein, Ph.D., Aquarium of the Pacific Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
The long-term success of any aquarium depends on the professional health of its staff. Participation in exhibit development, operational improvements, and future planning are all important for professional growth, but are often led by senior management. Staying engaged in daily responsibilities can also be difficult for aquarists, as the job can be repetitive and physically demanding. Over the past several years the Aquarium of the Pacific has implemented several outlets for increasing aquarist professional growth while also integrating aquarists in departmental development. By creating these opportunities the Aquarium of the Pacific hopes to contribute to each aquarist's personal growth while also helping staff to cultivate an atmosphere of respect and inclusion in which each employee can feel a sense of pride and professionalism in his or her work. This presentation will review these opportunities and present some ideas for developing a professional team. |
Byting back: How well-architected
digital husbandry practices can alleviate operational challenges Marie Collins, SEA LIFE Aquarium @ LEGOLAND California Resort Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
SEA LIFE Aquariums throughout the U.S. have moved towards incorporating more advanced record-keeping techniques for animal collection tracking. Husbandry staff, educators, and a programmer (called the digital alchemist) have collaborated to create an open, web-based record keeping software called Biota. Five of eight SEA LIFE sites have moved towards integrating this new technology into their facilities. This integrates technologies that mix back-of-house data with educational content to create engaging and informative interactive features. Biota’s animal inventory system automatically updates touch screens, mobile apps, and training materials. Husbandry staff can easily record feeding logs, animal observations, maintenance records, and dive logs. Guest interactions with the touch screens are recorded to gauge interest for upcoming displays. Future projects include the use of ethograms to track animal behavior and joint medical records between all SEA LIFE U.S. sites. Therefore, all of the data is harvested in one accessible and secure program. |
Full Abstract
On the 10th August 2016 at 11.30am there was an electrical fire at The Deep. It took out our 16 year old mature coral exhibit and engulfed the aquarium in smoke. The actions taken on the day by the Husbandry team were exemplary and have since been documented in an action plan should the worst ever happen again. The plan provides every detail of what to do and when, from communication with the fire brigade to preparing penguin transport containers. A fire evacuation grab bag has also been put together providing useful items for staff to start emergency preparations once they have left the building. The following days after the fire also threw up unexpected problems including the failure of our main exhibit life support system PLC. As a result, the fire has triggered a range of upgrades and modifications throughout the building to help prevent such events in future. |
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Occupational Diving and How it Impacts Your Facility Holly Martel, Bourbon National Aquarium, Association of Dive Program Administrators Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Occupational diving within the zoo and aquarium industry differs greatly from recreational diving. Occupational diving encompasses underwater diving with compressed air (SCUBA or surface supplied) during employment. The activities are mandated by Federal OSHA regulations and the task dictates the standard that is followed. Diving scope includes tasks associated with exhibit husbandry, such as cleaning tanks and feeding animals, inspecting and maintaining life support and treating and capturing animals. Also included are dive equipment considerations and sanitation, volunteer management, guest immersion programs, VIP/Media, special events, and managing reciprocity requests for staff. The goal of a well-managed occupational dive program is to safely and efficiently perform tasks underwater while facilitating institutional diving needs. In this way, Husbandry and the Dive Safety Team can better understand and assist one another in their respective jobs. |
Preparing for the Unexpected: How One “Garden Variety Storm” Made Us Rethink our Disaster Preparedness Becky Ellsworth, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
On July 6th, 2016, a storm system rolled through Columbus, lasting only about 5 minutes. While the rest of the zoo went about operating as normal, two large aquarium buildings lost all power and back- up power. A transformer box had taken a direct lightening hit. What followed when power was restored was the quick realization that everything that was on before the storm, was now electrically compromised. Everything from pumps, IT equipment and radio chargers were essentially fried. The cost for this lightning strike totaled over $56,000 and took several weeks to repair. In this presentation, I will talk about what we learned from this unexpected event. Topics will include building aquariums for unexpected disaster, and the importance of fostering relationships with nearby institutions. I will discuss the need for disaster preparedness beyond the exercises required by AZA, and what that looks like for an aquarium. |
AQUARIUM MONITORING AND CONTROLS ON A BUDGET: A TECHNOLOGY BASED APPROACH FOR CREATING STABLE ENVIRONMENTS
Mark Faulkner Tenji, Inc Watch Video (Login required) . Full Abstract
In recent years, aquarium controls have evolved considerably. There are now affordable monitoring and control systems, originally designed for the hobbyist industry, which are robust, easy to build and program and prime for incorporating into certain portions of the public aquarium sector. These systems are ideal for monitoring and controlling smaller displays that often are not part of an institution’s larger Building Management System (BMS), but nevertheless house important and valuable specimens. They provide piece-‐of-‐mind, help prevent and warn of catastrophes before it’s too late, as well as create a more stable environment for the system’s inhabitants. These powerful systems allow aquarists to monitor and control a diverse range of inputs and outputs. They are cloud based and the end user can get real-‐time data and have remote control anywhere from any web-‐based device as long as they have Internet connection. |
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Plastic Fantastic?
Taking up the challenge of going #OneLess Katy Duke, Dr Heather Koldewey The Deep, Zoological Society of London Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
If marine conservation is truly important then why is it such a low priority for most people and bottom of the political agenda? Is the conservation community failing in selling the conservation message? Do public aquariums see conservation primarily in terms of supporting overseas projects and breeding programmes? The #OneLess campaign is exploring how aquariums and other organisation might adopt different ways to engage people in marine conservation, leading to changes in behaviour and a more sustainable relationship with the ocean. Developed by the Zoological Society of London and partners, the #OneLess campaign aims to reduce the number of single use plastic water bottles, one of the highest sources of marine litter, by promoting alternative refillable bottles. The Deep have taken on this challenge. This case study documents the process of going #OneLess and how other aquariums might get involved in a wave of positive change for the ocean! |
"Pumps - the heart of aquatic installations" Alexander Grah, Abyzz America LLC Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
In modern public aquariums we often find a lot of chances to reduce the electrical power consumption and thus the carbon footprint. Old installations, bad planning or the need to change several installations lead to a mismatch of needed flow and head pressure versus pump performance. We will talk a little bit about the do´s and don´ts of plumbing, explain differences in flow when piping wrong, the correct matching of pump to exhibit and sustainability issues. |
Effect of Supplemental
Phosphorus and Organic Carbon on Nitrification during Cycling Barrett L. Christie, OdySea Aquarium Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Chemical cycling of new LSS through the use of ammonium salts or urea is standard practice in the aquarium industry. These nitrogen sources have long been used to facilitate growth of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) in biofilters, though the process has its limitations. Cycling of nitrite typically is typically more problematic than ammonia as NOB communities develop more slowly than AOB and must compete for space in biofilms. Though the cycling process promotes chemoautotrophic nitrification most species of NOB are facultative organoautotrophs, and as such can utilize organic compounds as the electron donor in nitrification. Supplementation of organic carbon (e.g. sugar/ethanol) in addition to carbonates or bicarbonates has been found to enable NOB to more rapidly oxidize nitrite concentrations during cycling. Additionally, the supplementation of phosphorus (as phosphoric acid) has been used in aquaculture for years to similar effect to ameliorate “phosphate block” in cycling. |
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Hook, Line, and Sinker:
Reeling in Guests and Staff with Engaging Uses of Data Misha Body and Tony Niemann, California Science Center Foundation and Zier Niemann Consulting Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Emerging technologies are often meant to standardize and streamline data entry and reporting, but technology can also be used to share the invaluable and engaging experiences of our staff with our guests. This year, we gave a human touch to Big Data to engage staff and guests alike. Information bandwidth, interdepartmental communications, and the variety of our populations were challenges of this project, but our solution uses the data staff members already create, streamlines the content approval process, and automatically updates content based on population management information. This information is shared on a public-facing iPad in an easily navigable design that our increasingly connected guests can operate. In the end, we tap into our data in a way that gives guests a new view of our collection while also providing an opportunity to highlight staff and their exciting observations and notes without adding to workflows. |
9,000 Pounds of Acrylic and Water Suspended 15 feet in the air, Add Over 200 Fish and a Scissor Lift and You Get……..
Fish Globes!? Johnny May, OdySea Aquarium Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Long before the opening of the OdySea Aquarium in Scottsdale, Arizona the founder of the aquarium envisioned an exhibit seen nowhere else in the world. The “Aqualobby”, as it is appropriately named, is home to nine acrylic globes suspended between ten and fifteen feet above aquarium guest. Approximately thirty fish call each of the globes home. From vision, to design, to construction, and daily care, this presentation will cover the initial LSS design of these systems and some of the challenges encountered with this industry first. |
The Rapid Design Process (RDP) in aquatic exhibits: a Designer’s Perspective Bob Bacigal, Tenji, Inc Watch Video (Login required) . Full Abstract
We created the Rapid Design Process (RDP) in response to project teams’ needs for more comprehensive project documentation earlier in the process. Based on the traditional design charrette, the RDP is an ultra-compressed concept design process. It produces enough critical documentation for teams to analyze, assess and approve a project—enabling an institution to move on to fundraising. |
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“Forests Underwater by Takashi Amano” – Maintenance of a 160 m3 nature aquarium at Oceanário de Lisboa
António Vitorino, Hugo Batista and Núria Baylina, Oceanario de Lisboa Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
In 2015, Oceanário de Lisboa opened its new temporary exhibition - “Forests Underwater by Takashi Amano” - giving its visitors the opportunity to see the world’s largest nature aquarium. If the construction and assembly of an aquarium this big posted a great challenge, its maintenance is no different. Given the size of the tank, most of the techniques and tools used to keep this exhibit had to be up scaled. This presentation focuses mainly on the aspects related to the maintenance of the aquarium, namely the daily routines of cleaning, water quality management and supplements needed, algae and pest control but also special adapted routines of plant maintenance and trimming. Here, we intend to demonstrate the main challenges involved in the maintenance of this aquarium but also to alert to different methods adopted in order to ensure a natural aspect in this type of aquaria. |