Harlequinmania

Click through to see the images. Although this article will deal with my own experiences with surgeonfish dating back to the 1970s, before turning to that allow me to provide the reader with some information about the family of surgeonfishes, all of whom belong to the family Acanthuridae. Acanthuridae is Latin for the torn tail. The most distinctive characteristic of this family is its scalpel like spine located at the caudal peduncle. This spine is quite sharp and can easily wound another fish and or a careless marine fish keeper. Surgeonfish have relatively small mouths with which using a single row of teeth they graze essentially on various forms of algae. Surgeonfish are generally quite aggressive. It should be noted however that certain species are more aggressive than others. Surgeonfish engage in aggression usually to protect their food source. However, aggression for surgeonfish as well as other fish takes on two forms: one is intraspecific aggression the other interspecific aggression; that is, aggression directed at members of one's own species and aggression directed toward members of other species. Aggression in surgeonfish is of particular importance for any aquarist planning on keeping surgeonfish in captivity, particularly when keeping more than one in a closed system. There will be a good deal more about this later. Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Antinopterygii Sub order: Acanthuroidei Family: Acanthuridae Genera: Acanthurus Ctenochaetus Naso Paracanthus Prionurus Zebrasoma I started keeping creatures from the sea in glass aquariums in the mid-1960s. In those days, except for a few exceptions, mostly we tried to keep marine fish, in fish only aquariums. Generally, beginning aquarists started out with a sterile aquarium, into which marine fish were placed. After a few days these beautiful reef fish began to look poorly, and after a few more days they generally died. This unfortunate condition was termed the "new tank syndrome." Without going into any detail, suffice it to say that eventually we learned how to inoculate these sterile tanks with beneficial bacteria so that these bacteria could break down toxic waste, into relatively harmless nitrate products. The fish themselves are the producers of toxic waste, primarily ammonia. Unfortunately, that was only the beginning of our problems with keeping reef fish in captivity for any considerable length of time. By establishing beneficial bacteria we not only were successful at keeping reef fish alive we were also successful at establishing an environment in which parasites that utilized fish as hosts would be also kept successfully. Parasites in particular were responsible for wiping out an aquarist's community of reef fish and often drove aquarists from our hobby. It was particularly painful to watch one's reef fish become covered what looked like fine sand grains or grains of salt from protozoans like Amyloodinium ocellatum, more commonly known as Marine Velvet and Cryptocaryon irritans, commonly known as Ich. Once the body of the fish along with its fins were visibly covered with these parasites it was also true though not visible to the naked eye that these parasites were present in the gill issue of these fish and rapidly suffocated the host fish. Obviously, we fought back. There were a number of medications that manufacturers sold with a promise that it would kill said parasites. In general, medications like copper and formalin, two of the best, had to be administered very carefully at a dose that was strong enough to kill the parasites but not too concentrated so that it killed the host fish as well. I'm sorry to say that the wars between the parasites in the marine aquarist's aquariums more often than not led to the death of many reef fish. However, there were a few aquarists myself included that had some success. In those days, the way to success with marine fish was to have a few fish in a relatively large tank and once these were established to never add a new fish. I recall there was an aquarist from New Jersey by the name of Jerry Riddler. He had about 30 tanks with one fish in each tank. Doing it this way he succeeded in keeping a number of Marine fish for more than 10 years. Whenever he found a fish that he had to have he simply set up a new tank. Most marine aquarists at this particular time in history didn't have the kind of discipline that Jerry Riddler had. Typically, aquarists tried to maintain a fish only community tank, but invariably added a new fish which was followed by an often devastating outbreak of Cryptocaryon irritans orAmyloodinium ocellatum. The more experienced marine aquarists argued that it was absolutely essential to have a quarantine tank and to quarantine new fish for a minimum of four weeks. That of course helped, but was far from a guaranty. Typically, what happened was that the quarantined fish which appeared healthy when brought into the community tank was stressed by the move and somehow stressed the established fish resulting in a new infestation. I am of the opinion that parasites are almost always present, even though their presence may not be detectable. Once marine fish have a healthy and functioning immune system they are capable of keeping parasites at bay. I am also of the opinion, after many years of experience with these fish, that the way to keep fish healthy is with a fully functioning immune system, mostly dependent on an environment as similar as possible to the one in which they evolved; that is, a coral reef. I'm not aware of any quantifiable study that studied the resistance of fish to disease in a fish only environment compared to fish in an established reef tank. Whether it's because fish have healthier immune systems in reef tanks or that parasites have a more difficult time surviving in a reef tank, where they are often food for invertebrates, I do not know. In fact, it may be a combination of the two, but my experience has shown me that fish are much healthier in reef tanks, especially established reef tanks. I set up my first reef tank early in the 1980s, and have never looked back -- so to speak. In many ways surgeonfish are ideal fish for a reef environment. For example, Acanthurus desjardinii grazes actively on Valonia spp. This desjardinii , like all of the surgeonfish displayed in this article were members of various reef tank communities kept by me over the last 40 or so years. My most successful reef tank, pictured below, was a 10-foot, 500-gqallon reef. Many fish lived in this tank for more than 10-years, and one Amphiprion frenatus was with me for over 20-years. As you can see there are 6 surgeonfish in this tank; in fact, a pair of Red Sea purple tangs -- Zebrasoma xanthurum. Although it is generally believed that it is difficult if not impossible to keep more than one of any particular species of surgeonfish in a hobbyist's tank these two lived together for many years. I suspect that it was because they were introduced to the tank as juveniles - about the size of a half-dollar -- and that the most aggressive of all of the surgeonfish in this reef kept everybody in line. Of course, I'm referring to the Acanthurus sohal. When dealing with surgeonfish there are three subjects of particular significance: aggression, disease control, and diet. Aggression directed toward members of one's own species is called intraspecific aggression. Aggression directed toward members of another species is called interspecific aggression. Intraspecific aggression is generally the most intense. Not surprisingly, aggression is most intense when directed toward other fish that have the same body shape, coloration, or pattern. It is important to keep this in mind when seeking to introduce a new fish to an established community tank, especially when introducing a new surgeonfish to a reef tank that has an established one. A good rule of thumb is to add the most aggressive and larger last. Trying to add a small Acanthurus achilles to a tank that has a established Acanthurus leucosternon would be disastrous. This is a general rule, and does not account for the idiosyncratic behavior of individual fish, and the behavior of extremely aggressive fish like the sohal surgeonfish. While keeping all of this in mind the reef keeper must quarantine the new fish for at least 4 weeks and until it is eating vigorously. If a reef fish is not a specialized feeder and is not interested in food it is in trouble. Some of the same fish grazing on Nori. When it comes to nutrition regarding surgeonfish, it is important to keep in mind that they are herbivores. Some inexperienced aquarists sometimes buy a surgeonfish from a dealer that will only eat brine shrimp or even mysis shrimp, which, in my opinion is a mistake. Over the years I have always fed my surgeonfish O.S.I. marine flakes - about 25% of the time - and O.S.I. spiruline 75% of the time. I also often tie some Nori to a floating piece of PVC for reef fish to graze on. However, I am of the opinion that it is a quality flake food with lots of vegetable matter that must provide the bulk of surgeonfish's diet. Surgeonfish need room, especially if the reef keeper wants to have more than one in a community tank. Although I had 6 surgeonfish in my old reef tank, keep in mind that it was 10-feet long. In the picture above it appears that the leucosternon and the Achilles are happily grazing together, but nothing could be further from the truth. Aside from when feeding one staked out the left side of the tank and the other the right side of the tank. The photo below shows how wary the desjardinii is of the leucosternon. Surgeonfish are very susceptible to parasites, and as a result I would not consider a surgeonfish in anything but an established reef tank. As I suggested earlier the aquarist needs to do everything possible to place surgeonfish in an environment that supports the fish’s immune system. I suspect that it is fortunate that medications like copper cannot be used in reef tanks. I say this because in my experience medications used to kill parasites do more harm than good, and taking fish out of the reef tank to treat them also does more harm then good. A few spots on a newly introduced fish in a reef tank is not a cause to panic. Most of time, in a healthy reef tank, a newly introduced fish will rid itself of the parasites. Thanks for listening! One more photo of my favorite pair of surgeonfish. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Cairns Underwater Film Festival is a celebration of underwater photography and filmmaking. The festival combines an underwater film and photo competition (which focuses on the rich and diverse beauty of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea) with a film festival showcasing underwater imagery from around the world. Every year, contestants have presented amazing photography at the festival, and we expect this year to take coral reef imagery to new heights. If the official trailer for the event is any indication, our collective jaws are about to drop again really soon. We'll follow up in a few weeks to share some of the winning work. View the full article

Click through to see the images. " height="360" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640"> "> "> Please visit our friends at www.blennywatcher.com for many more photos and descriptions. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Given its common name due to its flat-topped, table-like shape, table coral (Acropora cytherea) is one of the primary reef-building corals throughout most of the tropical Pacific, but it has never been observed in waters off O'ahu - until now, researchers said. The coral, estimated to be 14 years old, was found at a depth of 60 feet during a training dive. "This discovery represents a significant contribution to the diversity of O'ahu reefs," said Daniel Wagner, Ph.D., NOAA research specialist with Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. "Hawai'i may be in the process of being colonized by table coral from Johnston Atoll or other neighboring tropical archipelagos." Table coral is abundant at Johnston Atoll, 800 miles southeast of Honolulu. However, it is rare in Hawai'i, where its distribution is limited to French Frigate Shoals and neighboring atolls in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The coral colony was discovered by scientists last November during survey dives using closed-circuit rebreathers off the south shore of O'ahu. Rebreathers recycle the gases that divers breathe, removing carbon dioxide and actively managing oxygen levels, thereby allowing for extended dive times and more efficient decompression at depths not accessible using conventional SCUBA. Press Release EurekAlert View the full article

Click through to see the images. To spoil the magic: The waterfall effect is actually fine sand cascading down. Clever and ridiculously beautiful! " height="360" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640"> "> "> View the full article

Click through to see the images. These photos were posted on LSS Laboratory's blog. View the full article

Click through to see the images. In a Western Hemisphere First, An Aquacultured Clarion Angel is Available! Quality Marine is proud to announce the first Aquacultured Clarion Angel (Holacanthus clarionensis) available for sale in North America. This fish was produced from a captive breeding at Bali Aquarich, where it was reared to a salable size. It was then shipped to the United Kingdom for a brief period and now it is beginning its North American tour in Southern California, here at Quality Marine. What makes the Clarion so special? The Clarion Angel is a gorgeous fish that adapts very well to aquarium environments. They are hardy and are "personable" tank inhabitants. Though they can be pugnacious with tank mates, they generally learn to recognize people as feeders and will interact with them. This is a fish with a very limited distribution, coming only from shallow water tropical reef locations from the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico down to Clipperton Island. The majority of the species are found in the Revillagigedo Islands. The population size, distribution, and habitat that this fish prefers is so limited that it could easily be over exploited. It is currently listed as "vulnerable" by the IUCN Red List. Quality Marine does not import or stock wild Clarion Angels. Biology / Captive Care Juveniles of this species are generally solitary and territorial and occasionally have been seen acting as cleaner fish. Adults are generally also observed singly, and have also been observed acting as cleaners for very large rays. They also occasionally form large groups which some literature suggests is for breeding. H. Clarionensis has a fairly small adult size at 7.8 inches. Like most fish in their genus, a large portion of their wild diet consists of sponge matter, with some aquarists reporting that coloration fades if food containing sponges is not offered. The blue barring of this juvenile fish will fade and it will end up being a brilliant gold coloration. Quality Marine Celebrating over 35 years in business, Quality Marine continues to provide the Public and Retail Aquarium industry with the highest quality, most sustainable and widest selection of both wild and aquacultured marine fish and invertebrates. Quality Marine works tirelessly to support responsible operators that collect in a sustainable manner and protect the reef habitat. We encourage all industry professionals to do the same. We continue to exhibit our commitment to helping make this industry a better one, to help protect our resources for not only the longevity of our trade, but also for the preservation of the environment. As our business grows, we still focus on the keys to our success, Quality, Variety, and Service, second to none. View the full article

Click through to see the images. In a Western Hemisphere First, An Aquacultured Clarion Angel is Available! Quality Marine is proud to announce the first Aquacultured Clarion Angel (Holacanthus clarionensis) available for sale in North America. This fish was produced from a captive breeding at Bali Aquarich, where it was reared to a salable size. It was then shipped to the United Kingdom for a brief period and now it is beginning its North American tour in Southern California, here at Quality Marine. What makes the Clarion so special? The Clarion Angel is a gorgeous fish that adapts very well to aquarium environments. They are hardy and are "personable" tank inhabitants. Though they can be pugnacious with tank mates, they generally learn to recognize people as feeders and will interact with them. This is a fish with a very limited distribution, coming only from shallow water tropical reef locations from the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico down to Clipperton Island. The majority of the species are found in the Revillagigedo Islands. The population size, distribution, and habitat that this fish prefers is so limited that it could easily be over exploited. It is currently listed as "vulnerable" by the IUCN Red List. Quality Marine does not import or stock wild Clarion Angels. Biology / Captive Care Juveniles of this species are generally solitary and territorial and occasionally have been seen acting as cleaner fish. Adults are generally also observed singly, and have also been observed acting as cleaners for very large rays. They also occasionally form large groups which some literature suggests is for breeding. H. Clarionensis has a fairly small adult size at 7.8 inches. Like most fish in their genus, a large portion of their wild diet consists of sponge matter, with some aquarists reporting that coloration fades if food containing sponges is not offered. The blue barring of this juvenile fish will fade and it will end up being a brilliant gold coloration. Quality Marine Celebrating over 35 years in business, Quality Marine continues to provide the Public and Retail Aquarium industry with the highest quality, most sustainable and widest selection of both wild and aquacultured marine fish and invertebrates. Quality Marine works tirelessly to support responsible operators that collect in a sustainable manner and protect the reef habitat. We encourage all industry professionals to do the same. We continue to exhibit our commitment to helping make this industry a better one, to help protect our resources for not only the longevity of our trade, but also for the preservation of the environment. As our business grows, we still focus on the keys to our success, Quality, Variety, and Service, second to none. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Georgia Aquarium wanted to import 18 beluga whales from the Utrish Marine Mammal Research Station on Russia’s Black Sea Coast for display in various public aquariums in the United States. The partner aquariums would include SeaWorld of California, SeaWorld of Florida, SeaWorld of Texas, and Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. After carefully reviewing the permit, the NOAA denied the import request citing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The application was denied because: NOAA Fisheries is unable to determine whether or not the proposed importation, by itself or in combination with other activities, would have a significant adverse impact on the Sakhalin-Amur beluga whale stock, the population that these whales are taken from; NOAA Fisheries determined that the requested import will likely result in the taking of marine mammals beyond those authorized by the permit; NOAA Fisheries determined that five of the beluga whales proposed for import, estimated to be approximately 1½ years old at the time of capture, were potentially still nursing and not yet independent. A 60-day comment period was held back in 2012 and over the course of the period, about 9,000 comments on the permit were received. More information about the ruling can be found on the NOAA's website. View the full article

Click through to see the images. According to their laws, noise must not exceed 65 decibels if pet animals, which includes fish, are in the immediate vicinity. Authorities claim to have measured music exceeding 100 decibels, but the club owner disputes the measurements and says the cichlids are housed in a separate room within the club away from the loud music. We aren't aware of similar laws in North America or Asia. For instance, take this spectacular/outrageous Manhattan (New York) nightclub: View the full article

Click through to see the images. If history's closest analog is any indication, the look of the oceans will change drastically in the future as the coming greenhouse world alters marine food webs and gives certain species advantages over others. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, paleobiologist Richard Norris and colleagues show that the ancient greenhouse world had few large reefs, a poorly oxygenated ocean, tropical surface waters like a hot tub, and food webs that did not sustain the abundance of large sharks, whales, seabirds, and seals of the modern ocean. Aspects of this greenhouse ocean could reappear in the future if greenhouse gases continue to rise at current accelerating rates. The researchers base their projections on what is known about the "greenhouse world" of 50 million years ago when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere were much higher than those that have been present during human history. Their review article appears in an Aug. 2 special edition of the journal Science titled "Natural Systems in Changing Climates." For the past million years, atmospheric CO2 concentrations have never exceeded 280 parts per million, but industrialization, forest clearing, agriculture, and other human activities have rapidly increased concentrations of CO2 and other gases known to create a "greenhouse" effect that traps heat in the atmosphere. For several days in May 2013, CO2 levels exceeded 400 parts per million for the first time in human history and that milestone could be left well behind in the next decades. At its current pace, Earth could recreate the CO2 content of the atmosphere in the greenhouse world in just 80 years. In the greenhouse world, fossils indicate that CO2 concentrations reached 800-1,000 parts per million. Tropical ocean temperatures reached 35º C (95º F), and the polar oceans reached 12°C (53°F) -- similar to current ocean temperatures offshore San Francisco. There were no polar ice sheets. Scientists have identified a "reef gap" between 42 and 57 million years ago in which complex coral reefs largely disappeared and the seabed was dominated by piles of pebble-like single-celled organisms called foraminifera. "The 'rainforests-of-the-sea' reefs were replaced by the 'gravel parking lots' of the greenhouse world," said Norris. The greenhouse world was also marked by differences in the ocean food web with large parts of the tropical and subtropical ocean ecosystems supported by minute picoplankton instead of the larger diatoms typically found in highly productive ecosystems today. Indeed, large marine animals -- sharks, tunas, whales, seals, even seabirds -- mostly became abundant when algae became large enough to support top predators in the cold oceans of recent geologic times. "The tiny algae of the greenhouse world were just too small to support big animals," said Norris. "It's like trying to keep lions happy on mice instead of antelope; lions can't get by on only tiny snacks." Within the greenhouse world, there were rapid warming events that resemble our projected future. One well-studied event is known as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) 56 million years ago, which serves as a guide to predicting what may happen under current climate trends. That event lasted about 200,000 years and warmed Earth by 5-9° C (9-16° F) with massive migrations of animals and plants and shifts in climate zones. Notably, despite the disruption to Earth's ecosystems, the extinction of species was remarkably light, other than a mass extinction in the rapidly warming deep ocean. "In many respects the PETM warmed the world more than we project for future climate change, so it should come as some comfort that extinctions were mostly limited to the deep sea," said Norris. "Unfortunately, the PETM also shows that ecological disruption can last tens of thousands of years." Indeed, Norris added that continuing the fossil fuel economy even for decades magnifies the period of climate instability. An abrupt halt to fossil fuel use at current levels would limit the period of future climate instability to less than 1,000 years before climate largely returns to pre-industrial norms. But, if fossil fuel use stays on its current trajectory until the end of this century, then the climate effects begin to resemble those of the PETM, with major ecological changes lasting for 20,000 years or more and a recognizable human "fingerprint" on Earth's climate lasting for 100,000 years. Co-authors of the review are Sandra Kirtland-Turner of Scripps Oceanography, Pincelli Hull of Yale University, and Andy Ridgwell of the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. [via UCSD] View the full article

Click through to see the images. A starfish feeds by first extending its stomach out of its mouth and over the digestible parts of its prey, such as mussels and clams. The prey tissue is partially digested externally before the soup-like “chowder” produced is drawn back into its 10 digestive glands. The researchers at Queen Mary, University of London and the University of Warwick have discovered a neuropeptide – a molecule which carries signals between neurons – called NGFFYamide, which triggers the stomach to contract and retract back into the starfish. The findings could have economic and environmental implications by providing a potential mechanism for controlling starfish predation. Maurice Elphick, Professor of Physiology and Neuroscience at Queen Mary’s School of Biological and Chemical Sciences who led the research, said: “These findings open up the possibility of designing chemical-based strategies to control the feeding of starfish. “Starfish predation has an economic impact as they feed on important shellfish, such as mussels and clams. Periodic increases in starfish populations can also cause major destruction to Pacific reef tracts, such as the Great Barrier Reef, as certain species feed on reef-building corals.” The study, published today in The Journal of Experimental Biology, was carried out using computer analysis of DNA sequence data, chemical analysis of starfish nerves and pharmacological tests. Professor Elphick added: “Interestingly, we have also found that the neuropeptide behind the stomach retraction is evolutionarily related to a neuropeptide that regulates anxiety and arousal in humans.” The new findings build on previous work from the team at Queen Mary in which they identified neuropeptides called SALMFamides that trigger the relaxation and eversion of the starfish stomach. Press Release: Queen Mary University of London View the full article

Click through to see the images. Staff Sgt. Pete Quintanilla, left, learns from a youth member of SCUBAnauts International how to transplant staghorn coral during the annual Mote Marine Lab coral’s mitigation project. Photo credit: COMBAT WOUNDED VETERAN CHALLENGE The Tampa Bay Tribune published a fabulous piece this week about a story that "meld science with the triumph of the human spirit." It wouldn't do their article justice to simply retell the story, so here is a link to Howard Altman's report. To summarize: The J.E. Hanger College of Orthotics and Prosthetics at St. Petersburg College has set out to design improved prosthetic limbs to help wounded veterans swim better. In turn, veterans participating in the Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge are assisting the coral reef restoration efforts of the Mote Marine Laboratory by growing staghorn frags (Acropora cervicornis) alongside youth volunteers. View the full article

Click through to see the images. The explosion not only destroyed the aquarium but also literally blew the roof off the shed and moved the adjacent house wall 4 inches. The scorching temperature from the blaze caused the gas to expand within the CO2 tank, increasing its internal pressure until it blew. Modern tanks have safety relief valves to prevent tanks from exploding, but the extreme and sudden increase in temperature from the fire may have resulted in catastrophic failure. Granted, we don't know if the CO2 tank was part of the aquarium system (used for planted aquariums or calcium reactors). Also, the circumstance in which the tank exploded is extreme to say the least, so it's not our intention to alarm anyone who is using CO2 for their aquariums. CO2 tanks are proven safe when operated within specifications. Still, it's a good opportunity to remind aquarists to always treat their CO2 tanks with safety in mind. Do not to overfill your tank. Do not store tanks where they may experience extreme or rapid temperature changes. It's advisable to hydrostaticly test (AKA "hydrotest") your CO2 tank every five years to make sure it can safely hold its rated pressure. Some businesses that may offer this testing service are brewery equipment shops, dive shops, welding shops, and paintball shops. When transporting CO2 tanks, make sure to 1) not keep it in your car for extended periods of time, particularly during hot summer days and 2) always transport a full CO2 tank in your trunk in case the relief valve discharges. The CO2 within a full tank is enough to quickly asphyxiate you should it empty in the passenger compartment. If nothing else, it would scare the bejeezus out of you! If you plan to keep the CO2 tank in a bedroom, we advise choosing a smaller tank. Sure, you'll have to refill it more often, but if the relief valve/burst disk of a full, large tank ruptures while you're sleeping, you may not wake up! This story was originally reported by KOIN. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Sun Pet LTD Press Release Atlanta, GA, July 30, 2013 --(PR.com)-- The marine fish is believed to be an aberrant Scopas Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) that was recently collected in Andaman Sea, located in the Indian Ocean. The fish was collected using a hand-net method and was found approximately 6 miles off-shore at a depth between 60-85 feet, surrounded in an area frequenting Scopas Tangs. The rare fish was transported by ferry from Sabang to Banda Aceh, quarantined before traveling to Bali and was air freighted to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport where it was picked up by Sun Pet's staff. Standard Scopas Tangs typically have a whitish-brown face that fades into a black-brown coloration midway through the body towards the tail. This abnormal Scopas Tang looks very similar to the Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens), in that it has a predominantly bright yellow body but this fish, has an olive green-brown splotchy coloration from the back of the gills to midway through the body. The face is predominantly white with some yellow and the same olive green-brown splotches apparent. Barry Wisebram, General Manager of Sun Pet, explains that “aberrant fish are a particular category of fish that serious exotic fish collector's with the right setup and resources are quick to jump on when the opportunity presents itself." Mr. Wisebram further indicated that details will be requested for the purchaser of this fish to ensure its requirements for thriving are met. Sun Pet Ltd. is a live fish and animal wholesaler and is offering this fish wholesale to tropical fish retailers, public aquariums and educational institutions. Wholesale Only. View the full article

Click through to see the images. The new sunscreen was developed over a two-year period through a partnership with skincare company Larissa Bright Australia and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). According to the researchers, this new sunscreen is resistant to both UVA and UVB rays and is colorless and odorlesss, meaning it can easily be incorporated into existing sunscreens. "We wanted to find a way to convert this natural method of coping with exposure to the intensive UV rays from Queensland''s sunshine, into a safe and effective sunscreen for human use," said Larissa Bright, director of Larissa Bright Australia. "We feel these filters will set a new standard in broad spectrum sunscreen. They mimic the natural sunscreen coral has developed and used over millions of years." "The molecular make up of the coral''s natural sunscreen filter was quite complex, but the real challenge was modifying it so that it was resistant to both UVA and UVB radiation in one molecule which is what makes these filters so unique" said CSIRO research scientist Mark York. The new, improved sunscreen is expected to be be available within the next five years. (Via MSN News) View the full article

Click through to see the images. The new Blacktip Reef exhibit will give aquarium-goers views of reef life from both above and below the water's surface. The aquarium currently houses over 700 animals spanning 65 species, including 20 blacktip reef sharks and National Aquarium's famous 555-pound, three-legged green sea turtle, Calypso. The exhibit will also soon receive livestock from DC's National Aquarium, which is set to close by September 30, 2013. As for the corals you see in the photos ... they're replicas. Sorry, reefkeepers. But we have to say f(rom what we see in the photos) they are some of the most realistic replicas we've seen and are arranged in a very natural aquascape. Besides, it's probably not the best idea to use live corals in a tank primarily designed to house 20 reef sharks. In partnership with Discovery Channel (who, surprise surprise, is set to premiere Shark Week this Sunday), the National Aquarium has also set up a live 24 hour camera feed of the Blacktip Reef. Follow National Aquarium's blog for more information about their new exhibit. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Predator-induced changes in the growth of eyes and false eyespots by Oona M. Lönnstedt, Mark I. McCormick & Douglas P. Chivers Originally published in Nature.com Scientific Reports (Open Access, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License) Abstract The animal world is full of brilliant colours and striking patterns that serve to hide individuals or attract the attention of others. False eyespots are pervasive across a variety of animal taxa and are among nature's most conspicuous markings. Understanding the adaptive significance of eyespots has long fascinated evolutionary ecologists. Here we show for the first time that the size of eyespots is plastic and increases upon exposure to predators. Associated with the growth of eyespots there is a corresponding reduction in growth of eyes in juvenile Ambon damselfish, Pomacentrus amboinensis. These morphological changes likely direct attacks away from the head region. Exposure to predators also induced changes in prey behaviour and morphology. Such changes could prevent or deter attacks and increase burst speed, aiding in escape. Damselfish exposed to predators had drastically higher survival suffering only 10% mortality while controls suffered 60% mortality 72 h after release. Introduction Colour patterns are often adaptations to ecological pressures, and the sheer diversity of patterns represents an important form of morphological evolution in animals1. Many terrestrial insects, especially lepidopterans, as well as marine and freshwater fishes are often characterized by one or several conspicuous eyespots present on less essential regions of the body2, 3. False eyespots are large, dark circles surrounded by a lightly coloured ring thought to represent an iris around a pupil, mimicking the appearance of a vertebrate eye. The adaptive significance of false eyespots in prey has long been debated among ecologists. Decades of research have led to four hypotheses regarding their function, and their presence has been attributed to - deterring predators (intimidation hypothesis4, as a diversion technique drawing the attacks of predators to non-vital regions of the body (deflective hypothesis5), a form of status signalling (i.e., status signalling hypothesis6) or simply as an evolutionary remnant no longer utilized7. Due to the widespread occurrence of eyespots in a variety of unrelated taxa, these ‘false eyes’ are believed to have evolved in response to selective pressures3. Powell8 found that the conspicuous black tail tip (thought to mimic an eye) on long-tailed white weasels (Mustela frenata) reduces predation by avian predators. Hawks attacking white weasel models in snowy environments were more likely to become confused and attack the conspicuous tail tip, often missing their target. Similarly, Blest4 and Smith9 found that predators were more likely to direct their attacks toward conspicuous eyespots that had been painted on insect prey. It appears as if colour patterns that mimic eyes may be an effective deflection mark for many different prey species, although the adaptive significance of this has yet to be tested. Predators have been found to trigger striking changes in growth and morphology in a variety of prey (e.g. body depth10, 11), but whether presence of predators influence the development of prey eyespots has never been tested. In addition to triggering morphological defences cues from predators and/or injured conspecifics also affect prey behaviour. The presence of consumers induce ‘anti-predator behaviours’ in prey, such as reduced foraging, lowered activity and increased refuge use12. These behavioural defences will ultimately influence the prey's success by altering the balance between defensive behaviours and other activities that promote fitness. The relative importance of predator cues in influencing behaviour and survival of prey has received attention in a number of studies12, 13, but few studies have looked at how different predation cues simultaneously affect prey development, colour patterns and behaviour over an extended period of time (but see14). Reducing predation through behavioural and physiological means could potentially increase short-term survival but may also result in lowered overall fitness and reduced survival in the long-term. Juvenile damselfish have lightly coloured bodies and a conspicuous eyespots on the rear dorsal fin, which fades away as individuals approach maturation. Damselfish are an abundant component of the Great Barrier Reef fish community, with high vulnerability to predation during recruitment15, and represent a useful organism with which to explore how growth and colour patterns are affected by the continuous exposure to predators, and how these changes may confer a survival advantage to individuals in their natural environment. The current study therefore explored how threat cues from a common predator, Pseudochromis fuscus, indirectly affected development and performance of a juvenile damselfish, Pomacentrus amboinensis. Specifically, we tested how the continuous exposure of individual prey to a predator affected prey morphology (body depth, BD; standard length, SL), eyespot size (total diameter), total visible size of the eye and behaviour over a 6-week period, after which survival patterns in the field were monitored. Usually, P. amboinensis will lose their eyespots as they age7, but we hypothesized that if eyespots evolved as a defence against consumers then the continuous exposure of prey to predators would result in the continued growth of the eyespot. Results Differences in morphology among treatments At week 0 there was no difference in morphological measurements (ANCOVA with standard length as covariate; body depth F2, 89 = 0.93, p = 0.09; size of ocellus F2, 89 = 0.47, p = 0.63; eye diameter F2, 89 = 0.65, p = 0.52;) among fish from the three different treatments. After 6-weeks, prey that had been exposed to predator cues had significantly deeper bodies for any given length than fish from the two control treatments (F2, 89 = 33.14, p<0.001; Fig. 1a–c) which, in turn, did not differ from one another (F1, 54 = 2.24, p = 0.14). Eyespot size (total diameter) was significantly different among treatments after a 6-week period, with prey exposed to predator cues having significantly larger eyespots for any given body length compared to the control treatments (SL: F2, 89 = 25.67, p<0.001; Fig. 2a), which did not differ from one another (F1, 54 = 0.19, p = 0.077). The visible part of the eye was also significantly different depending on treatment, with prey from predator treatments having significantly smaller eyes than individuals from the control treatments (F2,89 = 70.67, p <0.001; Fig. 2b). There was no difference in eye size between the 2 control treatments (F1,54 = 0.13, p = 0.72). Figure 1: Comparison of depth to length ratio. The relationship between standard length (SL) and body depth (BD) of P. amboinensis when in the presence and absence of predators (A). Fish had significantly deeper bodies when exposed to predator cues ( compared to the shallow bodied controls ©. Figure 2: Relationships between eyespot size and eyeball size and body length. The relationship between standard length and eyespot diameter (A) and standard length and eye diameter ( in presence and absence of predators. All prey fish exposed to predator cues over a 6 week period had significantly larger eyespots (F,H) and smaller eyes (F,G) than fish from the control treatments (C–E). Differences in behaviour among treatments The multivariate analysis of variance revealed significant overall differences in behaviour depending on treatment after 1 week (MANOVA, F3, 88 = 12.41, p<0.0001). Univariate ANOVAs demonstrated that fish from the predator treatment foraged significantly less (F2,90 = 38.36, p<0.000; Fig. 3a), were less active (F2,90 = 19.58, p<0.0001; Fig. 3b) and spent more time in shelter (F2,90 = 29.10, p<0.000; Fig. 3c) compared to individuals in the herbivore treatment and the seawater control after 1 week. After 5-weeks there was still a significant differences in overall behaviour of fish (MANOVA, F3,88 = 5.67, p<0.001). Bite rate (F2,90 = 12.6, p<0.0001; Fig. 3a) and activity (F2,90 = 12.09, p<0.0001; Fig. 3b) were significantly lower and time in shelter was significantly higher (F2,90 = 16.49, p<0.0001; Fig. 3c) in fish exposed to predators than in fish exposed to herbivores or isolated. Figure 3: Predator presence influences prey behaviour. Fish exposed to predators foraged significantly less (A), displayed lower activity rates ( and a significant increase in shelter use © compared to fish from the two control treatments after 1 week in the tanks. This pattern remained similar after 5 weeks. Bars are the standard errors around the mean from behavioural variables. Differences in survival among treatments Survival of prey when released in the field was affected by treatment (χ22,0.05 = 19.88, p<0.001; Fig. 4). Patterns of survival were established within the first 48 h after release. Treatments split into two groups, with one group containing fish that had experienced the herbivores for 6-weeks (40% were consumed within 48 hours) and fish from the seawater treatments (50% were consumed within 48 hours), all with similar and low survival. The second group contained fish that had experienced predators for 6 weeks, with high survival rates following release (no fish had been consumed after 72 hours and 89% of fish were still alive after 96 hours). Figure 4: Survival patterns of fish from the three treatments. Survival curves (Kaplan Meier plot) of P. amboinensis in the field after laboratory exposure to predator cues, herbivore cues or no cues for a 6-week period. Fish were placed on small patch reefs along the edge of a reef and their survivorship was monitored 2 times a day for 4 days. Fish from predator treatment had the highest and similar survival. Discussion Here we show that the presence of a predator induced significant changes in morphology, colour patterns and behaviour in a juvenile damselfish. Prey exposed to predators for 6-weeks grew deeper bodies, developed larger eyespots and exhibited stunted eye growth compared to prey exposed to herbivores or those that were isolated from other fish. The increase in body depth has been found in previous studies and is considered a common prey response to gape limited predators in a multitude of freshwater taxa10, 11, 16, 17. What is intriguing is the finding that juvenile prey grow larger eyespots and display smaller eyes when continuously exposed to predators. The large eyespot in the caudal area of prey taken together with the smaller eye in the head region give an impression of the true eye being present in the posterior end of the body, potentially confusing predators about the orientation of prey. Predators anticipate the direction prey will move as an attack is initiated, and a false eyespot may aid prey by causing the predator to misjudge the direction of the prey's escape8. Also, a prey attacked at the invulnerable caudal area can escape and survive8, 18, however an attack on the head would damage vital parts allowing almost no chance of survival. McPhail18 demonstrated that caudal spots in a characid fish (Hyphessobrycon panamensis) deflect the aim of the characinoid predator Ctenolucius beani, as the majority of predators focused their attacks on the caudal area of prey fish that had an artificial caudal spot drawn on compared to fish with no spot. Clearly, prey with artificial eye spots escape predators more frequently than prey with no eyespots4, 9, 18. Findings from the current study suggest that false eyespots may be a direct short-term adaptation to the presence of predators, functioning to misdirect predator strikes and/ or protect the head region from fatal attacks. If the increased growth of a larger false eyespot is associated with a cost such as the development of smaller eyes (and possibly poorer vision) it would only be advantageous to develop this type of anti-predator mechanism in certain circumstances, such as in predator rich environments. Flexibility and degeneration in eye growth has been found in other teleost fishes19, most notably in the Mexican cavefish Astyanux mexicanus20, 21. This species has 2 morphological variations, a surface-dweller with pigmented eyes, and several different eyeless and depigmented cave-dwellers20. It is evident that eye development is plastic and can evolve to suit certain environmental conditions, indeed in many young animals it is the visual stimuli received that influences eye growth patterns19. Ours is the first study to document predator-induced changes in the size of eyes and eye-spots in prey animals, however, others have documented that predation can result in selection for reduced eye pigments. For example, when comparing eye diameters in populations of the cladoceran, Bosmina longirostris, Zaret and Kerfoot22 found that prey living in areas associated with predators had significantly smaller eye-pigmentation diameter than B. longirostris from non-predation areas. They argue that fish predators select prey based on eye pigmentation area, and prey found in predator rich areas have evolved smaller eyes to minimize the probability of being caught. Prey exposed to predators displayed more conservative behaviours, which included lower foraging rates, more time spent in shelter and reduced activity. Cautious behaviours remained largely intact even after 5 weeks in the predator treatment. The unchanged behaviours highlight the ecological relevance and importance of the predator stimulus. Reduced activity levels increases prey survival by making the prey less conspicuous to the predator23. Reduced activity also saves energy, allowing individuals to allocate more into growth and/or development of predator-induced morphological defences24. The mere presence of predators is enough to suppress activity of prey, and it has recently been suggested that this lowered activity is responsible for the increased growth of fish as the energy conserved in the presence of predators is allocated to growth25. Predator experience and subsequent morphological changes confer a survival advantage to prey in their natural environment, as predator experienced prey with larger eyes spots and deeper bodies had drastically higher survival when stocked in the wild with control treatments suffering a 5 fold increase in mortality after 72 h on the reef. Results emphasize the importance of experience with predators to prey survival early on in life. The behavioural anti-predator response allows reduced detection by predators and the morphological defence and changed colour patterns may allow an improved ability to escape an attack. Deep bodies not only protect prey fish from gape-limited predators by deterring attacks10 but have also been found to improve speed, acceleration and manoeuvrability in both fish and amphibians26, 27. This is the first study to provide direct empirical evidence that eyespot size is increased upon exposure to predators. Predators also stunt eye growth, as there is reduction in the relative eye diameter over time. These morphological changes likely direct attacks away from the head region, protecting the more vulnerable regions of the body. Our results illustrate how phenotypically plastic development in prey morphology and coloration as well as conservative behaviours can result in dramatic increases in survival. Methods Study organisms and collections The study was conducted from October through to December 2010 In the laboratory facilities and reefs around Lizard Island Research Station (14°38′S, 145°28′E) on the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Settlement stage damselfish (family Pomacentridae) were collected from light traps that had been deployed overnight about 50 m from the reef edge. The study species, Pomacentrus amboinensis, is an abundant and very common damselfish species that settles on the reefs during the summer months after a pelagic larval phase of 15–23 days28. Light traps catch the fish at the end of their larval phase, as they are entering the reefs at night to settle, therefore ensuring fish are naïve to reef-based, bottom-dwelling predators. Within 6 hours of settlement P. amboinensis will metamorphose and lose the transparent colour typical of the pelagic larval stage and gain the bright yellow body coloration and conspicuous black dorsal eye spot representing the juvenile stage of this species29. The predator used as the stimulus was the dusky dottyback, Pseudochromis fuscus, which is one of the most abundant meso-predators on the shallow reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific30. This particular species is responsible for consuming a large amount of the newly settled and juvenile damselfish during the summer recruitment season31, and is found in areas where P. amboinensis settle. A herbivorous goby, Amblygobius phalanea, was used as an experimental control to test for the effect of exposing P. amboinensis to visual and chemical cues of any heterospecific fish32. This fish has a similar body shape and size to the predatory dottyback and is often found in areas of the reef were recruits settle. Both species were caught on the reefs surrounding Lizard using a dilute clove oil anaesthetic and a handnet. Research was conducted under James Cook University ethics approval A1593 and A1720. Laboratory study and experimental design Individual P. amboinensis were exposed to a combination of olfactory and visual cues of a predator (P. fuscus), a non-predator (A. phalanea) or a blank control (receiving no cue sources). The growth, development and behaviour of P. amboinensis were assessed over a 6 week period. Naïve prey fish that had been collected with light traps (were brought back to the laboratory and placed in 60 L flow-through tanks (density: 50fish/tank) over a period of 10 days and fed Artemia nauplii ad libitum 3 times per day (ensuring all fish used in the experiment had an analogous baseline body condition at the start of the experiment). All P. amboinensis individuals were then conditioned to recognize the sight and olfactory cues of P. fuscus by placing the predator inside a transparent plastic bag in their tank for 30 minutes, while simultaneously injecting previously collected odour cues of the predator and skin extract cues of P. amboinensis. This is a training procedure found to increase the probability of survival in the ambon damselfish33, and is necessary to make sure that prey can recognise the cues of the predator species. It also ensured that all fish had the same baseline predator experience before the commencement of the study. Individual prey then had their morphology and shape photographically recorded against a scale before being transferred into a series of specially-designed 18 L PVC predator–prey tanks (64.2 × 11.5 × 18 cm). The tanks had a 7.5 L main section (containing either a predator or a herbivore) and 6 individually isolated prey compartments (1.5 L: 10.7×13×18 cm). The main compartment was separated from each of the 6 prey compartments by transparent Perspex that contained a series of small holes. The fish in the six prey compartments were visually isolated from each other using grey PVC partitions. Water flowed from the main predator/herbivore compartment to each of the prey compartments and then out the side of each of the prey compartments. This arrangement ensured that the prey fish in each of the six compartments were also chemically isolated from one another (see supplementary material, Fig. S1). The bottom of both the predator/herbivore compartment and the prey compartment was covered by a 1.5 cm layer of sand and the predator/ herbivore section had one plastic tube (12×5 cm) placed in the centre to provide shelter. A small coral skeleton (Pocillopora sp. ~4×5×5 cm) was placed at the back of each prey compartment to provide a refuge. The tanks were situated outside to ensure that animals received all natural temporal cues and the water was supplied by a flow through system from the ocean so organisms were given all the same environmental cues as that of fish residing in the wild. This design ensured that the individual prey in each compartment received all the olfactory diet cues as well as visual cues from the main section, ensuring all prey could both smell and see either the predator or herbivore (n = 36 fish/treatment), but that the prey could not see or smell each other. The chemical and visual isolation allowed us to consider the fish in each compartment as independent samples. Prey were fed twice daily with a standardized amount of boosted (DHA Selco) Artemia sp. nauplii (5 ml with ~550 Artemia/ ml) while predators were fed two damselfish individuals morning and night, which is an accurate representations of what P. fuscus consume in their natural environment31 ensuring that the cue stimulus provided to P. amboinensis was realistic. Gobies were given a combination of dry fish food pellets (INVE Aquaculture Nutrition NRD pellets; containing no fish products) and small crustaceans. Predators and herbivores were replaced every weeks, ensuring that significant effects could not be attributed to individual predators/herbivores. In addition to this there was an experimental control were individual prey were placed in separate 1.5 L compartments (10.7×13×18 cm) that received no cue sources (n = 21). After 6 weeks individual P. amboinensis were removed from their compartments and photographed against a scale (10×10 mm) for morphological measurements. Shape and size of fish were analysed from digital photographs using the software Optimas 6.5. Five variables were measured: standard length, body depth, total area of ocellus, diameter of ocellus (black and white), and entire diameter of the visible eye. Monitoring prey behaviour One week after the commencement of the experiment, a mirror (80 × 40 cm) was suspended over each tank at 45° so that focal fish could be observed undisturbed from above. A wire grid (2×2 cm) was also placed on the top of each chamber so that movement and location of individuals could be accurately quantified as the number of times fish crossed a line on the grid. Water flow was stopped and individual P. amboinensis were fed Artemia sp. nauplii. One minute later the fish had their behaviour assessed for a 2 min period. The mirror and grid were then removed. This procedure was repeated after 5 weeks for all treatments. The behaviour of individual fish in each of the 7 experimental treatments was quantified by recording: total number of feeding strikes (successful or otherwise), activity (quantified as the number of times a fish crossed a line on the grid that had been suspended over the tank), and % time spent within shelter (defined as being inside the branches of the coral shelter). Field survival After being photographed prey fish from each treatment were transferred onto individual patch reefs in the field. Patch reefs (25×15×20 cm) were placed 2 meters away from the main reef and 3 metres apart and were made up of healthy Pocillopora damicornis colonies (a hard bushy coral), which is the preferred settlement site for P. amboinensis. Individual fish were transferred onto separate patch reefs and left to acclimate with a cage on top for 1 h, before having the cage removed (sample size ranged from 14–27 per treatment). Following the acclimation time, individual fish had their survival monitored twice a day (morning and afternoon) for 4 days after release by SCUBA divers12. Fish were assumed to be caught by a predator when missing from the patch reef. Cage controls that allowed fish to swim away found that there was no movement from patches, suggesting that when a fish was missing it was due to predation rather than migration. References Endler, J. A. Natural Selection in the Wild. (Princeton University Press, 1986). Brakefield, P. M. et al. Development, plasticity and evolution of butterfly eyespot patterns. Nature 384, 236–242 (1996). Stevens, M. The role of eyespots as anti-predator mechanisms, principally demonstrated in the Lepidoptera. Biol. Rev. 80, 573 (2005). Blest, A. D. The function of eyespot patterns in the Lepidoptera. Behaviour 11, 209–256 (1957). Neudecker, S. Eye camouflage and false eyespots: chaetodontid responses to predators. Environ. Biol. Fish. 25, 143–157 (1989). Lyon, B. 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A possible function of the caudal spot in characid fishes. Can. J. Zool. 55, 1063–1066 (1977). Wallman, J. & Winaver, J. Homeostatis of Eye Growth and the Question of Myopia. Neuron 43, 447–468 (2004). Avise, J. C. & Selander, R. K. Evolutionary genetics of cave-dwelling fishes of the genus Astyanax. Evolution 26, 1–19 (1972). Yamamoto, Y. & Jeffery, W. R. Central Role for the Lens in Cave Fish Eye Degeneration. Science 289, 631–633 (2000). Zaret, T. M. & Kerfoot, W. C. Fish predation on Bosmina longirostris: body size selection versus visibility selection. Ecology 56, 232–237 (1975). Werner, E. E. & Anholt, B. R. Ecological consequences of the trade-off between growth and mortality rates mediated by foraging activity. Am. Nat. 142, 242–272 (1993). Bourdeau, P. E. & Johansson, F. Predator-induced morphological defences as by-products of prey behaviour: a review and prospectus. Oikos 121, 1175–1190 (2012). Johansson, F. & Andersson, J. Scared fish get lazy, and lazy fish get fat. J. Anim. Ecol. 78, 772–777 (2009). Dayton, D. H., Saenz, D., Baum, K. A., Langerhans, B. & DeWitt, T. J. Body shape, burst speed and escape behaviour of larval anurans. Oikos 111, 582–591 (2005). Domenici, P., Turesson, H., Brodersen, J. & Brönmark, C. Predator-induced morphology enhances escape locomotion in crucian carp. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B. 275, 195–201 (2005). Kerrigan, B. A. Temporal patterns in the size and condition of settlement in two tropical reef fishes (Pomacentridae: Pomacentrus amboinensis and P. nagasakiensis). Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 135, 27–35 (1996). McCormick, M. I., Makey, L. & Dufour, V. Comparative study of metamorphosis intropical reef fishes. Mar. Biol. 141, 841–849 (2002). Beukers, J. S. & Jones, G. P. Habitat complexity modifies the impact of piscivores on a coral reef fish population. Oecologia 114, 50–59 (1998). Feeney, W. E. et al. High rate of prey consumption in a small predatory fish on coral reefs. Coral Reefs 31, 909–918 (2012). Lönnstedt, O. M., McCormick, M. I. & Chivers, D. P. Degraded environments alter prey risk assessment. Ecol. Evol. 3, 38–48 (2013). McCormick, M. I. & Holmes, T. H. Prey experience of predation influences mortality rates at settlement on a coral reef fish, Pomacentrus amboinensis. J.Fish Biol. 68, 969–974 (2006). View the full article

Click through to see the images. Hand-feeding your fish is a rewarding interactive experience in and of itself, but when they leap out of the water to snatch their meal from your hands... holy mother-of-all-that-is-good-and-awesome! View the full article

Click through to see the images. Artist Aki Inomata took Project Shellter and hand-blown glass hermit crab shells to the next level, producing some amazingly detailed cityscapes in resin using a 3D printer. According to Aki: Hermit crabs are selective in choosing their shelters. Therefore, I decided to CT scan and capture the detailed 3D images of the unoccupied seashell which one of my hermit crabs had abandoned. Based on those images, I modified and slightly enlarged them with a 3D modeling software, and then produced several types of shelters with a rapid prototyping system. Finally I gave those shelters to my hermit crabs. The cityscapes vary from the Empire State Building to Holland wind mills. After watching the below video, take a look at Aki's website where he displays more of his shell artwork. View the full article

Click through to see the images. The new species Echinophyllia tarae is described from the remote and poorly studied Gambier Islands, French Polynesia. Although the new species is common in the lagoon of Gambier Islands, its occurrence elsewhere is unknown. Echinophyllia tarae lives in protected reef habitats and was observed between 5 and 20 m depth. It is a zooxanthellate species which commonly grows on dead coral fragments, which are also covered by crustose coralline algae and fleshy macroalgae. This species can grow on well illuminated surfaces but also encrusts shaded underhangs and contributes to the formation of coral reefs in the Gambier. It is characterized by large polyps and bright often mottled colourations and it is very plastic in morphology like most hard corals. Patterns of partial death and recovery of the species were often observed and could be due to competition with other benthic invertebrates like the soft-bodied corallimorpharians or zoanthids which can co-occur with this species. Stony corals are currently under threat by the effects of global warming, ocean acidification and anthropogenic changes of reef structures. Although corals represent a relatively well studied group of charismatic marine invertebrates, much has still to be understood of their biology, evolution, diversity, and biogeography. The discovery of this new species in French Polynesia confirms that our knowledge of hard coral diversity is still incomplete and that the exploration efforts of recent scientific expeditions like Tara Oceans can lead to new insights in a remote and previously poorly studied locations. This species is named after the Tara vessel which allowed the exploration of coral reefs in Gambier. Moreover, the name "tara" in the Polynesian language may refer to a spiny, pointed object, which applies well to the new species typically featuring pointed skeletal structures. In the same language, Tara is also the name of a sea goddess. Journal Reference: Benzoni F (2013) Echinophyllia tarae sp. n. (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Scleractinia), a new reef coral species from the Gambier Islands, French Polynesia. ZooKeys 318: 59, doi:10.3897/zookeys.318.5351 View the full article

Click through to see the images. To be honest, it doesn't look very safe to us; VW seems to have skimped on tubular aluminum in critical areas, leaving huge spaces for sharks' to fit their chompers through. But it's still bloody cool, right? View the full article

Click through to see the images. To be honest, it doesn't look very safe to us; VW seems to have skimped on tubular aluminum in critical areas, leaving huge spaces for sharks' to fit their chompers through. But it's still bloody cool, right? View the full article

Click through to see the images. Coral reefs have enormous ecological and economic importance but the keystone organisms in their establishment, the hard corals, increasingly face a range of challenges including ocean acidification and seawater temperature rise. These corals exist in a symbiotic relationship with algae known as Symbiodinium. Neither organism can survive without the healthy presence of the other. Symbiodinium receives CO2 and a stable, safe living environment from the coral host, while the coral benefits from oxygen and nutrients produced from the symbiont. To gain a precise understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying coral biology, genomic information on both the coral host and algae symbiont is essential. In 2011, the Marine Genomics Unit of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) decoded the approximately 420-megabase genome of the coral Acropora digitifera for the first time. One key finding was that, unlike several other corals, Acropora seems to lack an enzyme essential for cysteine biosynthesis, implying dependency of this coral on its symbionts, including Symbiodinium, for this amino acid. The algae that live in symbiosis with coral have extremely large nuclear genomes ranging from 1,500 to 24,500 megabases. The OIST team selected Symbiodinium minutum as a target on account of its reasonably sized genome size of 1,500 megabases. This is about half the size of the human genome. Using the powerful next-generation sequencing capability at OIST, the team, in collaboration with researchers in Japan and America, were able to decode the genome for the first time and discovered that the algae genome exhibits unique and divergent characteristics when compared to those of other multicellular organisms. The OIST group has now succeeded in establishing for the first time the genomic information of both the coral host and the symbiont. This information will greatly facilitate research on coral biology. For example, it will be possible to investigate whether corals or symbionts, respond first to environmental changes such as seawater temperature rise. Similarly, researchers can examine if corals respond to different stresses via a similar molecular mechanism or different mechanisms. These areas of research are greatly facilitated by both genomes being decoded in the same laboratory. The results are particularly timely following an international conference on global warming and coral preservation, jointly organized the Japanese Ministry of Environment and the Okinawa Prefectural Government, which took place at OIST on June 29 and 30, 2013. Prof. Satoh, who leads the OIST Marine Genomics Unit said, “The fact that the same group has successfully decoded the genome of both the coral host and its symbiont Symbiodinium is a significant achievement.” He continued, “The research will pave the way for deeper understanding of the symbiotic relationship between these two organisms at a much more precise molecular level.” The paper was published in the online version of Current Biology on July 11. (Press Release via OIST) View the full article