It’s time to live blue™ Right Whale Researchers Predict Calf's Birth Whale Scientists Bring Expertise to Aquarium 50 Years of Aquarium Memories Members’ Magazine Volume 53, Number 2 Spring 2020 In This Issue At the time this issue was being prepared, Chappell Photo: Webb the Aquarium, the City of Boston, and SCIENCE IN ACTION Science in Action most of the world were facing enormous Birth of whale calf no surprise challenges brought about by the COVID-19 outbreak. We greatly appreciate the to our scientists 1 continued support of our members during Cool Jobs these difficult days. Much has changed and Reproducing Results much more will change, but our mission to Leigh Clayton, DVM, Vice President protect the blue planet remains steadfast. of Animal Care 2 How our team predicted the birth of a right whale calf The Aquarium is very fortunate to be 50 Years of Conservation located on Boston’s flourishing downtown Aquarium welcomes two waterfront, overlooking a clean and vibrant From the President and CEO As North Atlantic right whales face important health conditions in even touching the whale—is a whale experts 4 Boston Harbor. When the Aquarium declining numbers and the threat of right whales. testament to our innovative science to extinction, each newborn calf is worth study whales at sea,” said Elizabeth opened its doors on Central Wharf in 1969, that was not the case; “Studying the health of large whales is celebrating. Burgess, Research Scientist at the live blue ™ Boston Harbor was literally a dump. challenging. Fecal samples are a gold Anderson Cabot Center. This research Learning this fall that Harmonia (Catalog mine of information, providing us the Visitors advocate for ocean issues 7 continues a rare long-term study that Around that time, early environmental activists were sounding the alarm #3101), a mature 18-year-old female right rare opportunity to learn about has amassed an unmatched database about our natural resources and the need to protect them. The first whale, had elevated levels of reproductive right whale reproduction and health Members’ Notes on changes in right whale health Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, the same year the federal government hormones (such as progesterone beyond what is revealed from visual Members share Aquarium memories 8 through time. established the Environmental Protection Agency. The Clean Air Act and and estrogen) suggesting that she observations,” said Katie Graham, Clean Water Act followed soon after. In 1985, by court order, the Boston was pregnant was both exciting and Assistant Scientist at the Anderson —Jon Kinson Harbor cleanup began. Thirty-five years and billions of dollars later, a important. North Atlantic right whales are Cabot Center. not reproducing as often as they should revitalized Boston Harbor and miles-long Harbor Walk attract residents Interestingly, this is the second @neaq.org be. Knowing whether this is because Our website is full of conservation information, animal facts, and and visitors alike. pregnancy we have been able to detect females are not able to get pregnant or details that will help you plan your next trip to the Aquarium. for Harmonia. In addition to studying females are getting pregnant and failing On the cover: California sea lions. Photo: Keith Ellenbogen On April 22, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by kicking hormones in feces, we were the first to to bring the fetus to term is critical to off “50 for 50”—50 virtual ways to come together while staying apart—to develop methods to quantify hormones understanding why their reproduction celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and our 50th anniversary year. in exhaled breath, or blow, of right blue is a quarterly magazine exclusively for members of is so low. the New England Aquarium produced and published by You can read more about 50 for 50 on page 3. whales. In 2015, while this innovative New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110. “There were only 12 births in the last study was in progress, our team Publishing office is located at 177 Milk St., Boston. This spring we also look forward to the annual migration of North three years compared to the 60-plus we collected two blow samples blue and all materials within are property of the Atlantic right whales from their winter calving grounds off the coast of expected, so every pregnancy is a cause and a fecal sample from Harmonia. New England Aquarium. Reproduction of any materials the southeastern United States to the northernmost regions of the Gulf of for celebration,” said Philip Hamilton, These showed levels of reproductive is possible only through written permission. © blue 2020 Maine. Between 2017 and 2019, only 12 North Atlantic right whale births Research Scientist at the Aquarium’s hormones characteristic of Editor: Jon Kinson Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life. Designer: Cathy LeBlanc were observed. Ten new calves have been spotted this season—hopeful news pregnancy, and Harmonia Contributors: Emily Greenhalgh, Jon Kinson, Kelly Kryc, for a species with fewer than 411 individuals remaining. One of those calves In early January, an aerial survey team gave birth 10 months later. Hannah Pickard, and Clayton Starr was born to Harmonia, whose pregnancy was discovered this summer by the from the Florida Fish and Wildlife “Being able to track General Information: 617-973-5200 New England Aquarium right whale team. Read more about our hormone Conservation Commission spotted Harmonia’s pregnancies Membership: 617-973-6555, [email protected] analysis research and Harmonia on page 1. Harmonia and her newborn calf off the using rather unconventional Navigator and Conservation Societies: coast of Georgia, verifying what our samples, like poop and 617-226-2622, [email protected] In this issue, you will also meet three of the newest members of the samples had intimated: She had been blow—which can be The Tide: 617-973-5224, [email protected] Aquarium’s team. Senior Scientists Peter Corkeron and Jessica Redfern and pregnant! collected without Vice President for Animal Care Leigh Clayton share a dedication to animal So how did our scientists predict the welfare both in the wild and in our care. Read more about them on pages calf’s birth ahead of time? 2-3 and 4-6. In August, a team from the Anderson You will also hear from Director of Conservation Policy and Leadership Cabot Center’s Kraus Marine Mammal Kelly Kryc about how Aquarium visitors are helping advocate for policies Conservation Program collected a sample that support sustainable ocean use (page 7). of Harmonia’s feces in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where she was sighted with New England Aquarium Thank you all for helping us carry on the work started decades ago two other right whales. The analysis of Proudly Recognizes Our Lead Sponsors protecting our blue (and green!) planet. her hormone levels by our Marine Stress and Ocean Health team indicated she Best, was pregnant. For years, our scientists have been scooping whale feces from the ocean and using it to identify vital hormone 50th anniversary sponsors signals, including pregnancy diagnosis, Vikki N. Spruill reproductive activity, stress responses, President and CEO, New England Aquarium and nutritional state, as well as other 1 cool jobs —Emily Greenhalgh 50 Virtual Ways Leigh Clayton, DVM to Spring into Action Vice President of Animal Care and Support Conservation From turtles to tunicates, is there a With that many animals relying on her “We’re facing some really serious The New England Aquarium is celebrat- “The 50th anniversaries of both the cooler job than being in charge of the and her team, Clayton pointed to a quote issues coming up, and none of us ing its 50th anniversary with “50 for Aquarium and Earth Day are perfect Aquarium’s animals? Dr. Leigh Clayton, she says has always stuck with her: has the answer, so we’re going to 50.” We made a promise to provide opportunities to focus attention on Vice President of Animal Care, certainly “Our quality of care is their quality of have to get really serious about what 50 opportunities for our members and the human and ocean connection doesn’t think so. life.” It’s her professional philosophy win-win solutions look like,” she said. neighbors to come together to protect and to inspire people to “I think zoos and aquariums have an the ocean and our coastline through become ocean According to our last marine life census when working with animals, especially important role to play in that dialogue. collective action. advocates who (yes, we do those!), there are about here at the Aquarium. Clayton works We can pull people together to have engage in their 19,380 animals between Central Wharf closely with not just the members on Like many organizations, we find that conversation.” communities,” and our behind-the-scenes facility in her team, but other Aquarium groups, ourselves in unchartered waters said Rebekah Quincy, MA. That number includes a such as Facilities staff members, since When asked about the hardest part of due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Vanessa Kahn Stendahl, variety of animals, such as Myrtle the they are responsible for the life support her job, Clayton said it is taking care We closed the Aquarium to Director of turtle, Ron the California sea lion, comb systems our animals rely on. of animals we have never worked with visitors and canceled all public Conservation jellies, sea cucumbers, and juvenile Clayton joined the New England before, something we do often at the events for the foreseeable future. “I believe zoos and Learning at fishes. It doesn’t count our temporary Aquarium in fall 2019, coming from New England Aquarium.