Ecosystems in Balance, From Local to Global, Knowledge into Action, Sustainability Inside and Out, Sustainable Seafood, To Conserve and Protect

James McJunkin

The pervading theme throughout the tour of the Aquarium, the presentation on the conservation department, and the IMAX film “Secret Ocean” was that of the fragility and delicate balance of all marine life, even when it is controlled in captivity. The first example of this trait came when the constant refrain upon entering the penguin exhibit was not to chew gum. Chewing gum is an act which is seemingly inconsequential in most cases, yet in this situation could cause great distress and even death for the penguins in captivity. In addition, for the other animals in captivity, the conditions at which the aquarium kept their environments were extremely regulated. While this seems appropriate in order to keep the animals healthy, the same delicate balance is not possible in the wild with the current state of oceanic pollution. This disparity in the conditions in which captive and wild individuals exist is a poignant example of exactly how precarious of a situation marine species are in.

A focal point of the presentation by Meghan Jeans of the Conservation Department was the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, or PIPA. This remote area of ocean is a focal point for scientists and policy makers alike due to its isolation, and the ecological situation which derives from the nonexistence of human influences on the ecosystem. Even without these direct influences, the area still regularly experiences coral bleaching events which decimate the reef ecosystems. While these events eventually raise the resiliency factors of the affected factors, the events still occur without a direct human source. While this can be viewed as a fact which diminishes the magnitude of our impact as a species on the oceans, the opposite is more likely true. If the oceans are such a capricious, competitive, and unstable place in isolation, the addition of our negative effects do not bode well for the continuing health of our oceans.

The final aspect of the trip which conveyed the delicate balance of ocean life had a slightly more positive message than the other two. In Secret Oceans, Jean-Michel Cousteau provides beautiful glimpses into some of the smallest parts of the ocean ecosystem. The message with which the film ended was one of individual infirmities overcome by cooperation. From the smallest zooplankton to ocean giants such as whales and manta rays, to even humans ourselves, we all depend on the ocean, and therefore each other, to survive. If we work to help ourselves by helping the ocean, achieving real change in our impact on marine life is much more feasible.

Ricky Berman

Climate change is a challenge facing many of the marine species exhibited at the New England Aquarium. While there may be more direct harms to these marine species, (pollution, overfishing, lack of nutrients etc.) climate change can be traced as the fundamental cause in many instances. My experience at the aquarium reminded me of interconnectedness of the marine species and the delicate balance of ecosystems. During our backstage tour, we learned about lobsters and penguins, two distinct species from different parts of the world, which have both been substantially harmed by the effects climate change.

Lobsters, although not endangered, have been developing increasing instances of shell disease which many scientists link with rising sea temperatures. This disease is caused by bacteria that grow better in warmer conditions. As a result, shell disease has been spreading northward, as lobsters are forced to compensate for rising water temperatures. Instances of shell disease have increased in the Boston area, and even been reported as north as Maine, the national hub for lobster fishing. Although there is an abundance of lobster on the market, which mitigates some of the concern, our tour guide believes that this increase in shell disease is an indication of serious trouble for the industry.

Penguins, unlike lobster, do not migrate with changing temperatures, but are confined to particular areas. As a result, penguins have fewer options to compensate for changing conditions. The African Penguin, which was the main penguin exhibit at the aquarium, is considered endangered as warmer water temperatures have removed vital nutrients and food. Additionally, oil spills are catastrophic for these birds because their feathers clump together and lose their waterproof element. These birds then often die of hypothermia or starvation, confined to their coastal habitats

The examples of lobsters and penguins demonstrate how our extraction and consumption of fossil fuels has destroyed the livelihood of marine species both directly and indirectly. My greatest takeaway from the aquarium trip is the need to transition towards a low carbon society. Reducing general consumption targets the fundamental problem, and may help preserve these marine species that have been unfairly affected.

Greg Partridge

One of the strongest messages to come away from the New England Aquarium visit is that the various species that make up marine ecosystems all depend on each other to remain a healthy system. Whether in the deep sea, the Gulf of Maine, or an Amazon wetland, each piece of the ecosystem plays a part in maintaining a balance that enables all of the to flourish.

An example of this are the fish and crustaceans in the Gulf of Maine. As we learned recently in class, the lobster population is very high presently, and although part of this may be due to sustainable fishing practices, at the aquarium I learned that another reason for it is the depletion of cod, the lobsters’ primary natural predator, through overfishing. Although from the perspective of lobstermen this may seem positive, overpopulation may be contributing to the spread of shell disease and such problems.

This concept also featured in the presentation on the aquarium’s conservation work. Part of the initiative to make seafood for sustainable was, rather than eating certain species that are easy to produce, to eat the species in amounts that reflect a healthy balance in the ecosystem. If instead of massive amounts of shrimp and tuna, habits could be changed so that people eat a variety of seafood, then a few of many species can be harvested from a successful community and the depletion of specific populations avoided. As was mentioned regarding the Phoenix Islands work, the overfishing of top predators, in this case that of sharks for their fins, not only is inefficient and harmful to sharks, but also removes controls from the populations of the sharks’ prey.

Likewise, much of the damage done to coral is from excessive algae growths. In a healthy reef, many of the fish will eat algae growing on the coral, and keep its levels manageable. When the populations of those fish collapse, whether from climate change, overfishing, or indirect change through humans’ impact on other species, the corals are overrun by algae and die.

There are even very unexpected interactions such as those in the Amazon between eels and birds. When the water levels rise in the rainy season, the eels dig out hollows in the banks to hide themselves in, but during the dry season the water levels drop up to twenty feet and these dens are now exposed. Birds then use the hollows as nests until the water rises again and they are submerged. Therefore the health of the eels, surprising as it may be, has an effect on that of many birds.

Through these and the many other examples of healthy interaction between species at the aquarium, it is clear that there is more to the success of a species than the health of its own members alone; for each to thrive all of the others on which it depends must as well.

Star Gulant

At the aquarium, I learned a lot about how the different animal species are taken care of. The penguins are marked for name and gender by distinctive arm bands, and each has a unique name. Their fiberglass rock habitat is equipped with sprinklers that run three times a day in order to mitigate the penguin smell. They are hand fed by trainers, and their molts are monitored by aquarium staff to ensure penguin health. Because their chicks are not waterproof and the water used in the penguin habitat is cold water from Boston harbor, the chicks are raised separately from the exhibit. The penguins are naturally very curious, and if anything ever falls into their exhibit, they are quick to investigate.

In the big ocean tank, many marine species from all trophic levels live and interact together. One might think that the larger predatory species consume some of the prey species in the tank, but because of regular feedings and natural defenses, predation is very low. There are several sea turtles in the tank as well, including the oldest, Myrtle. Myrtle is a green sea turtle that was introduced to the aquarium in 1970 and weighs approximately 550 lbs. The aquarium staff must feed the tank five times a day, and Myrtle like to get up close to the divers and interfere. Thus, she is fed lettuce from a platform on the opposite side of the tank in order to distract her while they are feeding other animals.

The aquarium also has a very active sea turtle rehabilitation program. All species of sea turtle are threatened in the wild and the aquarium will take in about 1100 sick or injured sea turtles per season, and approximately 750 recover sufficiently to be returned to the wild. Many of the sea turtles are cold stunted to have been injured by humans. Climate change is only going to have more negative effects on these turtles and thus the aquarium expects their rehabilitation numbers to continue to increase.

David Marshall

The New England Aquarium is at the forefront of oceanic conservation and research projects. “Through our conservation and research programs, we develop and implement new solutions to protect the oceans and balance the human impacts on them.” The New England Aquarium aims to make a lasting global impact with its initiatives in conservation and research. A few of the many projects carried out by the conservation department at the New England Aquarium are related to; Endangered Species and Habitats, Climate Change, Sustainable Fisheries, Bycatch and Aquaculture, Conservation Medicine, Ocean Health, and Marine Animal Rescue.

One of the major conservation projects carried out by the aquarium is regarding climate change and the ocean. The aquarium recognizes the fact that humans are having major impact on the ocean. Human impact has led to many negative effects on the ocean including the disruption of fragile ecosystems. “It matters not only because of the direct benefits ocean resources provide for humanity but because just as the oceans affect weather around the world, so do our actions around the world affect the oceans.” The aquarium, as well as its donors, feel that it is their responsibility to lead the initiative in finding solutions to the climate change problem. (Climate Change and the Ocean, 2015)

The aquarium also outlines the importance of implementing policies in order to mitigate the effects of climate change in the future. The New England Aquarium emphasizes the need to shift from the use of fossil fuels to non-polluting forms of energy such as solar and wind energy. The aquarium also calls for the need to “enact regulatory tools and financial incentives that will encourage both businesses and citizens to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.” The policy changes laid out by the aquarium demonstrate how efficient legislation can aid in reducing climate change and pollution. (Policies, 2015) The most prevalent example of just how bad our climate change problem really is can be seen in the case of the polar pear. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in 2008, the bear is almost 100% dependent on sea ice for its survival. Without dramatic policy change and projects like those of the New England Aquarium the polar bear could become an endangered species in just a few short years. (Effects on Ocean Animals, 2015)

After learning about the polar bear and the effect of climate change on the ocean the aquarium also gives an in-depth outline of what you can do at home to help reduce climate change. The importance of living green and reducing your carbon footprint play a big role in the effect you have on the planets climate change. (Blue Lifestyle Tips, 2015)  The studies and research carried out by the aquarium gather important information regarding the direction that are planets climate is going. These programs help to engage community members as well as raise awareness about issues that our oceans and climate are facing.

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Ecosystems in Balance, From Local to Global, Knowledge into Action, Sustainability Inside and Out, Sustainable Seafood, To Conserve and Protect