The NYA Wave, Vol 1 - Glover`s Reef Research Station

The NYA Wave, Vol 1 - Glover`s Reef Research Station

The Wave
The Newsletter of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s
New York Aquarium
@nyaquarium
Summer 2014
The Wave
Summer 2014
From the Director’s Desk:
Slithery Science: New York Aquarium education
department recruits volunteers to study American
eels
Participants gain hands-on experience in marine
conservation work
The New York Aquarium, along with the NYS
Department of Environmental Conservation and
Marine Basin Marina, launched a field-science program
to monitor one of New York City’s most mysterious
denizens: the American eel.
Welcome to the first edition of The Wave.
There is a lot happening at the WCS New York
Aquarium. The Wildlife Conservation Society has
launched an unprecedented effort to rebuild and
transform the aquarium to bring us back better than
ever. What will the new New York Aquarium look like
in the future?
The annual project aims to monitor populations of
American eels – a species in decline over much of its
North American coastal range. Baseline studies such as
this are needed to learn more about the species’
behaviors, threats, and conservation needs. Volunteers
collected valuable information about this migratory
fish and its environment in south Brooklyn between
February and May 2014.
In a word: more!
We will inspire the imagination of more guests with
powerful new exhibit experiences. We will bring more
jobs and economic activity to our neighborhood,
borough and city. We will nurture more of tomorrow’s
conservationists with meaningful science education
opportunities. We will conduct more field research,
build more partnerships, and create more advocates
for our work to protect wildlife and wild places…
around the world and right here in New York.
We are grateful for the help and support of our
colleagues throughout WCS as we move into this bright
future and we hope you enjoy this wave hello from all
of us.
American eels are in decline over most of their North American
coastal range. Photo Credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS
2
The Wave
Summer 2014
THANK YOU CONEY ISLAND POLAR
BEAR CLUB
An underwater classroom at the Wildlife
Conservation Society’s New York Aquarium
This season, the New York Aquarium partnered with the
maritime-focused Urban Assembly New York Harbor
School on a work-based learning project that brings
students out of the classroom and into the aquarium. This
hands-on opportunity provides students from the school’s
Professional Dive Program with a saltwater environment
where they can put their dive skills to the test by diving the
aquarium’s 167,000-gallon Glover’s Reef exhibit
dedicated to the fish of Glover’s Reef, Belize. The students
learned aquarium-specific SCUBA diving techniques and
aquatic animal husbandry. They usually dive in New York
Harbor, but the aquarium provides a warm, safe and
controlled environment for them to keep up their skills
when it’s too cold to dive outdoors.
On May 25, the Coney Island Polar Bear Club generously
donated $10,000 to the New York Aquarium
By: Shani Coleman
The Coney Island Polar Bear Club extended a helping
hand beyond the Atlantic Ocean onto the grounds of
the New York Aquarium. This spring, the New York
Aquarium was grateful to receive a $10,000 donation
from the Coney Island Polar Bear Club for efforts for
displaying the famous Bathysphere in front of the
aquarium.
The oldest winter bathing organization in the United
States has been a charitable force in the community.
Known for their traditional brisk plunges in the winter,
the Polar Bear Club has raised thousands of dollars
annually for charities. The aquarium is very thankful
for this tremendous donation. Donating more than
dollars, the Coney Island Polar Bear Club has
contributed to the renowned oceanic experience at the
New York Aquarium.
“We are very excited to partner with the New York
Harbor School on this interactive program,” said Jon
Forrest Dohlin, WCS Vice President and Director of the
New York Aquarium. “This partnership underscores
our commitment to advancing educational and
conservation initiatives within the community.”
New York Harbor School students get ready to dive the Glover’s
Reef tank at the New York Aquarium
3
The Wave
Summer 2014
It’s a Boy!
New York Aquarium Debuts Harbor Seal Pup
nine to 10 months. Pups have rounded bodies with
spotted coats which range in color from silver to dark
brown or black.
Harbor seals are protected under the Marine Mammal
Protection Act. They are abundant off the coast of New
York City and Long Island. The New York Aquarium
works to protect harbor seals through the New York
Seascape, a conservation program designed to restore
healthy populations of local marine species in New
York City waters.
__________________________________________
AQUARIUM NEWS AT A GLANCE…

August 15, 2014, marks the 80 anniversary of William
Beebe’s historic dive off the coast of Bermuda. The
famous Bathysphere he used for the dive is on display
in front of the aquarium. Activities surrounding the
anniversary are planned at the aquarium that
weekend.

Earlier this year, the aquarium welcomed Noah
Chesnin as Policy Program Manager for the New York
Seascape Program, and Ray Davis as Executive Director
of New Project Administration.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Great Jelly Rescue is
now showing in the aquarium’s new 4D theater. The
theater is open daily. Shows run every 15 minutes.

The aquarium is now selling colorful T-shirts that
feature marine mammals and the new #IloveNYA
campaign logo. Proceeds from the shirts support the
rebuilding and transformation efforts of the New York
Aquarium.
Photo Credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS
Harbor seals are one of many species WCS’s New
York Seascape program works to protect
A harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) pup was born at the
Wildlife Conservation Society’s New York Aquarium –
only the second harbor seal born here in the past 15
years. The male pup was born on May 27 and weighed
22 pounds at birth.
“He has already made an impression on visitors and
staff,” said Jon Forrest Dohlin, WCS Vice President and
Director of the New York Aquarium. “He is a delightful
addition to the aquarium and a treat to everyone who
comes through the facility while we work to recover
from Hurricane Sandy and toward the opening of
Ocean Wonders: Sharks!.”
The young seal is gaining weight at a rate of a halfpound to one pound a day. As an adult, he could weigh
up to 250 pounds. A harbor seal’s gestation period is
th
****
4
The Wave
Summer 2014
aquarium’s safety committee, and overseeing events that
are held on-site.
Surfside Spotlight …
Rodney Rollins: Director of Park Services
An Interview by
Barbara Russo
For the debut
issue of the The
Wave, we sat
down with
Rodney Rollins,
Director of Park
Services at the
New York
Aquarium. We
learned that when
he’s not
overseeing the
daily operations
of the aquarium’s
14 acres, this self-proclaimed healthy- lifestyle buff can be
found playing basketball, working out, and doing many
other things to stay in tip-top shape.
Rodney, tell us how you got started at WCS:
My first job was as a seasonal employee at the Bronx Zoo
in 1990 before I started working full time as the Assistant
Shop Keeper in the Food Commissary in 2004. I held a
few other positions within WCS’s Restaurant Department
before landing my current gig as Director of Park Services
at the aquarium.
Since we work for a wildlife organization, I have to
ask: What is your favorite animal?
The horse. I love riding horses. They are beautiful,
graceful and, strong.
What is your favorite animal at the aquarium?
I love all the animals here! But I have to say I’m really
looking forward to Ocean Wonders: Sharks! in 2016.
Sharks are definitely some of my favorite marine animals.
What is your favorite NYC landmark?
The Bronx Zoo of course!
When you’re not hard at work at the aquarium, how
do you like to spend your time?
I really enjoy spending time with my beautiful daughters
Chelsea and Madison. Chelsea recently graduated with
honors and is entering college in the fall. I’m really proud
of the example she’s setting for her younger sister.
Speaking of school, I also attend Fordham University,
majoring in Organizational Leadership.
Finally, do you have any hobbies?
I’m a big health nut, so I’m always trying to stay as active
as possible. I love working out and playing basketball.
Anything to keep the metabolism up and the adrenalin
going!
What do you do as Director of Parks Services?
I oversee the daily operations of the park, which includes
security, buildings and grounds maintenance, chairing the
***Aquarium Fun Fact: An adult walrus can
eat up to 85 pounds of food a day***
5
The Wave
Summer 2014
Rebuilding & Transforming
A construction update from around the aquarium
The hard work and patience of the New York Aquarium
team managing through the rebuild and build projects
is greatly appreciated. We are all working as a team
towards an exciting tomorrow.
By: Ray Davis
There is an incredible amount of activity at the New York
Aquarium. It is open daily to the public and even with this
bustling atmosphere, there is a lot going on behind the
scenes. Work is going on for the rebuild of the storm
damaged areas of the campus. Crucial for the successful
rebuild is the time the expert and experienced engineers,
life support systems engineers, architects, and WCS and
aquarium staff have spent going into every nook and
cranny around the aquarium campus.
While the rebuilding team works, another team has been
working on the new exhibits and holding for the aquarium.
First, the Animal Care Facility (ACF) is reaching a
milestone. All of the subfloor pipe work has been
completed, and by the end of July the prefabricated
concrete walls and roof will be installed. This means the
interior work, including the holding pool, can be
assembled and ready for the aquarium husbandry team to
use for the future exhibits.
Construction is also progressing on Ocean Wonders:
Sharks! (OWS). The very careful, and often painfully
slow, process of preparing the construction site has been
an anxious time. There were, and still are, many buried
unknowns from the early days of the aquarium and even
dating back to the time when Dreamland Amusement Park
was on this property. Work is ongoing under the
boardwalk putting in place the infrastructure needed for
OWS.
The damaged Seaside Café is getting some much
needed TLC, which includes foundation support. The
first layers of the life support system (LSS) pipe work is
going in place. This is very exacting work with less than
¼” tolerances for where the pipe comes above the
ground.
A panoramic view of the OWS construction site. Photo Credit:
Ray Davis © WCS
A view of the ACF construction site with the famous Cyclone
rollercoaster in the background. Photo Credit: Ray Davis ©
WCS
***Aquarium Fun Fact: A shark can grow
more than 20,000 teeth over the course
of its lifetime ***
*****
6
The Wave
Bights from the New York Seascape Program
By: Dr. Merry Camhi & Noah Chesnin
If we haven’t met already, we want to introduce you
to the New York Seascape and our growing program
team. Established in 2010, the New York Seascape
Program is unique within WCS as a joint program of
the New York Aquarium (where we’re based) and the
Global Marine Program. We seek to enhance a
science-based understanding of our local coastal and
marine biodiversity, restore threatened species,
protect their habitats, and build a New York ocean
ethic and local marine constituency.
The NY Seascape, which recently became the 15th
WCS Priority Scape, encompasses more than 16,000
square miles of coastal and ocean waters of the New
York Bight, from Montauk, N.Y., to Cape May, N.J,
as well as the Long Island Sound. Even though this is
one of the most urbanized marine ecosystems in the
world, it still supports globally significant populations
of marine wildlife including endangered cetaceans
and sea turtles, over 330 species of fish including 40
species of sharks and rays, cold-water deep-sea
corals, seabirds, and highly productive habitats, like
the astounding Hudson Canyon and expansive
estuaries.
Unfortunately, this local marine wildlife must contend
with many threats to and competing uses of our busy
coastal and offshore waters, including renewable
energy development, fisheries, pollution, and more.
Overfishing, bycatch, and inadequate fisheries
management threaten some species and inhibit
restoration of others.
To address these issues, the New York Seascape team
has been growing! Dr. Merry Camhi, the director,
Summer 2014
has been on board since the beginning of the program,
and oversees the full suite of Seascape work. Hans
Walters is an aquarium animal department supervisor
who is also a field scientist with Seascape and helps
to lead our shark research and tagging. Jake LaBelle
began interning as a graduate student in 2012 and
became our Research Program Officer in April 2014,
focusing on eel monitoring in the Bronx River and
shark tagging off Long Island. Noah Chesnin, Policy
Program Manager, came on board in March 2014 and
advocates for marine conservation through state,
regional, and federal government policy efforts
including marine spatial planning and habitat
protection. This summer we have three interns: Becca
Kusa and Alexa Peredo, graduate students at Stony
Brook University, and Rebecca Flowers, a rising
Senior at Riverdale Country School. Stay tuned for
updates on our work!
*****************
The Wave
EDITOR
Barbara Russo
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Tom Brown
CONTRIBUTORS:
Ray Davis
Shani Coleman
Dr. Merry Camhi
Noah Chesnin
Kaitlyn Sephton
Virginia Burns
WCS VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR
NEW YORK AQUARIUM
Jon Forrest Dohlin
Contact Barbara Russo at [email protected] or
718-265-3428 with questions or comments.
7
The Wave
Summer 2014
WCS & Google Team Up for Turtles
at Glover’s Reef!
America! You can follow the tracks of these four turtles
online here:
http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/?project_id=1013.
By: Kaitlyn Sephton and Virginia Burns
To learn more about Glover’s Reef Research Station, visit
our website, wcsgloversreef.org, or Facebook page,
facebook.com/gloversreefresearchstation.
Glover’s Reef Research Station (GRRS), owned and
operated by WCS, is a place for scientists and students to
conduct research at one of the Caribbean’s most complex
and important coral reef systems. It is also the platform for
most of WCS’s work in Belize, including species
protection, fisheries, and marine protected areas
management and climate change adaptation.
The Belize 2014 sea turtle survey, which has been
conducted since 2007, took place at GRRS in May this year.
The WCS Belize marine team and the Belize Fisheries
Department personnel were joined by eight volunteers from
Google, which is in its third year of participating in and
supporting the survey. Three adult hawksbills and one adult
green turtle were captured and fitted with SPOT satellite
tags, which enable researchers to gather data by following
the long-range movements of the turtles as they travel away
from Glover’s Reef Atoll. Tissue samples, weight, and size
were also collected from the turtles. This in-water
monitoring program helps to determine an absolute
abundance estimate of turtles at Glover's Reef Atoll, as well
as increases our knowledge of sea turtle movements and
habitat use, growth rates, and genetic stock.
In addition, this year’s turtle survey was featured on a
television news program in Belize as part of a story on
Glover’s Reef Research Station and WCS’s turtle
conservation work. The piece was broadcast nationally on
Channel 5, one of the country’s most popular stations, and
can be viewed online here:
Photo Credit: Kenneth Gale © WCS
youtube.com/watch?v=TdPn8ACiVi8&feature=youtu.be.
The track for the green turtle (named “Turtesam” after
Samantha Strindberg who has provided her expertise to the
Belize sea turtle project for many years) shows that this
turtle was stopping through Glover’s on its way to South
Photo Credit: Kaitlyn Sephton © WCS
8