Harlequinmania

Coelacanths, an ancient group of fishes once thought to be long extinct, made headlines in 1938 when one of their modern relatives was caught off the coast of South Africa. Now coelacanths are making another splash. View the full article

A new study has found that each step of the marine food chain is clearly controlled by the trophic level below it -- and the driving factor influencing that relationship is not the abundance of prey, but how that prey is distributed. View the full article

A new study has found that each step of the marine food chain is clearly controlled by the trophic level below it -- and the driving factor influencing that relationship is not the abundance of prey, but how that prey is distributed. View the full article

Click through to see the images. At present, the selection of tank bred marine aquarium fishes is modest, but growing. Accordingly, more and more conscientious hobbyists are choosing cultured over wild caught animals. A handful of particularly good (though frequently overlooked) tank bred candidates for the home aquarium belong to the genus Meiacanthus, the fang blennies. The fang blennies (or poison-fang blennies, or sabre-tooth blennies) include a considerable number of highly specialized combtooth blenny species from several genera. While many of these are known to parasitize or prey on other fish, Meiacanthus feeds primarily (though not at all exclusively) on plankton. Gut content analysis of wild fang blennies reveals that they have a highly varied diet consisting of items as diverse as algal filaments, fish eggs, bryozoan stalks, and perhaps even coral mucus. Photo by www.sustainableaquatics.com. Meiacanthus spp. occurs widely across the Western Pacific and Indian oceans. These fishes generally inhabit shallow water environments, though some (such as recently described Meiacanthus erdmanni) have been found at depths as great as 70 meters. They are (with the exception of Meiacanthus anema) strictly marine. Meiacanthus spp. adapts well to captivity. These surprisingly tough fishes are tolerant of suboptimal water conditions and are resistant to disease. They readily accept a wide variety of foods. They are usually peaceful toward their own kind and others. They reach relatively small adult sizes, and so are appropriate for smaller aquaria. Anterior grooves on the canine teeth end in depressions filled with venom-secreting tissue. Photo by www.sustainableaquatics.com. There is a wide variety of hue and pattern within the genus. The distinctive coloration, accentuated by their sleek body shape, makes for an exceptionally attractive animal. Blennies are widely appreciated for their abundance of charm; fang blennies are no exception here. They are rather busy and inquisitive, and appear to be very aware of their surroundings. Unlike many of their blenny brethren, they have functional swim bladders and spend much time moving about in open water. While they can be somewhat cryptic, they are generally far less secretive and skittish than other blenniids. Probably, much of their apparent self-assurance is derived from their possession of an especially potent defensive apparatus. Some fish species (such as Ecsenius bicolor, shown here) are believed to enjoy predator protection through the Batesian mimicry of certain fang blennies. Photo by Brian Gratwicke. The two enlarged, grooved canine teeth for which fang blennies get their name are situated in the lower jaw. Unlike other fang blenny genera, Meiacanthus usually employs its weaponry only to defend itself or its territory. When seriously threatened, it will open its jaws wide to bear its teeth. Each "fang" is equipped with venomous buccal glands. Venom is delivered with pressure to the glands. While not especially dangerous to most people, fang blenny bites can be quite painful. Fortunately, because of its small mouth, envenomation of humans by this animal is unlikely. That being said, one should never attempt to hand capture or hand feed a fang blenny. Some fang blennies can be successfully kept in tanks as small as 10 gallons, but will be most comfortable when housed in enclosures of 20-30 gallons or more. They do not require any special care. They will, however, appreciate an abundance of rocky caves and crevasses. They can be quite jumpy, so a tight-fitting lid is highly recommended. Unlike most blennies, fang blennies (such as Meiacanthus oualanensis, shown here) spend much of the time swimming well above the seafloor. Photo by www.sustainableaquatics.com. Meiacanthus smithi, one week post-hatch; though this individual's jaw has not yet grown/developed enough to feed on Artemia nauplii, formation of its toxic buccal glands is underway. Photo by Kenneth Wingerter. Generally, fang blenny broodstock (such as these Meiacanthus bundoon) will be more productive when maintained in harems. Photo by Kenneth Wingerter. Even less enterprising aquarists with no interest in rearing fish may wish to keep breeding pairs of fang blennies (such as Meiacanthus smithi, shown here) simply to enjoy observing their courting/spawning behavior. Photo by Kenneth Wingerter. Fang blennies are not particularly difficult (at least as far as marine fish go) to breed and rear in captivity; indeed, most advanced hobbyists have the requisite skills to raise them. They are, however, difficult for most to sex. It is usually best to introduce multiple individuals to the broodstock tank and allow them to form harems. Subordinate males should be removed to spare them from harassment. A single male might court a number of females, and even tend to eggs from several females in a single nest. A full nest is comprised of about 100 adhesive 1mm eggs. A 3-5 inch section of 1-inch PVC pipe serves as a very convenient nest site for both fish and fishkeeper. There are many variations on techniques for nest collection/incubation; typically, the pipe is transferred (about a day prior to hatching) to a hatching tank/tub, fixed to a standpipe, and aerated gently from below with an air stone. While the incubation time varies somewhat depending upon species and temperature, Meiacanthus spp. eggs usually hatch around day 8. Larvae are small (approximately 3 mm in length) and thusly require small live first foods (e.g., rotifers). To date, at least 28 Meiacanthus species have been described: 1. Meiacanthus abditus Smith-Vaniz, 1987 2. Meiacanthus abruptus Smith-Vaniz & Allen, 2011 Meiacanthus abruptus can be found on shallow, mangrove-associated reefs. Photo by G.R. Allen (image reproduced from the author (2011) in Zootaxa with permission from copyright holder Magnolia Press. 3. Meiacanthus anema Bleeker, 1852 (threadless blenny) 4. Meiacanthus atrodorsalis Günther, 1877 (forktail blenny) Meiacanthus atrodorsalis has been established as the type species of the group. Photo by www.photolib.noaa.gov. A deeply forked caudal fin is characteristic of Meiacanthus atrodorsalis. Photo by www.sustainableaquatics.com. 5. Meiacanthus bundoon Smith-Vaniz, 1976 (bundoon blenny) Now that Meiacanthus bundoon is being produced in ornamental fish hatcheries, wild harvest of the species may eventually be significantly reduced. Photo by www.sustainableaquatics.com. 6. Meiacanthus crinitus Smith-Vaniz, 1987 Meiacanthus crinitus commonly occurs in sponge-dominated habitats. Photo by G.R. Allen (image reproduced from the author (2011) in Zootaxa with permission from copyright holder Magnolia Press. 7. Meiacanthus cyanopterus Smith-Vaniz & Allen, 2011 Meiacanthus cyanopterus could someday be popular among keepers of deep-water themed aquaria. Photo by G.R. Allen (image reproduced from the author (2011) in Zootaxa with permission from copyright holder Magnolia Press. 8. Meiacanthus ditrema Smith-Vaniz, 1976 (one-striped blenny) 9. Meiacanthus erdmanni Smith-Vaniz & Allen, 2011 10. Meiacanthus fraseri Smith-Vaniz, 1976 11. Meiacanthus geminatus Smith-Vaniz, 1976 12. Meiacanthus grammistes Valenciennes, 1836 (striped blenny) The bright, distinctive coloration of many fang blennies (such as Meiacanthus grammistes, shown here) presumably serves as a warning to would-be predators. Photo by Brian Gratwicke. A modest clutch of Meiacanthus grammistes eggs. Photo by Kenneth Wingerter. 13. Meiacanthus kamoharai Tomiyama, 1956 Demand for Meiacanthus kamoharai could greatly increase with the growing interest in temperate marine aquaria. Photo by izuzukidiver.com. 14. Meiacanthus limbatus Smith-Vaniz, 1987 15. Meiacanthus lineatus De Vis, 1884 (lined blenny) 16. Meiacanthus luteus Smith-Vaniz, 1987 (yellow blenny) 17. Meiacanthus mossambicus Smith, 1959 (Mozambique blenny) Meiacanthus mossambicus is thought to be one of the least aggressive members of its genus. Photo by www.sustainableaquatics.com. 18. Meiacanthus naevius Smith-Vaniz, 1987 19. Meiacanthus nigrolineatus Smith-Vaniz, 1969 (blackline blenny) 20. Meiacanthus oualanensis Günther, 1880 Fang blennies (such as Meiacanthus oualanensis, shown here) appreciate the cover provided by hollow structures like abandoned mollusk shells and worm tubes. Photo by Lonnie Huffman. 21. Meiacanthus phaeus Smith-Vaniz, 1976 22. Meiacanthus procne Smith-Vaniz, 1976 23. Meiacanthus reticulatus Smith-Vaniz, 1976 24. Meiacanthus smithi Klausewitz, 1962 (disco blenny) Meiacanthus smithi is one of the smaller members of its genus. Photo by www.sustainableaquatics.com. 25. Meiacanthus tongaensis Smith-Vaniz, 1987 26. Meiacanthus urostigma Smith-Vaniz, Satapoomin & Allen, 2001 27. Meiacanthus vicinus Smith-Vaniz, 1987 Fang blennies (such as Meiacanthus vicinus, shown here) are mainly diurnal planktivores, but will eat a large variety of items. Photo by G.R. Allen (image reproduced from the author (2011) in Zootaxa with permission from copyright holder Magnolia Press. 28. Meiacanthus vittatus Smith-Vaniz, 1976 (one-striped blenny) Only a fraction of these are regularly encountered (much less cultured) in the trade; this will almost surely change with continuing imports of these species. Conclusion As ornamental fish, fang blennies of the genus Meiacanthus have it all--sturdiness with elegant good looks, individual character with great adaptability, peacefulness with the ability to stand up to aggressors. Owing to their diminutive size, they are appropriate for many smaller aquaria. The relative ease with which they can be cultured might make them especially attractive to breeders. Captive bred specimens of common fang blennies (e.g., Meiacanthus oualanensis) are now widely available; the availability of captive bred specimens of less common fang blennies (e.g., Meiacanthus tongaensis) will likely increase in the near future; it is entirely plausible that even presently unavailable species (e.g., Meiacanthus geminatus) will be produced on a commercial scale in years ahead. Come what may, these fishes undoubtedly will hold the interest of marine aquarium hobbyists for a very long time. References www.fishbase.org. http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=4282 Losey, GS. 1972. Predation protection in the poison-fang blenny, Meiacanthus atrodorsalis, and its mimics, Ecsenius bicolor and Runula laudandus (Blenniidae). Pac Sci 26(2): 129-139. Smith-Vaniz, William F. and Gerald R. Allen. 2011. Three new species of the fangblenny genus Meiacanthus from Indonesia, with color photographs and comments on other species (Teleostei: Blenniidae: Nemophini). Zootaxa 3046: 39-58. Fishelson, Lev. 1976. Spawning and larval development of the blenniid fish Meiacanthus nigrolineatus from the Red Sea. Copeia 1976: 798-800. Wittenrich, Matthew L. 2007. The Complete Illustrated Breeder's Guide To Marine Aquarium Fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) are fierce predators of coral reefs - especially of their favorite meal: scleractinian (stony) corals like Acropora. As we reported previously, these starfish can eat up to 6 square meters (65 square feet) of coral cover each year per starfish. They can destroy a large chunk of the reef when their populations swell. But what happens to them when their food source runs out? Researchers Suzuki, Kai and Yamashita reported this week in the scientific journal Coral Reefs about one event that can happen when their food source runs out: mass strandings of crown-of-thorns starfish. They report that in January of 2012 in Urasoko Bay, Ishigaki Island (southern Japan), 806 crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) were found stranded on a 330 yard section of a beach (pictured above). The researchers observed that these crown-of-thorns starfish invaded the Acropora-rich reef around Urasoko Bay and then headed into the inner bay toward the end of 2011 in search of food. The researchers believe after the crown-of-thorns ran out of Acropora to gorge on, they became emaciated and in their weakened condition congregated in the shallows at high tide. When the tide went out, they were stranded and subsequently died. This phenomenon was also reported twice in the local papers: once in February 2011 and another in August 2011. Suzuki, Kai, and Yamashita noted that: ...these observations possibly provide an answer to the question of what happens to COTS when they have completely depleted their food, at least on reefs within lagoons and around islands. On other reefs with different morphologies and hydrodynamic settings, COTS die and disintegrate on or near the reef, as evidenced by the finding of COTS spicules in near-reef sediments. Goes to show: Gluttony is truly a deadly sin. View the full article

Researchers have for the first time succeeded in discovering the optimal escape response of fish using a supercomputer. The aim was to test whether the escape mechanism of small fish, developed in the course of evolution, is optimal for achieving the maximum escape distance in a short time. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Read the Tunze DOC Skimmer flyer Tunze's DOC Skimmers are designed as plug-and-play complete filtration systems (a skimmer with built-in mechanical and optional chemical filtration). The new DOC Skimmer 9415 replaces the 9420 and will cost over $200 less (retail price of ~$600 USD). Tunze was able to save cost by going with a molded base and lid instead of costly hand acrylic work used in their previous DOC Skimmer line. The new DOC Skimmer 9430 replaces 9440 with a retail price of ~$700 USD. Unlike the 9440 it is replacing, the 9430 uses a single, stronger Hydrofoamer Silence pump instead of two small pumps to save cost while reducing noise and electrical consumption. Tunze expects to ship the new DOC Skimmers sometime in June, 2012. The DOC Skimmers feature: High skimming action at low wattage. Outgoing water without bubbles. DOC skimmer made of high-quality materials. No adjustments. Uniform output. Patented anti-overfoaming system prevents overfoaming of the skimmer and regulates the skimming action. Using the water energy of the output water: All DOC skimmers contain a removable post-filter, which carries out a perfect mechanical filtration through 300 μm acrylic wadding fibres. The filter can be filled with other filter media, such as activated carbon or phosphate absorber. Simple cleaning: Skimmer cup and foam reactor are one unit. Very soft operation with Hydrofoamer Silence. Especially robust construction of dispergator and high-performance rotor. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Last week, Advanced Aquarist broke news about a new, fast, non-lethal method for cyanide detection in marine fish. We wanted to learn more about the groundbreaking research published in the PLoS ONE article, so we turned to Dr. Peter Rubec. Advanced Aquarist: Dr. Rubec, we appreciate your time to discuss the exciting new cyanide test for marine fish. To start, please tell us about yourself. Dr. Peter Rubec: I am an aquarium hobbyist and have kept fish continuously since 1957. I attended the University of Ottawa (Hons. B.Sc, M.Sc) and Texas A&M University (Ph.D). I have worked for about 30 years as a fisheries research scientist (Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission), am a conservationist (helped found the International Marinelife Alliance-IMA in 1985), teach aquaponics at Morning Star Fishermen, and I am considered an expert on the issue of cyanide fishing and cyanide testing (have published over 20 papers in scientific publications and aquarium magazines related to cyanide and the aquarium trade). I participated in all five of the Marine Ornamentals Conferences, and participated in a Cyanide Detection Testing (CDT) Workshop sponsored by NOAA held in Orlando Florida in 2009. Advanced Aquarist: Tell us the history of this project and why this research was undertaken. Dr. Peter Rubec: The NOAA CDT workshop reviewed various cyanide testing procedures that have or could be applied to monitor the presence of cyanide in marine aquarium fish (MAF) and live reef fish (LRF). The IMA conducted cyanide testing in 6 laboratories from 1993 to 2001 under contract from the Philippines Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). I published results of the IMA testing in a book chapter in 2003. However, some of the participants at the workshop criticized the IMA test based on the fact that half lives of cyanide and its byproducts in marine fish have not been determined. The IMA noted that they had tested over 48,000 fish and invertebrate specimens using daily calibrations. Having visited 3 of the 6 IMA laboratories on several occasions, I knew the laboratories had been run in a very professional manner by the IMA chemists. I defended IMA’s test against its main critic (Dr. Robert Kobelsky). The NOAA CDT workshop (report published in 2009) served to emphasize the need for one or more tests for cyanide and/or its metabolites. The IMA Ion Selective Electrode (ISE) test was conducted in the exporting country (Philippines) but might not be appropriate in importing countries. There is a need for a faster non-invasive test that can be applied throughout the chain of custody from collectors through to retailers. Dr. Ricardo Calado (University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal) emailed me about two years ago concerning his desire to develop a non-invasive test for cyanide to help regulate the LRF and MAF trades. We decided to collaborate. Based on what I knew, we decided that a test for thiocyanate present in fish urine was the most appropriate test. A recently developed electrode and test for thiocyanate was available (developed by scientists at his university). We decided to test marine aquarium fish (clownfish) that had been bred in captivity to ensure they were cyanide free. Dr. Calado raised the research funds, put together a team of scientific analysts (some of whom had worked on the test previously), and pushed the project through to completion. Here is the link to the paper: http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0035355 Advanced Aquarist: What role did you play in the research presented in this paper? Dr. Peter Rubec: I advised on the experimental protocols, and helped revise the manuscript for publication. Because most of the authors were Portugese and English was not their first language; this turned out to be more work than I originally anticipated. Advanced Aquarist: Who would benefit most from having one of these instruments? Dr. Peter Rubec: The new test for thiocyanate (SCN) can be applied either in the exporting countries, in importing countries, or at both ends of the chain. When the IMA did cyanide testing for BFAR, the results were not fully utilized to prosecute offenders using cyanide to capture MAF and LRF, or those involved with buying and selling them (also illegal). While the exporting countries would benefit the most by protecting coral reef habitats that support fisheries to sustain local communities, there appears to be a reluctance to enforce laws against the use of cyanide in the Philippines and Indonesia. This may be related to the lack of funding to conduct monitoring and testing. Political interference and corruption may also be involved. Consequently, I hope to see the new SCN test applied in importing countries. In the U.S.A., the test could be used to help support the Lacey Act. It would allow the USFWS to prosecute importers who knowingly import cyanide-caught fish. Advanced Aquarist: How do you envision implementing this new protocol both domestically and at exporting countries? Dr. Peter Rubec: It would help if the exporting countries mandated that all fish exported must be “accredited” as being either cyanide-free or thiocyanate-free based on testing done in the exporting country. The exporting countries issue export-permits and provide paperwork that accompany shipments of MAF and LRF to importing countries. They could mandate that fish would not receive export permits without having been accredited based on testing done on samples collected from the export facilities. The testing should be either by government run or government-sponsored laboratories. Fees could be charged to the exporters to make the laboratories self-sustaining. Export facilities that fail the test more than three times would lose their operating licenses. The USFWS or government-approved laboratories could implement random testing of marine fish being imported into the U.S.A. Only fish with an “accreditation” certificate would be imported. If the fish test positive for SCN, fish importers would receive several warnings. This would help to put pressure back on the exporters. If fish being imported continue to be positive for SCN, the importer could be prosecuted under the Lacey Act for knowingly importing fish contaminated with thiocyanate (a strong indicator that the fish were caught with cyanide). Other importing countries in Europe, Japan, and elsewhere could implement similar regulations. Advanced Aquarist: This paper presents data on Amphiprion clarkii. Does your group plan to expand the protocol to include additional fish? If so, are there any species in particular that you plan to test in the next series? Dr. Peter Rubec: The analytical staff at the University of Aveiro are interested in conducting more research to further evaluate the test using a more sensitive SCN probe (sensor) that is under development. It will depend on their obtaining additional funding. The test procedure has been demonstrated to work and is already very sensitive (down to 3 ppb). I do not see the need for the university to become involved with expanding the protocol to include additional species of fish. If more species are to be tested in exporting and/or importing countries, other groups (either government agencies or possibly non-government organizations) will need to be involved. Advanced Aquarist: How far along are the optical fiber apparatus and software? Can authorities and other testing personnel expect to see working equipment soon? Dr. Peter Rubec: The optical fiber sensor was developed by the staff at the University of Aveiro. The main problem is that the sensor is not yet being commercially manufactured and sold. However, the university is willing to manufacture enough probes and software to provide other groups with the equipment. The research already published indicated that there was SCN pollution off of Portugal that appeared to be related to coastal pollution (not natural sources). So, I expect that the probe will be commercialized to support coastal monitoring of pollution (not just to support testing of fish being traded). Advanced Aquarist: Did you have any involvement in developing the SCN- method? Dr. Peter Rubec: My involvement was mostly as an advisor. I was not involved with developing the SCN method. The test was developed by Dr. Lurdes Silva and her research associates. Silva L.I.B, C.I.L. Justino, I. Lopes, R. Pereira, A. C. Freitas, R. Calado, T.A.P. Rocha-Santos, T.S.L. Panteleitchouk, M.E. Pereira, and A.C. Duart (2011) Optical fiber based methodology for assessment of thiocyanate in seawater. J. Environ. Monit.13:1811-1815. Advanced Aquarist: Why was the study interrupted at 28 days post cyanide exposure? The paper inferred that something happened to cause the study to be prematurely discontinued. Dr. Peter Rubec: I don’t know why the study was terminated after 28 days; while they were still detecting relatively high concentrations of SCN. I don’t believe that anything happened to cause the study to be prematurely discontinued. I will ask Dr. Colado and provide an answer later. Advanced Aquarist: A number of macroalgaes contain thiocyanate (up to 1 ppm in some cases -- reference: http://144.206.159.178/ft/38/588701/12057013.pdf). Do you foresee a problem with your test apparatus exhibiting a false positive with herbivorous fish that have eaten these macroalgaes recently? Dr. Peter Rubec: I am not aware of any research that indicates that SCN is taken up through the stomach or through the intestine of fish. The research papers cited done by Dr. George Dixon, Dr. Roman Lanno, and by Dr. Pierre Raymond involved the uptake of SCN across the gills of rainbow trout. So, I don’t believe that the SCN test apparatus would give false positives with herbivorous fish that might have eaten macroalgae containing SCN. It sounds like another research project. Advanced Aquarist: What are the plans for this project moving forward? Dr. Peter Rubec: There is an interest by Dr. Calado and his associates in doing more research with the SCN probe provided they can obtain funding. I hope that government agencies will take an interest and establish testing facilities. The cyanide issue has waned in conjunction with rising concern about climate change and ocean acidification. But, this is not because cyanide fishing is no longer a problem. The IMA was the only group that found funding, initiated monitoring and testing, and dealt effectively with cyanide fishing. The issue was mismanaged by the Marine Aquarium Council (MAC). They obtained over $10 million in grants and promised to do net trainings, underwater surveys, cyanide testing etc. They have nothing to show for their efforts. No other group is presently doing anything substantial to stop cyanide fishing, that along with other forms of destructive fishing, are destroying coral reefs. Cyanide has immediate detrimental effects on coral reefs and contributes to high mortalities of fishes being exported. Climate change and ocean acidification are real but are more long term with respect to their impacts on coral reefs. The present SCN paper vindicates the ISE test used by the IMA. It worked and the results obtained are still available in a database. It is not clear how the new SCN test will be applied at this point in time. Science is not the issue. The issue is whether there is political will to provide funding to deal with the problems associated with cyanide fishing. Advanced Aquarist: Dr. Rubec, thank you very much for taking time to discuss this topic with us! View the full article

Thanks for sharing the info. I didnt know that Hawaii mangrove is better in nutrient export .

We need to significant number of mangroves in order for effective nutrient export, but again mangrove can be an interest additional to a marine tank

Click through to see the images. The brain adapts to needs, both in fish and humans A goldfish in a bowl is a stock allegory for stupidity. Recent brain research supports this assumption. But it is not the fish that is stupid as such, it is the bowl that makes it that way. The bowl is void of any stimuli which the goldfish should react to with its brain. The situation is made even worse by the fact that pet goldfish descend from cultured stock. This means that the parents of the goldfish have been given the opportunity to parent without having to pass the cruel intelligence test of a real ocean environment – they have never had to find food, outwit predators, and they survived until sexual maturity without any adversity. The goldfish syndrome may also partly explain problems associated with fish stocking. Salmon cultivated in fish farms are usually unable to adapt to original river habitats. “The fry most likely to survive in fish farms are those who are the first to rush to the feed dispensers. In a natural environment, such foolhardy risk-takers are usually caught by predators in no time," says Jussi Koskinen, a doctoral student from the University of Helsinki Department of Biosciences. A cultured fish can also be discerned from a natural fish on the basis of their brains. According to Koskinen, the size of the brain in relation to body size grows faster in fry born out of natural fish than in cultured fries. In addition, the cerebellum, which plays an important role in motor control, is larger in fry originating from wild parents and those reared in an enriched environment. Group-living improves vision The brain of a fish adjusts easily to meet its environmental needs. Researcher Abigél Gonda has compared the brain size between populations of nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) living in the sea and in sheltered small ponds. These are small, bony and spiky fish, which raise more enthusiasm in scientists than amongst fishermen. There is a plethora of predators and varying sources of food in a sea, so the olfactory bulbs and telencephala of the marine nine-spined stickleback grow larger in comparison to their pond-inhabiting relatives. In test conditions, however, marine and pond sticklebacs behave in a similar manner. Individuals who had grown up in a group developed a larger visual brain centre, while those who grew individually developed a larger olfactory centre. “Brain cells consume a great deal of energy, which is why they are allocated on a needs basis. In a group, information about your mates can be perceived visually, whereas when you are on your own, you need to resort more to your sense of smell," Gonda explains. Loss of a capacity makes room in the brain Humans cannot, for obvious ethical reasons, be subjected to similar studies.We do know, however, that the human brain remains plastic and malleable throughout its life. From the perspective of the brain, the accuracy of performance is roughly equated with more brains cells involved in processing a given phenomenon and that the connections between these brain cells improve. “Congenitally deaf people have superior peripheral vision when tested as adults. And, amazingly, people who are born blind use their visual cortex for completely different tasks, such as learning and memory,” says Kai Kaila, Professor of Neurobiology. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Before watching the videos, we suggest you first read Advanced Aquarist's article about the Marlins Stadium aquarium build. While this build has stirred some controversy over the well-being of its inhabitants, the video clips show both LCA and the Miami Marlins organization placed considerable consideration on protecting the aquarium and livestock. The first video shows Living Color Aquarium's Mat demonstrating the durability of the tank's Lexan shield to Miami Marlins President David Samson and EVP Claude DeLorme. In the second video, the aquarium is put to the test by Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez. Fish Tank Kings will premiere on May 12, 2012 at 10pm on Nat Geo TV. Read about Fish Tank Kings. View the full article

Biologists suggest the delay in recovery of Atlantic cod on the eastern Scotian Shelf could be attributed to increased predation by grey seals or other governing factors and not the effect of forage fish as previously thought. View the full article

Biologists suggest the delay in recovery of Atlantic cod on the eastern Scotian Shelf could be attributed to increased predation by grey seals or other governing factors and not the effect of forage fish as previously thought. View the full article

Scientists predict ocean temperatures will rise in the equatorial Pacific by the end of the century, wreaking havoc on coral reef ecosystems. But a new study shows that climate change could cause ocean currents to operate in a way that mitigates warming near a handful of islands right on the equator. View the full article

Scientists predict ocean temperatures will rise in the equatorial Pacific by the end of the century, wreaking havoc on coral reef ecosystems. But a new study shows that climate change could cause ocean currents to operate in a way that mitigates warming near a handful of islands right on the equator. View the full article

Click through to see the images. Download them now! The issues come in three formats (PDF, Kindle, and Nook) which makes it great for taking it wherever you go. Articles include: February: DyMiCo filtration, Breeding Clownfish, Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO) effects on trace metal concentrations, and Tridacna maxima clams. March: LED Spectral Distributions: Radion, Orphek, Mvava, Ecoray and Ecoxotic; DyMiCo Filtration Part II, Eren Yelkenci's Aquarium, and Phosphates and Math. April: Percula Clownfish; Aiptasia, Dinoflagellate Algae, and Cyanobacteria Symbiosis, and Hanna Calcium and Iron Checkers. The PDF versions are full-color and we designed them to look great printed either single-sided or duplex (back-to-back). If you would like to see a couple example issues before purchasing, we have made a number of our older PDF issues available for free. Download a couple and check them out. The Kindle and Nook versions also included in the downloads are fully optimized for your eReader of choice. The layout is clean and easy to read as you would expect for reading on your device. Take a look at our January 2011 issue in Kindle / Nook format before you buy to get a feel for its layout and readability. Once you have looked through a couple example issues and like what you see, head over to http://www.advancedaquarist.com/pdf and purchase these issues (and a couple more while you are at it). Each issue is only $0.99. Purchasing a $0.99 downloadable issue is a great way to support Advanced Aquarist and helps keep this website and it's content free for our online readers. We also have many of our back issues in PDF / Kindle / Nook format and are also available for purchase from the PDF section of our website. We encourage you to send us your feedback. If you have any thoughts, please contact us at feedback@advancedaquarist.com. We hope you enjoy the issues! View the full article

Click through to see the images. Corals exposed to warm that is too warm often lose the symbiotic algae that live in their tissues and provide them nutrition. They turn white, a phenomenon known as bleaching and a major cause of coral mortality, said WHOI coral scientist Anne Cohen. WHOI climate scientist Kristopher Karnauskas teamed with Cohen to study how global warming may affect reefs in the equatorial Pacific, using a fine-scale model to predict future water conditions around the Gilbert Islands. (Photo by Jessie Kneeland, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) Here's how it would happen, according to the study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution scientists Kristopher Karnauskas and Anne Cohen, published April 29 in the journal Nature Climate Change. At the equator, trade winds push a surface current from east to west. About 100 to 200 meters below, a swift countercurrent develops, flowing in the opposite direction. This, the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC), is cooler and rich in nutrients. When it hits an island, like a rock in a river, water is deflected upward on the island's western flank and around the islands. This well-known upwelling process brings cooler water and nutrients to the sunlit surface, creating localized areas where tiny marine plants and corals flourish. WHOI climate scientist Kristopher Karnauskas examined this global satellite map of chlorophyll in surface waters. Higher chlorophyll is shown in green, yellow, and red; lower in aqua, blue, or purple. Chlorophyll indicates the growth of phytoplankton. To the left of South America, a line of green chlorophyll extends left (westward) toward the left edge of the map. (Image courtesy NASA) On color-enhanced satellite maps showing measurements of global ocean chlorophyll levels, these productive patches of ocean stand out as bright green or red spots, for example around the Galapagos Islands in the eastern Pacific. But as you look west, chlorophyll levels fade like a comet tail, giving scientists little reason to look closely at scattered low-lying coral atolls farther west. The islands are easy to overlook because they are tiny, remote, and lie at the far left edge of standard global satellite maps that place continents in the center. Karnauskas, a climate scientist, was working with WHOI coral scientist Anne Cohen to explore how climate change would affect central equatorial Pacific reefs. When he changed the map view on his screen in order to see the entire tropical Pacific at once, he saw that chlorophyll concentrations jumped up again exactly at the Gilbert Islands on the equator. Satellite maps also showed cooler sea surface temperatures on the west sides of these islands, part of the nation of Kiribati. “I've been studying the tropical Pacific Ocean for most of my career, and I had never noticed that,” he said. “It jumped out at me immediately, and I thought, 'there's probably a story there.'” So Karnauskas and Cohen began to investigate how the EUC would affect the equatorial islands' reef ecosystems, starting with global climate models that simulate impacts in a warming world. Global-scale climate models predict that ocean temperatures will rise nearly 3oC (5.4oF) in the central tropical Pacific. Warmer waters often cause corals to bleach, a process in which they lose the tiny symbiotic algae that life in them and provide them with vital nutrition. Bleaching has been a major cause of coral mortality and loss of coral reef area during the last 30 years. But even the best global models, with their planet-scale views and lower resolution, cannot predict conditions in areas as small as small islands, Karnauskas said. So they combined global models with a fine-scale regional model to focus on much smaller areas around minuscule islands scattered along the equator. To accommodate the trillions of calculations needed for such small-area resolution, they used the new high-performance computer cluster at WHOI called “Scylla.” “Global models predict significant temperature increase in the central tropical Pacific over the next few decades, but in truth conditions can be highly variable across and around a coral reef island,” Cohen said. “To predict what the coral reef will experience under global climate change, we have to use high-resolution models, not global models. Their model predicts that as air temperatures rise and equatorial trade winds weaken, the Pacific surface current will also weaken by 15 percent by the end of the century. The then-weaker surface current will impose less friction and drag on the EUC, so this deeper current will strengthen by 14 percent. “Our model suggests that the amount of upwelling will actually increase by about 50 percent around these islands and reduce the rate of warming waters around them by about 0.7oC (1.25oF) per century,” Karnauskas said. A handful of coral atolls on the equator, some as small as 4 square kilometers (1.54 square miles) in area, may not seem like much. But Karnauskas's and Cohen's results say waters on the western sides of the islands will warm more slowly than at islands 2 degrees (or 138 miles) north and south of the equator that are not in the way of the EUC. That gives the Gilbert Islands a significant advantage over neighboring reef systems, they said. “While the mitigating effect of a strengthened Equatorial Undercurrent will not spare the corals the perhaps-inevitable warming expected for this region, the warming rate will be slower around these equatorial islands, which may allow corals and their symbiotic algae a better chance to adapt and survive,” Karnauskas said. If the model holds true, then even if neighboring reefs are hard hit, equatorial island coral reefs may well survive to produce larvae of corals and other reef species. Like a seed bank for the future, they might be a source of new corals and other species that could re-colonize damaged reefs. “The globe is warming, but there are things going on underfoot that will slow that warming for certain parts of certain coral reef islands,” said Cohen. “These little islands in the middle of the ocean can counteract global trends and have a big impact on their own future, which I think is a beautiful concept,” Karnauskas said. “The finding that there may be refuges in the tropics where local circulation features buffer the trend of rising sea surface temperature has important implications for the survival of coral reef systems,” said David Garrison, program director in the National Science Foundation (NSF)'s Division of Ocean Sciences, which funded the research. Right: The Gilbert Islands lie in a line across the equator, and the Equatorial Undercurrent spans the area from about 2 degrees (138 miles) north to 2 degrees south of the equator. Chlorophyll values, shown in shades of green, decline from east to west but they increase again around the islands. To the east of the Gilberts are the Galapagos Islands, where the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) hits the islands and brings nutrients and cooler water toward the surface around the islands. (Courtesy of Kristopher Karnauskas, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) The Present: At the equatorial Pacific Gilbert Islands, east-to-west trade winds produce a surface current along the equator. The Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) develops at 100 to 200 meters depth, flowing in the opposite direction, west to east. When it hits a barrier (an island), the cooler, higher-nutrient water in the EUC flows up toward the surface. The waters near the island exhibit both cooler temperatures (shown as blue) and higher productivity of chlorophyll-containing marine phytoplankton, both of which diminish to the west. (Illustration by Amy Caracappa-Qubeck, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) The Future: Global climate models predict a sea surface temperature rise of nearly 3 degrees C (5.4 degrees F) by the end of the century. According to Karnauskas’s and Cohen’s fine-scale model, equatorial trade winds will weaken, causing a weakening of the surface current. In turn, the frictional drag on the EUC will lessen, and the EUC will strengthen, carrying more cool, nutrient-enriched water to the surface around the Gilbert Islands. The result will be enhanced productivity close to the islands, and slower warming during the coming century than neighboring islands not in the EUC’s path. The slower warming may allow corals to adapt and survive, making the Gilberts a refuge for coral reef ecosystems. (Illustration by Amy Caracappa_Qubeck, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a private, non-profit organization on Cape Cod, Mass., dedicated to marine research, engineering, and higher education. Established in 1930 on a recommendation from the National Academy of Sciences, its primary mission is to understand the oceans and their interaction with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate a basic understanding of the oceans’ role in the changing global environment. For more information, please visit www.whoi.edu. Media Relations Office (508) 289-3340 media@whoi.edu View the full article

Scientists have predicted that ocean temperatures will rise in the equatorial Pacific by the end of the century, wreaking havoc on coral reef ecosystems. But a new study shows that climate change could cause ocean currents to operate in a surprising way and mitigate the warming near a handful of islands right on the equator. As a result these Pacific islands may become isolated refuges for corals and fish. View the full article

Scientists have predicted that ocean temperatures will rise in the equatorial Pacific by the end of the century, wreaking havoc on coral reef ecosystems. But a new study shows that climate change could cause ocean currents to operate in a surprising way and mitigate the warming near a handful of islands right on the equator. As a result these Pacific islands may become isolated refuges for corals and fish. View the full article

Click through to see the images. The Cayman Islands is known as a major offshore financial center ... three tiny islands that make up the world's fifth largest banking system. As much as the Caymans is known for their finances, don't discount the natural beauty of these Caribbean islands. While the number of species here is not as rich as the Pacific (and perhaps the Cayman banks), a tranquil, lovely coral reef seascape welcomes underwater visitors. The Destination Reefs video series showcases the diversity of coral reefs around the world. Through these high quality videos, Advanced Aquarist hopes we can all gain a greater appreciation of reef life beyond our glass boxes. View the full article

It is possible, but you need a few stick in order to be effective .

Click through to see the images. I'm at a loss for words, so I'll just link you to their website for you to investigate on your own: www.fishfuneralkit.com My thanks to Barry Geller for bringing this to our attention. View the full article

Click through to see the images. I'm at a loss for words, so I'll just link you to their website for you to peruse on your own: www.fishfuneralkit.com My thanks to Barry Geller for bringing this to our attention. View the full article

First study to provide estimates of reef shark losses in the Pacific Ocean are sobering. Researchers noted the enormous detrimental effect that humans have on reef sharks. View the full article