2015 Annual Report on Conservation and Science
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INTRODUCTION 2 2015 Annual Report on Conservation and Science The Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) 2015 Annual Report on Conservation and Science (ARCS) cele- brates the conservation and science-related activities of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums and certified related facilities. Each topic included in this report has been carefully defined to maximize consistency of reporting throughout the AZA community. AZA’s Field Conservation and Research and Technology Committees review all of the relevant submissions by members to promote even greater consistency. Field conservation focuses on efforts having a direct impact on animals and habitats in the wild. Education programming includes those with specific goals and delivery methods, defined content, and a clear primary discipline and target audience. Mission-related research projects involve application of the scientific method and is therefore hypothesis (or question)-driven, involves systematic data collection and analysis of those data, and draws conclusions from the research process. Green (sustainable) business practices focus on the annual documentation and usage of energy, fuel for transportation, waste and water, as well as identification of specific green practices being implemented. Content in ARCS reflects the submissions made through annual surveys available through AZA’s website. The response rate for each 2015 survey was as follows: » field conservation – 92% » education programming – 62% » green business practices – 50% » mission-focused research – 64% AZA is grateful to each member that responded to these surveys. While 2015 ARCS focuses on individual activities undertaken in 2015, download Highlights (available at: https://www.aza.org/annual-report-on-conservation-and-science/) to learn more about what the AZA community accomplished together. This Report was compiled by Arslan Ahmad (AZA Program Assistant for Conservation and Science) and Shelly Grow (AZA Director of Conservation Programs). INTERNATIONAL 3 INTERNATIONAL Argentina Bermuda FUNDACIÓN TEMAIKÈN BERMUDA AQUARIUM, MUSEUM AND ZOO Research Field Conservation Study and Conservation of Bat Diversity in Área Importante Bermuda Amphibian Project para la Conservación (AICOM) Osununú – Teyú Cuaré Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (BAMZ) / Bermuda Zoological Society (BZS) Research Grants and Support Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (BAMZ) Internship Bahamas Programme Bermuda Reef Ecology Assessment and Mapping (BREAM) ATLANTIS, PARADISE ISLAND Marine Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Education Programs Atlantis Stingray Experience Caring for Atlantis’ Marine Life Canada Discovery Tour ASSINIBOINE PARK ZOO Dolphin Deep Water Swim Education Programs Dolphin Shallow Water Swim Adult Workshops Junior Ultimate Trainer for a Day Assiniboine Park Zoo Camp Sea Lion Interaction Education Outreach Sea Squirts Foodology – Culinary Arts Camp Snorkel the Ruins of Atlantis Girl Guide Badge Programs Ultimate Trainer for a Day Guided Zoo Tours Field Conservation Nature Tots Atlantis Blue Project Partners for Polar Bears Bahamian Coral Reefs and Climate Change: Coral Reef Partners in Education Conservation Through Climate Change Education in School Programs Schools and in the Wider Community Teacher Training Workshops Coral Reef Monitoring and Restoration in the Bahamas Field Research and Outreach to Support Conservation of Field Conservation Marine Mammals in the Bahamas AZA Tiger SSP – Tiger Conservation Campaign Promoting the Expansion of Andros West Side National Park on Andros Island, the Bahamas Bird Strike Mitigation Stranding Response to Support Marine Mammals in the Manitoba Burrowing Owl Recovery Program Bahamas and Marine Mammal Research, Bahamas Marine Monarch Watch Butterfly Tagging Mammal Research Organisation (BMMRO) MonarchHealth – Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE) Testing Tour de Turtles Red Panda Network Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) INTERNATIONAL 4 Green (Sustainable) Practices Research ENERGY Abundance Estimates, Haul-Out Patterns and Natural History of Harbour Seals (Phoca vitulina) in the Churchill River Documented Amount Spent Estuary Documented Amount Used Genetic Variation in Ringed Seal (Pusa hispida): Population Generated Renewable Energy On-Site Structure and Geographical Isolation in the Canadian Arctic Purchased Renewable Energy Polar Bear Denning in Canada EXTERNAL SUPPORT Ringed Seal (Pusa hispida) Trends in Abundance Inferred Received Support From External Sources Specifically for From Genetics Green Projects Use of Baited Hair Traps and Genetic Analysis to Investigate Source Populations of Cougars (Puma concolor) in FOOD Manitoba Sourced Local Food or Grew it On-Site Using Infrared to Assess Thermoregulation Behaviours in Polar Bears – Implications for an Arctic with Less Snow and FUEL More Open Water Documented Amount Spent Documented Amount Used BIODÔME DE MONTREAL Field Conservation GREEN CERTIFICATIONS Conservation of the Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) in Certified as LEED by the US Green Building Council Québec Documented Square Footage of Facility With Green Building Bat Conservation Program: Neighbourhood Bat Watch Certification Breeding Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata) in Captivity PLANS, POLICIES AND BUDGETS Conservation and Restoration of American Ginseng Dedicated a Line Item in the Budget for Green Practices Conservation and Restoration of Wild Leek in Québec Dedicated Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Staff to Coordinating Green Practices Conservation of the Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) in Québec Developed or Updated a Sustainability Plan (or Equivalent) Wild Leek Conservation Program – La Forêt M’Invite Developed or Updated a Sustainability Policy WASTE Research Antarctic Notothenioid Fishes – Sentinel Taxa for Southern Documented Amount Composted Ocean Warming Documented Amount Recycled Characterization of a Captive Population of the Blackfin Documented Amount Sent to Landfill Icefish Chaenocephalus( aceratus) and the Bullhead Notothen (Notothenia coriiceps) WATER Environmental and Social Viability of a Project to Promote Documented Amount Spent Sustainable Farming Practices in Rural Communities in the Tapajós Region of Brazilian Amazonia Documented Amount Used Evaluation of Salinity Reduction and Sulfur-Based Denitrification at the Biodôme de Montréal – Sustainable Practices Evaluation of the Efficiency of Nitrate and Phosphates Removal by Macroalgal Biofilters: Comparison of Two Native Species (Palmaria palmata and Ulva lactuca) INTERNATIONAL 5 Family Identification in a CaptiveUria aalge Populations: RIPLEY’S AQUARIUM OF CANADA Development and Validation of Microsatellite Markers Education Programs Restricted Feeding and Compensatory Growth in Charr School Program – Amazing Algae and Other Aquatic Plants Species Under Cultivation: A Sustainable Practice (Grade 3) Sexual Size Dimorphism in Wolffishes: Spotted Anarhichas( School Program – Aquarium Careers (Grade 11/12) minor) and Atlantic (Anarhichas lupus) School Program – Climate in Crisis (Grade 10) CALGARY ZOO School Program – Creatures Undercover (Grade 2) School Program – Deep Sea Diver (Grade 5) Field Conservation Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Ecosystem Research Project School Program – Lake Invaders (Grade 6) Community-Based Conservation in Ghana and Kenya School Program – My Own Aquarium (Grade 1) Greater Sage – Grouse Reintroduction Breeding Program School Program – Pollution Solution (Grade 7) Population Dynamics of At-Risk Northern Leopard Frogs in School Program – Sensational Sharks (Kindergarten) Western Canada School Program – Stream Science (Grade 9) Swift Fox Recovery School Program – Watery Web (Grade 4) Vancouver Island Marmot Reintroduction Breeding and School Program – What’s in the Water (Grade 8) Research Program Sea Squirts Whooping Crane Reintroduction Breeding and Research Sleepover – Sleep With the Sharks Program Stingray Experience Green (Sustainable) Practices Summer and March Break Camps ENERGY Tank Talk Documented Amount Spent Documented Amount Used Field Conservation Great Canadian Shoreline Clean Up Documented Square Footage of Conditioned Space Generated Renewable Energy On-Site Research Purchased Renewable Energy Invasive Lionfish Eradication Research PLANS, POLICIES AND BUDGETS VANCOUVER AQUARIUM MARINE SCIENCE Dedicated a Line Item in the Budget for Green Practices CENTRE Dedicated Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Staff to Coordinating Green Practices Education Programs Developed or Updated a Sustainability Plan (or Equivalent) AquaCamps/AquaClubs Developed or Updated a Sustainability Policy AquaNews and Windows on Research Birthday Parties Research Curriculum Programs Conservation Translocations Interpretive Delivery Programs Online Public Programs Outreach Education – AquaVan and AquaZone Public Programs Sleepovers INTERNATIONAL 6 Field Conservation Development of Sustainable Live Feed Production Systems Acoustic Beluga Research Project Diseases of Stranded Killer Whales Agarum Monitoring Echinococcosis in a Goeldi’s Monkey Assessing Growth Trends and Body Condition of Killer Engagement, Education and Action: The Role of a Public Whales to Infer Nutritional Status Display Aquarium in Wildlife Health Biodiversity Monitoring Evaluation of Beluga Hormone Levels in Breath Samples British Columbia (BC) Cetacean Sightings Network Evaluation of Cetacean Hearing Thresholds British Columbia Northern Leopard Frog Recovery Project Fish Disease Case Reports Cetacean Population Genetics – Killer Whale Harbour Porpoise Post-Release Monitoring