Newly out-planted mountainous star coral (Orbicella faveolata) are growing in Biscayne National Park (BNP). This important act of conservation is a direct result of a partnership between The Florida Aquarium and Biscayne National Park. As an important reef-building species that has suffered high mortality in recent years from the Stony Coral Tissue Loss disease outbreak, the mountainous star coral is a key target for restoration.
With a general agreement in place, the duo is the first Aquarium-Park Partnership (APP) to participate in the Zoo-Park Partnerships for America’s Keystone Wildlife Project initiative; the joint initiative of National Park Service and Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) pairs zoos and aquaria with national parks across the country.
“Wildlife is part of the historical landscape our nation’s parks sustain and interpret,” said Julie Anton Randall, APP Project Founder and Director. “AZA-accredited zoo and aquarium partners contribute expertise and resources to help parks meet America’s wildlife health and population recovery goals.”
The exciting partnership between The Florida Aquarium and Biscayne National Park focuses on the conservation of the park’s coral reef ecosystems which are in decline from a wide range of threats including climate change impacts such as increased water temperature and acidification, disease such as stony coral tissue loss, pollution, overfishing, invasive species, and water quality degradation.
The Florida Aquarium proudly serves as an industry leader in protecting, sexually reproducing and developing the techniques needed to breed and care for many threatened species of coral and thousands of coral offspring. Scientists from The Florida Aquarium care for 14 species of coral native to Florida.
Among those coral were the mountainous star coral grown from gametes collected by BNP staff during a 2019 spawning event in the park. The gametes were fertilized at the park and settled onto small tiles to allow for the animal’s growth and development before being transferred to The Florida Aquarium for rearing in December 2019.
This past summer, after several months in the ocean-based nursery, the now juvenile mountainous star coral were successfully returned back to the reef in Biscayne National Park by divers from the Park and NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center.
“This unique partnership maximizes animal husbandry and field conservation techniques to increase coral genetic diversity and advance the protection and restoration of threatened species in the Park” says Keri O’Neil, The Florida Aquarium’s Coral Conservation Program Manager & Senior Scientist. “With the help of key coral conservation partners from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science (RSMAS), these juvenile corals have now been returned to the waters of their origin in Biscayne National Park.”
Ed’s Note: Photos courtesy of the Florida Aquarium and National Park Service. Used with gratitude and permission.
Veterans and Spouse Information Fair April 2
“Rules concerning veteran care change. That’s why we have invited all the federal, state and county agencies who provide veteran services to participate in a Veterans and Spouse Information Fair on April 2 in Sun City Center,” said Bill Hodges, member of...
A Special Interactive Arts Event for Young Children
Watch as Brother and Sister Bear experience a full year of glorious seasons. See a waterfall melt, meet a butterfly, chase an elusive fish, and skate on an icy pond. In this show, especially for the very young, children are invited to join the action with...
Operation Medicine Cabinet
Help save Hillsborough Waterways! Bring Your expired or unused medications to South Bay Hospital, 4016 Sun City Center Blvd. on Friday, April 5, 2019, from 9 – 12 p.m. According to the Florida Department of Environmental Safety, expired or unwanted...
SCC Rotary Welcomes New Members
In March the Sun City Center Rotary Club welcomed two new members to the club. In the photo: (l-r) are Brian Pawley, Rea Cantwell (President), Frank Slesnick, Steve Overton (Past President), Mike Binder (new member sponsor), Georgana Collins, Ron Banaszak,...
Project Aims to Enhance SCC Curb Appeal
Project Begins to Enhance SCC Curb Appeal The Sun City Center Charitable Foundation, Inc. is starting the Great Neighborhoods Project to enhance SCC neighborhoods’ common areas with aesthetic improvements to improve the pride, property values, and...
Florida Aquarium Needs Your Help Naming New Sea Turtle
The star of The Florida Aquarium’s newest exhibit, Heart of the Sea, is a juvenile male loggerhead sea turtle that was unable to return to the wild due to an injury. Since he was rescued from the frigid waters off the northeast coast the United States, he...
0 Comments