The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is committed to conserving corals worldwide.  Currently Bob Snowden, an Aquarist at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, is in Curaçao in the Caribbean Sea working with the SECORE Foundation, www.secore.org, CARMABI (Caribbean Research & Management of Biodiversity), and a team of other scientists and volunteers to learn about the life history and spawning cycle of the Grooved Brain Coral, Diploria labyrinthiformis.  It takes a village to accomplish this important work but the team of dedicated scientists and volunteers is getting the job done.  For this research, Bob Snowden from the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Ben Mueller of the Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research, Valerie Chamberland of CARMABI, SECORE, and the University of Amsterdam, and Tadzio Holtrop of the University of Amsterdam are the key members of this team.

The first day was full of preparations for the predicted spawning of this coral, which has previously not been studied very extensively.  Filtering seawater, photographing tagged colonies, labeling sample bottles, and preparing the lab equipment are among the first things that had to be done upon arriving in Curaçao.  The team has predicted that the spawning would happen early this week.  In preparation, the team went for a dive over the weekend just in case the corals decided to spawn a day sooner, but no spawning activity was observed.  Please check back in the coming days for updates on the team’s progress.  If you would like to donate and help fund important work like this, please visit the zoo’s “Donate” page at http://pittsburghzoo.org/Donate and look for “Coral Conservation Fund”.

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One Degree of Change

December 17, 2012

in Uncategorized

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium recognizes how small changes in the way we all live our lives can make a huge difference. That is why we, along with EQT, started One Degree of Change. This program was created in response to the global warming crisis and is designed to educate individuals about the basics of climate change and give examples of small adjustments that can be made in our daily lives that add up to big results.

This program focuses on the interconnected nature of our world. It touches on worldwide environmental issues, animals who are at risk, and ways we can help. It also offers resources for teachers. To learn more about the One Degree of Change initiative, to find ways you can help, and to learn more about our environment, please visit our brand new website at onedegreeofchange.org

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The following blog post was written by Henry Kacprzyk, Curator of Reptiles & Kids Kingdom at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.  Henry led a group of 16 people to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada on an expedition to observe polar bears in their natural habitat and learn about the incredible wildlife and ecosystem there.

I just returned from one of the best animal experiences someone could hope to have, seeing Polar Bears on the Subarctic tundra of Churchill Manitoba, Canada. Having worked with polar bears at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, I have always been fascinated with their beauty, strength, and immense size. This trip allowed me to get as close as possible to these Kings of the Tundra in a very unique way.

But I am getting ahead of myself. When planning a trip to Churchill, a small town of less than 800 residents situated on the Hudson Bay, you realize there is no easy way to get there. No roads go into the town. A train can be caught from Winnipeg, Manitoba, but we decided instead to fly in by charter plane. 16 people from the Pittsburgh area coordinated their trip through the Pittsburgh Zoo and Frontier North Travel. Our two-hour flight from Winnipeg had us landing in the Churchill airport on Sunday, exposing us to our first real taste of winter for the season. We were all prepared for the elements because if you hope to see snow bears, you better expect a little snow. Our expectations of seeing polar bears were quickly realized, when we boarded a retired school bus to take a tour of the town Churchill. We never made the tour because we came upon three polar bears within a five-minute drive of the airport! Two of the bears were playfully wrestling, while the other walked in from the shoreline. At first, we were over 100 yards away, but soon enough they were within several feet of our bus, putting on a show that none of us could have imagined. At times, it seemed as if the one bear was going to climb up the side of the bus, but our diver quickly turned on the bus ignition to deter the bear. As you can imagine, we managed to take some fantastic photos of the bears, as well as pictures of ravens and the elusive snowy owl. The whole event lasted for about two and a half hours and for most people, this itself would have been worth the trip. But we had much more to come.

The next day had us scheduled for something I have always fantasized about: dog sledding on the tundra. Most people are familiar with the Iditarod, the 1049 mile dog sled race that lasts 10 to 17 days. We participated in the slightly shorter “Idimile”. A team of dogs pulled us around a snow covered course, beginning and ending at a warm cabin (and a hot teepee). The experience catapulted us into the Arctic experience. Before snow mobiles, dogs were the lifeline for transportation, hunting, and survival. We now all had a better understanding of what that meant to the Northern inhabitants of the tundra.

Monday afternoon had us preparing for the main event, a trip on the Tundra Buggy to the Tundra Buggy Lodge. Through the efforts of Margie Marks, the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium’s Curator of Conservation Education, arrangements were made for our group to be chaperoned by Carolyn Buchanan, wife of Robert Buchanan, the CEO of Polar Bears International. Her experience, coupled with that of our guide Scotsman David Reid, gave us a unique view into the world of the tundra. David Reid has been living in the Far North since 1989, having arrived in Canada as an employee of the Hudson Bay Company. Since then, he has established his own company Polar Sea Adventures, taking small groups on tour of the extremes of the Arctic. His company was instrumental in the production of the award winning television series Frozen Planet, helping plan the travel logistics in both the Antarctic and Arctic. We were most definitely travelling with experts of the Arctic, helping us understand the interconnection of life in this harsh environment.

Our hour and a half ride in the Tundra Buggy, a kind of Winnebago on steroids, gave us an idea what our next few days would be like. A propane fired furnace heated the bus cabin, large windows could be opened for picture taking, and the huge tires (costing $7000.00 per tire) lifted us just out of reach of inquisitive bears. We docked with the Tundra Buggy Lodge and were welcomed to individual sleeping berths, which included the wonderfully warm wool Hudson Bay Blankets. Besides the sleeping areas, the lodge had a dining area and a lounge. Like the Tundra Buggy, the entire lodge was lofted by huge tires. This allowed the lodge to be relocated at different times, to minimized tundra impact.

The meals were welcoming after a day on the tundra, served hot and delicious. Our buggy drivers acted as our wait staff upon arrival. “Buggy Bob” our driver was multitalented, having been a zoo keeper for many years at the Assiniboine Zoo in Winnipeg. Coincidentally, I recognized him from a cartoon strip that he was featured in back in the late 1980’s, when his zoo was planning to host an Animal Keeper Conference. He was very surprised that I made the connection as we have both aged. Buggy Bob rounded out our guide team, we were ready for the first day out on the tundra.

Our days on the tundra provided us with many polar bear encounters, including a mother and cub. In all, we saw at least 50 polar bears over three days. These bears gather outside of Churchill in anticipation of ice formation on the Hudson Bay. The fresh water of the Hudson River empties into the Bay and freezes before the sea water, giving the polar bears the earliest opportunity to feed on ringed seals, their main diet. The bears haven’t eaten seal since late June and they are quite hungry by November. Amazingly they wait patiently, wrestling and playing while awaiting the big freeze. In time, the entire Hudson Bay will freeze, serving as a hunting platform for the bears as well as a breeding habitat come March. Without sea ice, polar bears cannot survive. The locals agree that the ice is forming later and later possibly reflecting the trends of global warming (or, to be more politically correct, climate change).

Of the entire list of things that really make a trip enjoyable, at the very top must be your companions. We had a great group of people, each unique and all bringing out the best in everyone else. There was much discussion of where “We” can go next. Stay tuned. With this trip being such a success, another Zoo-sponsored trip will surely be planned.

If you have any ideas where you would like the Zoo to lead a trip, please let us know. We would be happy to be part of your next adventure.

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Although it is often with sadness that we part ways with our beloved animals as they move to other zoos in the nation, it is with great joy that we welcome the good news of their new lives. Mara, a very rare Amur tiger born to Toma here at the Pittsburgh Zoo, birthed her first litter of two beautiful male cubs at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium on June 28 and 29 of this year. After their birth, the cubs were monitored closely by the animal care team and a decision was later made to hand rear the cubs after the Columbus Zoo experienced a power outage due to a severe storm. The cubs have since been growing larger and stronger each day.

If you were to trace Mara’s roots back to Pittsburgh, you would find a very favorable genealogy beginning with her mother, Toma. In 2006, Toma gave birth to a litter of three cubs here at the Pittsburgh Zoo. Mara was one of the cubs in this litter. Since 2006, Toma has brought forth three litters, raising four of the six cubs she has birthed.

It is not unusual for many different species of wild animals to abandon or reject their newborns. Each time Toma has birthed a litter, the Zoo staff had to play somewhat of a waiting game for a period of time to see whether or not Toma would care for the cubs in each litter. Out of all of the cubs she has birthed, only one was rejected; Billy Ray, who is now four years old, lives at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado and is doing well.

Because of the extremely low numbers of Amur tigers in the wild and in zoo’s, the successful mating of this species is a major accomplishment. The pairing of Mara, age 5, and Foli, age 9, was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan (SSP) for tigers given the strong genealogy seen in both sides of their lineage. These tigers are considered pedigreed since they have a known ancestry and breeding recommendations to maintain genetic variety are managed by a studbook.

The Amur tiger, often referred to as the Siberian tiger, is one of five subspecies of tigers in existence today and is considered a critically endangered animal; fewer than 400 are believed to be remaining in the forests of the Russian Far East. Their populations are experiencing such great declines in numbers due to over-hunting of prey species, poaching for skins and body parts for medicinal use, and habitat loss. Unfortunately, the main cause of tiger deaths in the wild is due to human interaction.

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Please see the following message from our friends at Polar Bears International:

Pop into the Arctic with the click of a mouse!

If you’ve ever tuned in to our Tundra Connections broadcast series, you know how chock full of information it can be. If not, your opportunity to experience this unique learning environment is right on the horizon…

This year’s lineup includes broadcasts geared toward specific age groups, with specialized curriculum, vocabulary, and learning outcomes. World-renowned polar bear scientists and climate experts teach you all about polar bears and the effects of climate change on their arctic habitat, with cutaways to live footage of bears playing, sparring, and lounging around as they wait for the return of the sea ice. And you get to experience all of this from the warmth of your classroom or the comfort of your easy chair!

Don’t forget to register today! To join, please visit the Tundra Connections page on our website.

 

Please check out this comprehensive list of our fall schedule:
Just for Kids
Denotes broadcasts just for kids

 

OCTOBER 24: 12:30 P.M. Central

From the Top of the World

Special Broadcast for

Discovery Educator Network &

At-large Grades 4-8

 

OCTOBER 25: 12:00 P.M. Central

Just for KidsJUST FOR KIDS
All About Arctic Animals

Target Audience Grades 2-4

 

OCTOBER 25: 1:30 P.M. Central

Arctic Adaptations

Special Broadcast for Discovery Educator Network &

At-large Grades 4-8

 

OCTOBER 31: 1:30 P.M. Central

Ice is Nice!

Special Broadcast for Discovery Educator Network &

At-large Grades 4-8

 

NOVEMBER 1: 12:30 P.M. Central

Polar Bears in a Warming World

Special Broadcast for Discovery Educator Network &

At-large Grades 4-8

 

NOVEMBER 1: 2:00 P.M. Central

Polar Regions are Important

 

NOVEMBER 6: 2:00 P.M. Central

Just for KidsJUST FOR KIDS
Arctic Predators

Target Audience Grades 2-4

 

NOVEMBER 7: 12:00 P.M. Central

Arctic Keystone Species

 

NOVEMBER 14: 2:00 P.M. Central

Arctic Documentary Project

 

NOVEMBER 22: 12:00 P.M. Central

Polar Bear Moms and Cubs

 

For more information contact connections@pbears.org.
Sponsored by Polar Bears International
www.polarbearsinternational.org

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The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is always looking for new ways to conserve energy in the best ways possible. That is why the Zoo purchased a biomass combustion unit. Biomass combustion is the burning of biomass to create energy. The unit contains four components—a dryer, a resize-grinder, a hopper, and a furnace. The unit will be used at the Zoo’s International Conservation Center (ICC) located in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

The biomass combustion unit will use manure from elephants that will be housed at the ICC. The Zoo plans on housing up to 20 elephants at the center. Each elephant can produce up to 125 pounds of waste per day. That means that when fully operational, 2,000 pounds of waste will be produced each day.  By purchasing a biomass combustion unit, the Zoo is keeping 730,000 pounds of waste out of landfills annually. The manure will be dried and condensed and then burned to warm the barn to a comfortable 50 to 60 degrees.

The biomass combustion unit that the Zoo has purchased is designed to burn not only manure, but it will also burn switchgrass that will be grown on the property. Switchgrass is a type of grass that grows naturally in North America and can be used to generate up to five times the amount of energy that it takes to grow it.  Switchgrass will be burned with the manure until the elephant herd size is adequate to heat the barn without the grass.

This unit will also produce the best results for clean burning that will meet or exceed the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection emissions standards.

 

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The Green Team

October 4, 2012

in Uncategorized

Everyone has heard the term “go green,” but what does that really mean? Going green is a term used to describe the reduction of our dependence on oil-based energy sources. Going green can also mean putting more of an effort into recycling. When it comes down to it, going green means becoming more involved in trying to save the world’s resources.

As a non-profit organization, the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium recognizes the importance of using our energy resources efficiently as well as maximizing the use of renewable resources and minimizing the use of fossil fuels. That is why the Zoo has an in-house Green Team Committee to assist the Zoo in improving our green practices.

Our Green Team Committee currently has 24 members who meet monthly to discuss ways to challenge and offer assistance to all departments within the Zoo to improve on their green practices. The committee has seen a great amount of change throughout the Zoo in terms of energy and natural resource conservation such as Zoo wide recycling programs, organic waste composting, energy efficient lighting, and green building practices.  Twice a year, the Green Team heads out to Butler Avenue, the main road on which all of our visitors drive to access the Zoo, and picks up litter off of the street as a part of the Zoo’s commitment to maintaining this road in an Adopt a Highway initiative.

Every year, the Green Team reviews its accomplishments and will begin to strategize both long-term and short-term goals for the following year. Success depends heavily on educating the staff on the benefits of going green as well as providing resources to aid staff in making green decisions.

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As part of our Shark Week celebration August 12-18, we held a coloring contest with Giant Eagle. We had many talented participants who entered. Although it was a difficult decision, 10 winners were selected and their artwork is currently being displayed in Water’s Edge. Check out their pictures in the slideshow below, or see them in person in Water’s Edge this week at the Zoo.

Then, keep an eye on our social media throughout the next few days – another coloring contest opportunity will be announced this week!

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The SECORE team has been hard at work setting up the nursery for both the collected spawn and brooders, which are corals that fertilize their embryos internally as opposed to externally.  The kreisels, specially designed tanks where the embryos will develop, are now up and running in the coral nursery.

The SECORE team collected gametes from the elkhorn coral at both the Spanish Waters and Sea Aquarium dive sites.  These corals spawned and released their gametes at 9:20p.m. on August 4, as the spawning is synced with the stages of the moon and occurs during a full moon.

This year the elkhorn corals only spawned on one night during their normal spawning period.  It is believed that this year there will be a split-spawn.  This means that the coral spawning will be potentially divided into two spawns due to the fact that there are two full moons in August because of a blue moon.  The blue moon is an extra full moon that occurs every few years due to the additional 11 days in the annual lunar cycle.

The new PhD student working with SECORE and CARMABI (Caribbean Marine Biological Institute), Valerie Chamberland, will be in Curacao for the potential second spawning, which is expected to be after the second full moon and should happen early in September.

Throughout the trip, Bob Snowden, Aquarist at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, has also been busy leading the brooder workshop.  He took the team out on a collecting dive to collect Golf Ball Corals, Favia fragum, and Sun Polyp Corals, Tubastraea coccinea.  The team will gather larvae from both of these corals.  The corals are put into containers each night before sunset so that when they release their larvae, they can be harvested later at night and early the next morning.  Many larvae were collected and settled onto ceramic tiles.  These tiles were pre-cultured in the tanks so that they had the right biofilms growing on them. Biofilms give the corals the proper chemical cues to trigger a settlement response so the coral will settle and grow.  Bob taught the rest of the team how to facilitate this process and how they can do similar work at their institutions when they return.  By doing this, they can potentially raise new, genetically diverse corals in their tanks and reduce demand on wild populations.  It is hoped that the brooding corals settled at SECORE will continue to grow throughout the year so that the team can brood them the following year.

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Since arriving in Curacao a week ago, the SECORE team has been hard at work with preparations for the upcoming Elkhorn coral spawning. There have been meetings to settle logistics and “check out dives”, which are test dives when the coral is not spawning that give newer folks the opportunity to get comfortable with diving at the reef dive sites. All of this is to prepare for the big spawning event that is predicted to happen within the coming days.

Education is a big part of the work that SECORE is doing. In the mornings, several

presentations have been given to the team to discuss collection techniques and best practices for working with and rearing coral. Coral rearing is the process of the coral growing up from tiny larvae to be an adult coral, which can grow to be 10 feet wide in the Elkhorn coral family. Presenters include Dr. Dirk Petersen of the SECORE Foundation, Mike Brittsan from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Bob Snowden from the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, Valerie Chamberland who is a doctoral student at the University of Amsterdam, and George Keifer from the Curacao Sea Aquarium. Paul Selvaggio, creative director and photographer at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, also shared the SECORE video that was produced to increase outreach.

After the practice and familiarization dives, the team prepared for the first night dive of the trip. This occurred on the first night after the full moon, so spawning, which typically occurs a few days after the full moon, was not expected. However, the team began the night dives at this time since nature can be unpredictable and in the event that spawning occurred early, they would be ready. At 8:45p.m., the team entered the water and began looking for signs of coral spawning, but no spawning was observed. It is anticipated that the peak spawning will occur at any time now.

The brooder workshop also began and is being led by Bob Snowden, an Aquarist Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. The team will work with brooder corals and collect larvae from them. The team will continue the night dives in the hopes that the corals will spawn this weekend, and another generation of Elkhorn Coral will be fertilized and reared.

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