winter 2014 - Tennessee Aquarium

T E N N E S S E E
L E A D I N G
T H E
W A Y
I N
A Q U A R I U M
F R E S H W A T E R
C O N S E R V A T I O N
RIVERWATCH
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS OF THE TENNESSEE AQUARIUM • WINTER 2014
Holidays Under
the Peaks
Celebrate the Season
NEW ON EXHIBIT: ELECTRIC EEL 4
EDUCATION ACCOLADES 6
WINTER MEMBER EVENTS 8
IMAX: TITANS OF THE ICE AGE 3D 10
LISTENING FOR LAKE STURGEON 11
T N AQ U A .O R G /H O L I DAY S
EXTRAORDINARY
EXPERIENCES
The holiday season is special because we take some extra time to unwind
and enjoy time with our families. Aquarium members know reconnecting
with one another while being surrounded by schools of colorful fish,
fluttering butterflies and playful penguins and otters is truly wonderful.
The Aquarium’s animal experts have
developed a cornucopia of surprising
new encounters to enhance your next
visit. “We’re always looking for
different ways to get our guests closer
to animals,” said Dave Collins, the
Aquarium’s curator of forests. “Our new
New holiday
N
h lilid
d fun
f in
i
Downtown Chattanooga:
Ice on the Landing
Lace up your skates and step onto
an outdoor holiday ice rink under
the open sky next to the Aquarium.
Open daily Nov. 28–Jan. 4 with
special themes and activities on the
ice throughout the season.
Aquarium members who register
for Caroling with the Fishes will
receive a $2 discount on Dec. 7th.
Brought to Chattanooga by
Chattanooga Presents.
www.IceOnTheLanding.com
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programs offer more opportunities for
our experts to share stories about these
creatures, making connections in ways
we’ve never done before.”
Aquarium visitors have long been
delighted by the ways our staff showcases the natural behaviors of the animals
in our care. The popularity of our temporary Ranger Rick gallery was part of
what prompted us to investigate ways
to expand the quantity and quality of
up-close experiences throughout both
buildings. When Aquarium experts put
their heads together to consider the
highest potential for these experiences,
they developed a brilliant strategy that
gives guests several extraordinary experiences along their journey throughout
our freshwater and marine exhibits.
The Delta Country exhibit has
always been rich and immersive, but
many people might pass through without realizing how many fascinating
things are going on within that habitat.
New programs will help everyone
explore this part of the Aquarium.
“We recognized an opportunity to have
a staff member wade out into our population of turtles to provide a guided
tour of the Delta,” said Collins.
“They’ll be able to pick up a turtle and
have a conversation with guests who
will remain dry and comfortable while
feeling drawn into that space.”
Touch programs are remarkably
powerful. In addition to permanent
fixtures like the Lake Sturgeon and
Stingray touch tanks, scheduled and
unscheduled opportunities to touch
other creatures will be offered each day.
From tide pool marine invertebrates
like sea stars to the Aquarium’s chubby
Woodchuck, tactile connections help
bridge a gap between humans and
nature that has been widening. And, on
occasions when a brightly colored Corn
Snake is presented, even those who
choose to look from a distance should
come away with a new appreciation for
the role of scaly animals.
Like the wonder and excitement of
a wrapped holiday gift, more than two
dozen daily programs are waiting to be
discovered and treasured. Even more
will be offered in the months ahead.
“We’re very excited about the new
programs and reaching for that one big
goal,” said Collins. “Creating lasting
experiences that help shape the lives
of our future conservationists.”
View the complete Holidays
Under the Peaks program schedule at:
tnaqua.org/Holidays.
Keep the daily program schedule
handy each time you visit. Download
the FREE Tennessee Aquarium app
from the iTunes Store or Google Play.
Look for SCUBA Claus making
underwater appearances each weekend
from Nov. 22–Dec. 21. He’ll dive in
River Journey Saturdays at 11 a.m. and
Sundays at 2 p.m. 
JOHN
JOH
OHN BAMB
AM ER
Holidays Under
the Peaks is proudly
sponsored by:
RIVERWATCH
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NEW IN RIVER JOURNEY
AMPED UP ABOUT A
HIGH-VOLTAGE ANIMAL
I have enjoyed working with some
truly amazing animals since joining the
Aquarium team in 2013. I have cared
for seahorses, Tigerfish and live coral. I
have also helped feed our sea turtles,
cuttlefish and stingrays. But, one of
the most fascinating animals I’ve ever
worked with is the Electric Eel
(Electrophorus electricus). Electric Eels
are brownish in color with either an
orange or yellow belly. They are true
river giants, some growing to eight
feet in length.
When I began researching the
Electric Eel, the first thing I learned
really shocked me (sorry, pun intended). The Electric Eel is actually not an
eel at all, it is a knifefish. It is in the
family Gymnotidae, also known as the
naked-back knifefishes. These fishes
have cylindrical bodies, no dorsal fin on
their backs and a really long anal fin
that runs almost the entire length of
their underside. This long fin is used to
propel the fish through the water—
forwards or backwards. The really cool
thing about this family of fishes though
is their ability to produce electricity,
although only one can produce really
high voltage - the Electric Eel.
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The Electric Eel has three different
electric producing organs in its body:
the main organ, the Hunter’s organ and
the Sach’s organ. Thousands of cells
called electrocytes are stacked together
to form these organs. These produce
two different electric organ discharges,
a high voltage discharge and a low
voltage discharge.
The main organ and the Hunter’s
organ are used to generate the high
voltage discharge which can pack quite
a punch. Researchers have measured
discharges in excess of 800 volts! That’s
about eight times the volts in a household outlet. The Sach’s organ is used to
produce a low voltage discharge of
approximately 10 volts. This low volt
discharge is used for electrolocation. It
allows the eel to locate prey and to
sense its environment. It’s a handy trick
for an animal with small eyes that lives
in very murky water.
You might be surprised to learn that
Electric Eels control their discharges.
They use varying amounts of electricity
for hunting and defense. These discharges are very short in duration but
the eel can repeat them over and over.
ZAP! ZAP! ZAP!
They are somewhat like batteries
with positively charged heads and negatively charged tails. Eel size determines
how much voltage can be produced.
Larger eels generate more volts than
smaller eels.
During the dry season, these fish
can often be found in small ponds and
swamps that are very low in oxygen.
Most fish wouldn’t be able to survive
long in such environments, but Electric
Eels are perfectly suited to live like “a
fish out of water.” They are obligate air
breathers, surfacing about every 10 minutes to take a breath. If denied access to
the surface, Electric Eels could drown.
Most people want to know if I’ve
ever been shocked by our Electric Eel.
The answer is…not yet!
Whenever I’m cleaning or maintaining the eel’s habitat, I wear heavy electrician’s gloves to insulate me from a
surprise jolt. But one day while I was
reattaching a thermometer probe to the
exhibit, the eel snuck up and bit my
hand. Since I was wearing the heavy
black gloves, it didn’t hurt—except my
pride. I jumped back and yelled a little
bit. Thankfully no one was around to
witness that “shocking” moment. 
STOCK PHOTO
BY BRAD THOMPSON, AQUARIST
S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y: S ER V E & P R OT EC T I N I T I AT I V E
SMALL BUT MIGHTY:
MUSSELS, A MOVEMENT & YOU
The Tennessee Aquarium recently invited renowned chefs Nico Romo and
Barton Seaver to share their culinary wit
and wisdom with supporters of our
2014 Serve & Protect event. By skillfully
blending the science of sustainable seafood with some savory samples on stage,
the two thrust into the spotlight the surprising power of seemingly small things.
Easily overlooked, both on the
shoreline and in the grocery store aisle,
the mighty mussel packs a powerful
punch. In the protected New England
ecosystems where they thrive, a single
Blue Mussel can filter 12 gallons of
water in a day—making them a welcome fishery option for the American
families who farm them. As chefs Romo
and Seaver demonstrated on our IMAX
stage, they are also remarkably inexpensive, easy to purchase (hint: if the shells
are closed, they are alive and safe to eat),
and fun to cook in restaurants and
home kitchens alike.
Together, the French Master chef
and the National Geographic Fellow
encouraged the Aquarium crowd to
consider how small choices from individuals add up to powerful movements
with broad impacts. “The value that
chefs bring to the sustainable seafood
conversation is critical,” Seaver noted
with a nod to the Aquarium’s Serve &
Protect restaurant partners. By providing
everyone with sustainable choices, our
local chefs are part of the solution that
keeps our ocean healthy.
Likewise, while your actions may
seem small in the global challenge of
sustainable seafood, remember that public demand is the driving force for restaurants and grocery stores to provide
environmentally-friendly choices. So,
ask questions of your waitstaff about
where fish is caught and how it is harvested. Look for Serve & Protect tips
throughout the Aquarium to learn more
about your best sustainable options.
Share the information you learn with
friends to impress them with your
knowledge. And make plans now to
attend next year’s event on Thursday,
September 17. You may not be able to
teach thousands with the wisdom you
gain, but your support of our only
annual fundraising event can help the
Aquarium do just that. 
Chefs Nico Romo and Barton
Seaver joined Chef Tamie Cook
on stage for a mussel showdown.
JOHN BAMBER
Serve & Protect is presented by:
RIVERWATCH
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E D U C AT I O N
For some people, a journey through the
Aquarium’s exhibits can feel like jumping into a
river of knowledge. Coming face-to-face with
unusual, exotic or otherwise unseen animals encourages inquisitive minds
to soak up information about the natural world.
Through interesting creatures, inspiring
conservation efforts and environmental
education programming, the Aquarium
immerses people in the fascinating
stories of life above, around and below
water’s surface. This work is at the core
of our mission as an educational nonprofit, and we were recently honored to
be designated—again—as the nation’s
only aquarium-based accredited Special
Purpose School.
Since 2001, the Aquarium has
received such designation from the
Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools, a regional agency of AdvancED.
This organization accredits more than
23,000 public and private educational
institutions through a rigorous evaluation process that helps schools achieve
excellence through high standards,
quality assurance, and continuous
improvement. To achieve accreditation,
institutions must meet a robust set of
standards that demonstrate a positive
impact on student performance and a
commitment to organizational effectiveness. This summer, the Aquarium was
informed that we passed the review with
flying colors and will be accredited for
another five years.
“The sights and sounds of the tour,
interaction between nature and visitor,
professionalism between every staff
member, and the strong belief in the
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mission and vision create an environment that isn’t simply ‘taught’ but is
‘caught,’” noted the external team of
evaluators who reviewed our Aquarium
exhibits, programs, practices and policies. “School classes spend time in the
aquarium classrooms where lessons are
presented in unbelievably creative ways,
learning and inquiry takes place, and
students return to their school classrooms for applications to what they have
learned,” the report continues. These
words of affirmation highlight the ways
in which the Aquarium’s professional
education staff helps teachers and students leverage our underwater assets as
an extension of their school classrooms.
“The ethos of the
Tennessee Aquarium is
warm, welcoming, highly
professional, and displays
a culture of excellence at
all levels and in all areas.”
—AdvancED Report
During the on-site portion of their
review, the evaluation team not only met
with Aquarium staff and volunteers, but
they also took the opportunity to gauge
the Aquarium’s educational efforts by
questioning a random selection of
members and visitors. They quickly
determined that the Aquarium “operates
primarily as a unique community learning laboratory,” and noted that our educational impact extends far beyond our
work with teachers and students. Indeed,
the Aquarium strives to fulfill its educational mission for every member, family,
tourist group, and professional organization that explores our underwater world.
Many people say that being accredited means that the public can expect an
institution to live up to its promises. For
the teachers who use us as a classroom
resource, it means they can have confidence in the quality of the environmental education information we provide.
For the students who learn under our
educators’ guidance, it means our educational programs support the standards
they are already working to achieve in
school. For our members and donors, it
enhances the value of your Aquarium
experience and reaffirms your choice to
invest in our work.
Everyone else who walks through
our doors may have no knowledge of
this special distinction. As members,
though, we hope you join us in celebrating our accomplishments and take pride
in bringing your family and friends to
see your unique “school.” 
JOHN BAMBER
MORE THAN JUST
A SCHOOL OF FISH
Share Your School With
Someone You Love
Is there a special teacher in your
life who has impacted you or
your child in an especially positive way? A gift membership to
the Aquarium is an excellent
way to honor him or her this
holiday season! Teachers across
the Tennessee Valley and beyond
know that learning expeditions
at the Aquarium can be invaluable as they develop classroom
lesson plans, look for creative
ways to meet changing standards, and sometimes just to
have fun.
Give a teacher in your life a
year’s worth of Aquarium visits,
and get a gift to keep for yourself! Members who purchase a
gift membership between now
and December 31 will receive
two IMAX vouchers for the
movie of your choice*. Purchase
your gift membership today at:
community.tnaqua.org/teachergift or call our membership staff
at 423-267-3474.
*Feature-length films, including
“The Polar Express 3D” are
excluded due to licensing issues.
RIVERWATCH
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WINTER EVENTS
Register online & discover newly-added events at:
TNAQUA.ORG/EVENTS
FOR LASTIUTNE—G
—NOT LAST MIN
GIFT-GIVING:
MEMBERSHIPS
MAKE GREAT GIFTS!
tnaqua.org/
GiftMemberships
MEMBERSHIP
INFORMATION
DO WE HAVE YOUR
CURRENT EMAIL ADDRESS?
If you would like to stay on top of
the latest Aquarium news, get
notifications of new events and electronic renewal reminders, visit us at
community.tnaqua.org to create
your online profile. After signing up,
you’ll be able to update your address,
access your giving history, review
your membership’s expiration date
or sign up for e-newsletters.
PHOTO MEMBERSHIP CARDS
If you don’t already have your photo
membership card, stop by the
Members’ Entrance in River Journey
and have your new card made on
your next visit. Bring in your old
membership card without the photo
and we will recycle it for you.
FOLLOW US ON
FACEBOOK & TWITTER
Keep up with our daily postings — you
can even join in the conversations!
Official sponsor of the
Tennessee Aquarium
Membership Program.
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RIVERWATCH
OR CALL 423-267-FISH (3474)
All events are held on Eastern Time. Full event details, including Non-Member
pricing, are available at tnaqua.org/events-programs. There’s plenty of fun
every day at the Tennessee Aquarium. Before your next visit, check the list of FREE
PROGRAMS (with your membership or paid admission) to make the most of your
day of aquatic adventure: tnaqua.org/animals-exhibits/extraordinary-experiences/.
DECEMBER
Caroling
With the Fishes
Sunday • 6:30-9PM
7
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and
you’re invited to carol with the fishes! Our
galleries will be decked with sounds of the
season—including flutes, voices, strings,
and Dan Landrum on the hammered
dulcimer. Here’s your chance to visit with
Santa and take home some holiday goodies.
Enjoy holiday shopping with special
discounts and extended hours at our Gift
Shop. Coffee and cookies, gift boxes, and
shipping will be available. Traditional family
caroling with the Metro Musicians in the
auditorium concludes this night of fun and
good cheer.
All Ages • FREE/Members
Non-Member guests: $1450/Adult; $950/Child
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Festive Wreath Workshop
Sunday • 2-4PM
It’s not too late to decorate! Get ready for
the holidays by creating a festive wreath
using a variety of evergreens, berries and
bows. Enjoy music and spiced cider as lead
horticulturist Christine Bock shares her
natural holiday decorating ideas. Includes
fresh greenery, artificial berries and bows.
We encourage you to bring garden clippers and a glue gun if possible along with
any special bows or decorations you’d like
to add.
Adults & ages 12+ (accompanied by an
adult) • Maximum of 20; minimum of 5
$20/Member
19
PJs & The Polar Express!
Friday • 9:30-11:45AM
Choo! Choo! All aboard the Polar Express
for a trip to the North Pole! Begin winter
break in a leisurely style. Dress in your
favorite pajamas and enjoy a special screening of The Polar Express 3D. This is your
chance to meet the Conductor, sip hot
cocoa from Chattz on Market, and enjoy
brunch muffins before the movie. Fun for
the entire family and all who truly believe!
All ages • $6/Member
Winter Wildlife Cruise,
“Eagle Eyes”
Sunday • 2-4PM
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It’s prime time to watch for the arrival of
wintering Bald Eagles in our area! With the
leaves fallen down and the eagle population soaring up, viewing is even better on
the river from the vantage of the River
Gorge Explorer’s observation deck. Bring
your binoculars and dress appropriately for
an eye-full of our national mascot. Along
the way, we’ll discuss the wild and tumultuous history of this spectacular bird of prey
from endangered days back to its current
protected status. Coupons and other discounts are not valid for this cruise. Presented
by First Tennessee.
All Ages • Limited to 68 • $24/Member
Adult; $18/Member Child (up to age 12)
Homeschool Day
JANUARY
Winter Wiz Kidz
Friday • Between 10AM-3PM
Here’s a fun day out before school starts
back! Our special programming offers lots
of excitement for the family. Investigate
animals that climb and their habitats.
Perform dissections and make discoveries.
Get hands on experience with a microscope and more of the Aquarium’s collection. Don’t miss this one of a kind opportunity by registering online today!
Mark your calendars! Don’t miss this special
day of fellowship with other homeschool
students and their families. We are offering
great discounts for admission to the
Tennessee Aquarium, the IMAX Theater,
and the gift shops in each facility. Programs
will be offered in the auditorium from 11 AM
to 3 PM, and special behind-the-scenes
tours will be offered just for that day. We
will have animal encounters each hour
throughout the two aquarium buildings.
Visit us online for pricing information.
FREE for Members
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Scout Day
Saturday
JOHN BAMBER
Attention all scouts! Here’s your chance to
tour Chattanooga’s top attraction and enjoy
free special programs with Aquarium staff.
You’ll learn how to take care of penguins,
jellyfish, sharks, snakes and more! Scouts
must wear their uniform or sash in order to
receive discounted rates. Special programs
available from 10AM - 4PM. Visit us online
for pricing information.
Teacher Appreciation Day
Saturday
Encourage the teachers in your life to see
first-hand how they can use the Aquarium
as an extension of their classroom. This day
features special programming, behind-thescenes opportunities and all the details
needed to plan a class field trip. Teachers
(with proof of a current teacher ID or pay
stub) will receive free Aquarium and IMAX®
admission for themselves and one guest.
FREE for Teachers
Advance registration required
Weave A Kudzu Basket!
24 Saturday • 12:30-4:30
PM
Join Bill Haley, Aquarium Educator and
well-known basket weaver, in this fascinating workshop! You’ll use ancient Scottish
rib-construction basketry techniques to
transform the notorious kudzu vine into a
unique Appalachian-style egg basket.
Materials will be provided, but please be
sure to bring a pair of garden clippers.
Adults & ages 12+ (accompanied by
an adult) • Limited to 17; minimum 5
$30/Member
FEBRUARY
1
Groundhog Day Pre-Party!
Friday • 2:30-3:30PM
Here’s your chance to meet and greet
Chattanooga’s most famous, furriest forecaster—Chattanooga Chuck—before his
big day! You and your family will discover
more about groundhogs and the prediction
of spring. These “pre-party” festivities will
include fun games and a one of a kind craft.
Please advise us of any known food allergies.
All ages • Limited to 20; minimum 5
(please register child only) • $10/Member
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Valentine Sunset Cruise
Sunday • 2-5PM
Love is in the air, so go a little “overboard”
and treat someone special to a memorable
experience on the Aquarium’s own “Love
Boat.” Our romantic three-hour sunset
cruise takes you into the gorge-ous Grand
Canyon of Tennessee. Discover the special
courtship of some animals that live and
“love” along the river. Cash bar available for
wine, beer and soft drinks. Coupons and
other discounts are not valid for this cruise.
Presented by First Tennessee.
All ages • Limited to 67 • $38/Member
Adult; $32/Member Child (up to age 12)
Romantic Seafood Dinner
at 1885 Restaurant
Thursday • 6-8PM
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Chef Charlie Loomis of 1885 Grill will join
Amy Roberts, Director of Wine Sales for
Horizon Distributing, to host a romantic dinner highlighting the Aquarium’s Serve &
Protect initiative. This 4-course dinner will
be paired with select wines from the
Trinchero Family Estates and mood music
will make for a truly romantic evening! Full
menu is available on the Events & Programs
section of our website.
Adults • Limited to 20 • $55/Member
Small Fry February
24 Tuesday • 10:15-11
• 10:15-11
25 Wednesday
Join Aquarium educators
AM
AM
TODD STAILEY
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STOCK PHOTO
9
26 Monday
Enjoy a meal at Big River Grille or BlueWater Grille before or
after your Aquarium event. Present your Tennessee Aquarium
membership card when you order to receive a discount.
for the
final week of Small Fry February! Activities
are designed to excite our youngest visitors
(and their parents). Join the fun on these
special days to meet live animals, listen to
stories, enjoy games plus simple crafts and
take part in a dive show designed especially
to appeal to our “small fry.” Members can
guarantee their space by registering online
in advance.
All ages • FREE for Members
RIVERWATCH
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I M A X ® — T I TA N S O F T H E I C E AG E 3 D
CHILLING THOUGHTS ABOUT
CHATTANOOGA’S PAST
The next time you
head downstream
aboard the River Gorge
Explorer, imagine what
this valley looked like
at the end of the last
Ice Age, some 10,000
to 12,000 years ago.
The overall setting might have looked
familiar, but you would have seen very
different animals along the banks of the
river. One of them, the Pleistocene
North American Jaguar, Panthera onca
augusta, would have been a chilling
sight. This Pleistocene cat was 20-25
percent larger than modern jaguars,
weighing nearly 500 pounds and growing to eight feet in body length.
The remains of two of these giant
jaguars were discovered in 1959 within
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the Tennessee River Gorge. The fossils
were recovered from a cave in Hamilton
County just a couple of miles from
downtown Chattanooga. They are now
on display in the University of
Tennessee’s McClung Museum of
Natural History & Culture in Knoxville.
It’s likely that Saber-toothed cats,
Mastodons and Wooly Mammoths also
once roamed the Tennessee Valley. Dr.
Nicholas Honerkamp, UC Foundation
Professor of Anthropology, shows his
University of Tennessee Chattanooga
students a Mastodon deciduous tooth
when discussing the last Ice Age. “This
fossil was unearthed in Charleston,
Tennessee,” said Honerkamp. “It’s possible that more fossil records are beneath
our feet in this area, but because we are
located within the Tennessee River valley any remains from that era could be
40 or more feet down.”
Fossil evidence from about 75 sites
in Tennessee contained either Mastodon
or Wooly Mammoth remains and Sabertoothed cat fossils have been found in a
few locations as well, most notably in
downtown Nashville. Today the
Nashville Predators feature the toothy
prehistoric tiger as the iconic symbol of
their ice hockey team because of that
discovery.
You can take a virtual trip back in
time while watching Titans of the Ice Age
3D to see how these “mega-vertebrates”
looked, and perhaps sounded like as they
thunder across the giant IMAX® screen.
“Audiences will experience the world
of these prehistoric animals with a realism that only this canvas can provide,”
said Andy Wood, the film’s producer.
“The Pleistocene has been an incredibly
popular subject in commercial films and
pop culture over the past decade – kids
love mammoths! But the historical accuracy has often been lacking. Titans of the
Ice Age 3D presents a veritable depiction
of this fascinating epoch that is both
highly entertaining and revealing.”
Filmmakers spent several years
researching and scouting numerous
locations where Ice Age fossils have been
found in abundance. The resulting
project vividly explores the prehistoric
struggles of survival.
“While we recreate early humans
and Ice Age animals in a realistic manner, we also visit museums and Ice Age
fossil sites like the La Brea Tar Pits in
Los Angeles and Hot Springs, South
Dakota,” said David Clark, the film’s
director. “The film entertains by bringing the past Ice Age back to life, but
also educates as our audience will learn
much about life in the late Pleistocene
Epoch and what happened at the end
of that period.”
Titans of the Ice Age 3D runs approximately 40 minutes and contains some
scenes that may be intense for young
viewers. Visit tnaqua.org/IMAX for
showtimes. 
C O N S E R VAT I O N A N D R E S E A R C H
LISTENING FOR STURGEON ON
THE RIVER GORGE EXPLORER
BY DR. BERNIE KUHAJDA, TNACI BIOLOGIST
A special ringtone is heard aboard the
River Gorge Explorer and suddenly
unique “caller ID” information appears
on the monitors overhead. “We’re picking up the signal from one of our Lake
Sturgeon,” an Aquarium naturalist
might say. Imagine how exciting it
would be to listen for and track fishes
during a cruise. Thanks to a new grant,
you can soon have fun learning about
our conservation work while helping us
learn more about the hidden lifestyles of
different fishes in the Tennessee River.
For 14 years, the Tennessee
Aquarium Conservation Institute
(TNACI) and its partners have released
more than 160,000 Lake Sturgeon to
the Tennessee River through captive
rearing and reintroduction. But until
recently, we’ve struggled to establish a
rigorous monitoring program to measure the success of reintroduction.
In 2013, we began
implanting acoustic tags
in Lake Sturgeon to
track their movement using stationary
receivers in the upper Tennessee River
from Chattanooga to upstream of
Knoxville. There are now 42 fish telegraphing their movements with these
tiny transmitters. The tracking effort
was expanded this summer when a
receiver was installed on a Serodino
Barge towboat that makes weekly trips
to Knoxville, detecting Lake Sturgeon
between the stationary receivers.
TNACI recently received a grant for
more than $17,000 from the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(AZA) to further expand our capabilities
by deploying more tags and installing a
receiver onboard the Tennessee
Aquarium River Gorge Explorer.
Acoustic tags purchased through this
grant will be implanted into Lake
Sturgeon and other resident big river
fishes this fall.
Naturalists will be able to show the
movement patterns of Sturgeons that
have been tagged so far, both around
Chattanooga as well as upstream. They
will also incorporate information about
fish passage through locks and dams,
habitat preservation, water quality, and
overall Lake Sturgeon conservation.
In addition to a learning opportunity, this equipment will provide us with
scientific data. Some of these tags will
give the depth of an individual fish and
the temperature of the water surrounding it, allowing guests to understand
where these hidden denizens of the
Tennessee River live. TNACI and its
Lake Sturgeon partners will be able to
use data gathered by this project to
expand monitoring coverage downstream of the current receiver array into
the Tennessee River Gorge, adding
another piece to the Lake Sturgeon
movement puzzle.
As a scientist, I’m really excited
about this new opportunity to get more
people involved with our conservation
efforts and having them help us collect
crucial data as citizen scientists! 
For 14 years, the Tennessee Aquarium and its partners
have restored more than 160,000 Lake Sturgeon to the
Tennessee River through captive rearing and reintroduction.
Members of the Tennessee Lake Sturgeon Working Group (TLSWG) include: the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee Valley Authority, U.S.
Geological Survey, Tennessee Aquarium, Tennessee Technological University,
University of Tennessee, Conservation Fisheries Inc., Tennessee Clean
Water Network, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
and the World Wildlife Fund.
RIVERWATCH
11
FOLLOW US ONLINE FOR DAILY UPDATES AND BREAKING NEWS!
RIVERCURRENTS
Senior herpetologist Bill Hughes is celebrating another banner year for rearing endangered turtles. Among the notable
hatchlings were seven Four-eyed Turtles (Sacalia quadrocellata), three Beal’s Four-eyed Turtles (Sacalia bealei) and three
Keeled Box Turtles (Cuora mouhotii). All three species are
disappearing rapidly in the wild, so breeding successes like
these help assure these species won’t go extinct.
Hughes plays an important role in the survival of these
species. He serves the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(AZA) as Species Survival Plan coordinator for four different
species: Arakan Forest Turtles, Keeled Box Turtles, Four-eyed
Turtles and Spiny Turtles.
Just 44 Four-eyed turtles are found in AZA-accredited
zoos and aquariums in the United States. Many of the juveniles were hatched at the Tennessee Aquarium and placed
elsewhere to bolster populations in human care.
The Tennessee Aquarium has 16 Beal’s Four-eyed turtles,
the only AZA facility currently working to save these
animals from disappearing. 
THOM BENSON
ANOTHER BIG YEAR
FOR BABY TURTLES
TROUT UNLIMITED
SUPPORTS TNACI WORK
Members of Trout Unlimited recently presented a
$10,000 check to Kathlina Alford and Dr. Bernie
Kuhajda in support of TNACI’s work to restore
Southern Appalachian Brook Trout. “The Aquarium’s
efforts to produce Brook Trout have our membership across the state fired up about this partnership,” said Steve Fry, president of the Appalachian
Chapter of Trout Unlimited. This is the second year
that a portion of the funds generated from the sales
of Trout Unlimited specialty license plates in
Tennessee have been granted to TNACI to save the
state’s only native trout species. 
A SWEET NUTCRACKER
Add a bit of Aquarium whimsy to your holiday décor. The
“King of the Penguins” nutcracker is made of wood and
stands 12 inches tall. His beard and hair are white and fuzzy
with an eye-catching coating of glitter. Purchase in the
Aquarium’s gift shops or online at: store.shopaquarium.org.
Use the member discount code PENGUIN to save 10%. 
There’s Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and now
#GivingTuesday, a global day of giving on the Tuesday
after Thanksgiving. On Tuesday, Dec. 2, join a community
of people who passionately support the Tennessee
Aquarium and the many ways we give back to our
vibrant community. Direct your gift to the area of
Aquarium’s work that matters most to you: community.
tnaqua.org/givingtuesday 
12
RIVERWATCH
WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT UNDERWAY
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Bruce Cantrell, an associate professor of biology at Roane State Community College
and one of the Aquarium’s volunteer SCUBA divers, is attempting to break the world
record for longest time spent underwater.
On October 3rd, Cantrell and another Roane State instructor dove down 25 feet
to stay in an underwater habitat near Key Largo, Florida. They are scheduled to
surface on December 15th after spending 73 days living and teaching underwater.
(The current record is 69 days, 19 minutes underwater.)
Cantrell is using this opportunity to reach others about the challenges facing the
world’s ocean. “By broadcasting live from a working underwater habitat with such
notable guests as Buzz Aldrin, we also hope to show students that science can be
fun and interesting.” Follow Cantrell (@AquanautBruce) and Classroom Under the
Sea (@ClassUnderSea) on Twitter.
Teaching others about our freshwater connections to the ocean is one aspect
of being a volunteer diver at the Tennessee Aquarium. SCUBA divers also help
maintain exhibits and hand-feed some animals. A volunteer diver recruitment drive
is currently underway. Apply online at: tnaqua.org/volunteer-opportunities/volunteer-diver. The Aquarium is also in need
of more Volunteer Docents: tnaqua.org/volunteer-opportunities. 
— MARK YOUR CALENDARS! —
SUMMER CAMP
REGISTRATION
Members: Monday, March 2nd
Non-Members: Monday, March 9th
tnaqua.org/members
*Upgrade to a contributing membership now
to guarantee your slot: tnaqua.org/donate
TODD STAILEY
Camp schedules will be in the
spring Riverwatch, mailed in
February. Remember to renew
your membership* early so you
don’t miss out on your next
Riverwatch or camp registration.
Renew today at:
RIVERWATCH
13
TENNESSEE AQUARIUM CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS
We gratefully acknowledge the following contributing members whose 2014 gifts were received through
October 31. These philanthropic leaders help support the Aquarium’s many conservation, education and
research programs. To renew your support before year end, visit tnaqua.org/donate or call (423) 785-4038.
SUSTAINER
Mrs. Ruth Holmberg
Arthur & Cynthia MacFadden
Ms. Jessica N. Miller
Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Smith
Ms. Jo Ann Cline Yates
GUARDIAN
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph H. Davenport, IV
CONSERVATIONIST
Anonymous
Jackson & Linda Andrews
Mr. Charles L. Arant
Mr. & Mrs. F. Mitchell Bell
Patrick & Anne Bradshaw
Mr. & Mrs. Paul Brock
Mr. & Mrs. Bill Burch
Hardwick & Elizabeth Caldwell
Steven & Beverly Coulter
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph H. Davenport III
Laura H. Finch & Mike Eastman
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gavin, IV
Anna George & David Neely
Mr. & Mrs. Edgar Godsey, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. William Gotschall
Barbara & Jerre Haskew
Dr. Daniel Kennedy
Mr. Everett Kerr
Alan & Alison Lebovitz
Charles & Betty Lebovitz
Bud & Angie Lewallen
Mr. Will Martin & Ms. Jean Nelson
Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Owings
Jeff & Susie Parker
Mr. & Mrs. George Pettway
John & Mufti Phillips
Ms. Judy B. Powell
Mr. Brett Rousch & Ms. Beth Rousch
Kirk & Kay Sanford
Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Stalans
Beverly Still & Donna Bourdon
Julie & Patrick Stowe
Kelly & Kim Sullivan
Cindy & Terry Todd
Miller & Karen Welborn
Frank & Leonora Williamson
CURATOR
Mr. Edward Adams & Ms. Terry Miles
Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Anziano
Mr. & Mrs. David Barto
Mr. & Mrs. W. Woods Blake
Mr. & Mrs. Barry Bogo
Michelle & Ken Burkus
Mr. & Mrs. William Christensen
David & Kate Collins
Alice E. Davenport
Joel & Anna Davenport
Mr. & Mrs. Gerald J. Grekowicz
Dr. & Mrs. David Hall
Ms. Eleanor Hall & Mr. George
Parmelee
Scott & Jinksie Virginia Harris
Mr. & Mrs. K. Donald Jensen
Mrs. Robert C. Jones, III
Chris & Patti Keller
Lowry & Jane Kline
Mr. & Mrs. J. Worth Lillard
Mr. Jon T. Locke
Kathleen Loehr & Diane Drake
Mr. & Mrs. Robert S. Lyons
Suzanna & Mike Mansi
14
RIVERWATCH
Jill & David McCain
Tresa & Franklin McCallie
Jay & Jennifer Mills
Mr. & Mrs. Darrell W. Moore
William & Alice Oehmig
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Prince
Jonathan Sanford & Brandi Forbes
Ms. Beverly Stickles & Mr. Joshua
Krasnow
Marian Trotter
Susan Ingham & Betsy Wallis
Marie & Aaron Webb
AQUARIST
Dr. Adele B. Ackell
James & Jane Adams
William & Ann Aiken
Ralph & Dorothy Altman
Norma Archung & Mary Bradshaw
Valerie & Allen Bachert
Thomas L. Baker & Jean Rothstein
Paul & Ann Bartlett
John T. Baxter
Karen Beisel
Mr. & Mrs. Brent Belcher
Thom & Sandie Benson
Andrew Bieszad & Jessica Burton
Janet Bischoff & John Etheredge
Mr. & Mrs. E. Liston Bishop III
Eric & Amanda Bloom
Jeremy & Chasity Boczulak
Roger & Kay Bowman
Candy & Larry Bradley
Brandi Brashears & Gretta Panis
Dr. & Mrs. Walker Breland
Frank & Dorothy Brock
Ronald & Karen Brooksbank
Coy & Becky Browder
Mary & Nicholas Brown
Brad & Lisa Broyles
Dr. G. Keith & Amanda Bruce
Kevin Calhoon
Karla Cantrell & Ryan Melanson
Joe & Nicole Carignan
Leisa & Anthony Chastain
Lee Clark
Michael Clark & Calista Sanders
Richard & Elizabeth Courtney
Angela & Kenneth Crane
Jeanne & David Crawford
Ronald Cronnon & Teresa SingerCronnon
Malcolm Cross & Sharon Anderson
Sara Cross & Sally Graves
Janice & Art Cruz
Thomas & Ann Currey
DeVona & Jason Daniel
Julia Daniel & Crystal Cadieux
Pat & Susan Daniel
Mr. & Mrs. Bart Davis
Rose Decosimo & Vanessa Scott
David & Ali Delcamp
Scott & Karin Dering
Gretchen Detwiler & Craig Sunderman
Robert & Christina Drake
Janice & Gary Edgmon
Natalie & Emilie Elliott
Karen Estes & Jerry Last
Bruce & Norma Faerber
Dr. & Mrs. Theodore Feintuch
Dr. & Mrs. Clarence Fennewald
Benjamin & Andrea Folkins
Tony & Paise Friddell
Chip Fuller & Kaley Federico
Marrian & Alejo Galima
Kellie Galliano & Clinton Norman
George Gibson & Cynthia Miller
Constance Giddens & Rebecca Jabr
Ketra & Billy Glass
Sean & Leslie Goff
Tracie Goins & Brian Bertrum
Sandra & Timothy Goyer
Robert & Staci Graham
Michael & Vallerie Greer
Chip Griffin & Kandy Huggins
Robin & Larry Griffin
Glen & Karen Griffiths
George & Beverly Grove
Marc & Meagan Grundy
Gordon & Carol Guild
Dr. & Mrs. Ashish Gupta
Deborah K. & William C. Haisten, Jr.
Bill & Candice Haley
Heather & Bradley Hall
Mrs. Tavenner F. Hall
Lauren Halminen & Brandon Mihai
Elizabeth & Chris Hammitt
Wayne & Joyce Hammons
Clara & Mark Hampton
Bill & Sarah Harmer
Donna Harmon & Shanon Maclaren
Michael & Danere Harper
John & Eve Harris
Sonya & Chris Haskins
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Hayes
Robert & Christen Hayes
Tiffany & Cody Hays
Dr. & Mrs. Jim Hoback
Kalene Hoch & Julie Frank
Arthur & Sherry Honaker
Mr. & Mrs. William Honeycutt
Jennifer & Tommy Hubbard
Hunter & Prestine Huckabay
Mr. Hugh & Dr. Sheri Hudgins
Doug & Sonora Hutson
Mrs. Vanda Ingham
Larry & Vanessa Jackson
Kelley & Ray Johnson
Mickey & Marla Jones
Dr. & Ms. James Kimball
Robert & Sharon Klein
Rebecca & Hoyl Knox
Martin & Shanda Kozicki
Laura & James Kroeger
Charles & Karen Kuhlman
Phillip & Mary Lambert
Carol S. Land & Haley D. Ellington
Adam & Sherry Lee
Timothy & Tresa Lockhart
Christy & Russell Looper
Casey & Jason Lundgren
Joe Martincavage & Jennifer Reardon
Robert & Jennifer Maxwell
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph McCauley
Marla & Andrew McDaniel
Tyler & Elizabeth McGehee
Stephanie & Tye McGlynn
Tom & Melinda McMasters
Elizabeth & John Miles
Kristen C. Miles & Deni Heaton
Brittany & Jimmy Moncrief
Thomas & Kristina Montague
Wanda Morrison & Angela Burnette
Scott & Brandi Murray
Boyd Myers & Ann Shipley
Ned & Gladys Mynatt
Michelle & James Norris
Dr. & Mrs. Fred Obear
Margaret & King Oehmig
Mr. & Mrs. David O’Malley
April & Andrew Orman
Anand Patel & Sabrina Louane Bird
Boyd & Nancy Patterson
Robin Patterson & Thomas Britt Carter
Kevin & Candice Patty
Susan & John Peek
Michael & Jennifer Pemberton
Maria Perales & Hermes Rodriguez
Jeff Pfitzer & Karen Noell
Sheila & John Phillips
Jeremy & Leslie Pittman
Janet Prickett & Faye Taylor
Martha & Harold Priest
Mr. & Mrs. John F. Proctor
Amanda & Chris Puckett
Paul & Doris Purcell
Steven & Tiffany Quarfordt
Mrs. Gregory Quick
Margaret & David Reisman
Ms. Denise Rice
Mr. & Mrs. J. Walter Ring
Michelle & Lynda Ring
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Rittenberry
Grisellies & Josué Rivera
Jerry & Charlene Robertson
Kristine & Leslie Robinson
Ms. Marilyn J. Rogers
Ms. Judi A. Rossman
Primus & Nicole Ryan
Patrick & Cherie Schroeder
Jeff & Jessica Scotchie
Casey Searels & Alan Bagley
Daniel & Nancy Sewell
Kristy & Corey Shick
Janie & Wayne Shipley
Lloyd Shipley & Abbey Smith
Kimberly & Ken Shirley
David & Nickie Sink
Mrs. Catherine Smith
Gary Smith & Kristn Davis
Steven & Melonie Smith
William & Jennifer Smith
Christopher Stearns & Kathryn West
Ashley & Chris Stephens
Wendy Stephenson & Amber Dare
Jack Stewart & Carol Coleman
Mr. & Mrs. Robert D. Stiles
Mr. Thomas J. Tarbotton
Dr. & Mrs. Marshall Taylor
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Taylor
Laura & William Thompson
Dr. & Mrs. Bruce Thompson
Mr. Evan N. Tingle
Erin & Shaun Townley
Bo VanNostrand & Jodie McIntire
Angela Vaughn & Marva Hughes
James & Kim Vroom
Bart & Julie Walker
Kendra Walker & Mike W. Flanagan
Dawn & Jeremy Wallace
Kanesha & William Warr
Phil & Ellen Whitaker
Joe Dan & Kim White
Brian & April Whitehead
Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Wilson
Jackson & June Wingfield
Richard Yarbrough & Bridget Vick
Lawrence & Carol Young
TENNESSEE AQUARIUM
SPONSORS AND
CORPORATE MEMBERS
We gratefully acknowledge the following sponsors and
corporate members whose support enables us to make
a meaningful difference to the economic, educational
and environmental well-being of our community. To
learn how you can become an Aquarium Sponsor,
contact Jill McCain, Advertising and Sponsorship
Manager: (423) 785-3003 or [email protected]. To
become an Aquarium Corporate Member, contact
Shelby Wade, Partnership & Sales Representative:
(423) 785-3066 or [email protected].
OFFICIAL SPONSORS
CORPORATE MEMBERS
Access America Transport
The Barn Nursery
Bass Pro Shops
Big River Grille & Brewing Works
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
Blue Water Grille
Clean Harbors Environmental
Services, Inc.
The Coca-Cola Company
EPB Fiber Optics
Elder’s Ace Hardware
First Tennessee
Girls Preparatory School
Hamilton Place
High Point Climbing and Fitness
Lookout Mountain Attractions
Serodino Barge Lines
Sunbelt Bakery
Tennessee American Water
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
Volkswagen Chattanooga
YP
212 Market Restaurant
ALSTOM Power
AT&T
Athens Distributing Company
BASF Corporation
Beaulieu of America
Chattanooga Area Chamber of
Commerce
Chattanooga Area CVB
Chattanooga Coca-Cola Bottling
Chattanooga Office Supply
Chattanooga Sports Committee
Chattanooga Times Free Press
Colonial Pipeline Company
Communications Resources, Inc.
Counts Company
Culligan Water Systems
Elder’s Ace Hardware
Electronic Controls, Inc.
EPB
Goldbond, Inc.
Horizon Wine and Spirits
Jake Marshall, LLC
The Johnson Group
Jones Solutions Company
Kelsan
Komatsu America Corporation
Lawson Electric Company
Life Care Centers of America
March Adams & Associates
CHI Memorial
Miller & Martin, LLC
Miller Industries
RockTenn Retail Solutions
Regions Bank
RiverCity Company
Rock Tenn Company-Mill Division
Russ Blakely & Associates
Sherman & Reilly, Inc.
Siskin Steel and Supply Company
Southeastern Salvage
Specialty Enterprises
Tennessee Valley Authority
Unum
Vincit Company, LLC
Whole Foods Market
MEDIA SPONSORS
Cat Country 95.3
Chattanooga Times Free Press
Comcast Cable
Fairway Outdoor
Groove 93
Hippie Radio 106.9
Hits 96.5
KZ106
NASH Icon 107.9
Power 94
Rock 105
Sunny 92.3
US101
WDEF News 12
WRCB TV3
WTCI Channel 45
WTVC NewsChannel 9
98.1 The Lake
102.3 The Talk Monster
103.7 Kiss FM
CONTENT PROVIDED BY THE TENNESSEE AQUARIUM EDUCATION DEPARTMENT — AND YOU!
SEND YOUR ANIMAL JOKES & “HOW DO THEY DO THAT” QUESTIONS TO [email protected].
OAK TREE DRAGONFLY MAGNET
MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED:
• Twig, 6 inches long
• 4 long, thin leaves, such as willow oak
• 2 small acorn caps
• Magnet
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
DIRECTIONS:
1. Glue acorn caps side-by-side on one end of the
twig.
2. Glue leaves on top of the twig close to the acorn
caps. Two leaves should stick out to each side as
pictured.
3. Glue the entire assembly to the magnet.
It works perfectly well to make the body with any
long, thin, natural material such as stout grasses or
bamboo. If you don’t have acorn caps, any large,
round seed or bead will suffice.
The leaves need
not be oak
leaves. Any
long, thin leaf
or seed (maple
seeds look terrific!)
will make your dragonfly
soar. Experiment!
DON’T MISS THIS!
SMALL FRY MINI-PROGRAMS
FREE WITH AQUARIUM ADMISSION • NOV.-FEB.
Indoor fun for little ones during the colder months.
Join us for special drop in programs offered select
Mondays and Thursdays from November through
February. Meet live animals, play games, hear stories
& make simple crafts. For details, go to tnaqua.org/
events-programs.
RIVERWATCH
15
TENNESSEE AQUARIUM
RIVERWATCH
One Broad Street • P.O. Box 11048 • Chattanooga, TN 37401-2048 • tnaqua.org
Your dollars support our many education, conservation
and research programs. Follow us on Facebook & Twitter
and partner with us to continue our mission.
OPEN DAILY 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas Day.
RIVERWATCH EDITOR
Thom Benson
[email protected]
EVENTS EDITOR
Matthew Hubbard
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Karen Estes
PHOTOGRAPHER
Todd Stailey
Riverwatch is published quarterly by the Tennessee
Aquarium. Written material may not be reproduced
without proper credit. The logo, the name Tennessee
Aquarium and Riverwatch are registered trademarks
of the Tennessee Aquarium. IMAX® & IMAX®3D
are registered trademarks of Imax Corporation,
Mississauga, Canada.
QUESTIONS ABOUT MEMBERSHIP?
Visit us online at tnaqua.org/Membership
423-267-FISH (3474) • [email protected]
Official Sponsor of the
Tennessee Aquarium
Membership Program
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PAID
Chattanooga, TN
PERMIT #989
The Tennessee Aquarium is a non-profit organization
with a mission to inspire wonder, appreciation and
protection of water and all life that it sustains.
community.tnaqua.org/donate
Non-Profit
Organization
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TIME-SENSITIVE MATERIAL